Blog, 25th Anniversary

Enjoying your Onboard Amenities with the Proper Marine Battery

A day on the water, whether it be for fishing or pleasure boating, can be more comfortable, convenient and safer, not to mention more fun, with a complement of onboard accessories. These amenities can include aerator pumps, navigation lights, fish finders, audio equipment and other entertainment devices. A marine battery with deep cycling capability can power onboard 12-volt loads, known as house loads, when no charge source, such as a shore power charger, engine alternator, wind generator or solar panel, is available.

For decades boat owners have relied on deep cycle batteries to deliver energy for trolling, which is a slow cruising speed to enable anglers to optimize their fishing time. Deep cycling provides a low but sustained current over several hours and can consume a large portion of the battery’s capacity.

While boat motors are started with the power of cranking amps, trolling and onboard electronic accessories need deep cycling to support low-power loads that must last for several hours. Batteries that perform both cranking and deep cycling are known as dual purpose batteries, which tolerate deep discharges that would deplete a starting battery.

Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are generally required for dual purpose applications. They feature an electrolyte that saturates absorbent fiberglass, which is compressed between the positive and negative plates. As an advancement in AGM design, EnerSys® offers a line of marine batteries that feature Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology. ODYSSEY® Marine Dual Purpose batteries feature pure lead plates that are thinner than those in conventional flooded lead acid batteries, so more fit inside the battery. More plates provide as much as 15 percent more surface area for greater energy density and power.

Combined with high-grade electrolyte, thinner plates generate the power needed for dual purpose marine battery applications. ODYSSEY® batteries provide Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) ratings high enough to start the engine, as well as deep cycling up to 400 cycles at 80 percent Depth of Discharge (DOD) for trolling and house loads.

With twice the overall power and three times the life of conventional marine batteries, ODYSSEY® batteries are reliable, even after laying idle during winter storage. They can be stored for two years at temperatures of 77°F (25°C) or lower. They are vibration resistant, can be mounted sideways without spilling, and are backed by a limited two- to four-year full replacement warranty.

A powerboating excursion not only depends upon starting the motor, but also supporting house loads while enjoying your time on the water. An ODYSSEY® Marine Dual Purpose battery with TPPL technology is the best choice to power all the functions required for a good day on the water.

This year, EnerSys® marks 25 years of ODYSSEY® battery production. To follow the ODYSSEY® battery 25th Anniversary journey, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com or connect with us on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook by using the hashtag #MYODYSSEY.

ABOUT ENERSYS®

EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the recent NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries, which are sold across all three lines of business. More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.