Hawker Headlines

Answer to question from last issue:

In the last issue you explained SLI, but what’s a deep-cycle battery?

A deep-cycle battery (commonly referred to as a “marine ” battery) not only performs the duties of an SLI (Starting, Lighting, and Ignition) battery, but it also has the power to provide sustained energy when the vehicle’s engine is off! (Hey warriors, that’s “silent watch” power.)

Deep-cycle batteries are designed to be regularly discharged of their full Capacity. In the military, AGM deep-cycle batteries are often used to power thermal optics, communications equipment, JBC-P, BFT, lights, sensors, winches, and other equipment during silent watch.

Civilians typically use them to power trolling motors on boats (ergo, “marine ”), golf carts, and forklifts, as well as for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and for off-grid solar energy storage.

Deep cycle batteries have the ability to be drained below the 40% Depth of Discharge (DoD) limit of SLI batteries. In fact, they can be drained down to 100% DoD…and still be recharged! At 77oF (25oC), Hawker^® batteries can be cycled down to 100% DoD and be recovered at least 300 times (if they are recharged at 14.7VDC for 16 to 24 hours).

Normally, when choosing a deep-cycle battery the Capacity rating is the most important rating. However, if the battery will also be used for engine start, then the CA and CCA ratings are equally important.