Deep Cycle Batteries

[GBertolet]

I have a Do-all electric trap for clay pigeons. It runs off a deep cycle battery. I just repaired it and got a new 675 CCA marine battery, which was what the manufacturer recommended. Being it's a deep cycle, is it better to let the battery run down before recharging, or should I recharge it after every use? It's a typical Lead acid battery. I bought a special 1.5 amp trickle charger, with desulfinator, for this one, as the typical battery charger, did not seem to charge the previous battery.

[Winger Ed.]

is it better to let the battery run down before recharging, or should I recharge it after every use?

Old school Lead acid batteries don't develop a memory or wear down from going flat like the fancy new ones.
Treat it like you do your car or boat battery, and don't worry about it.
I'd put it on its little charger after each use as a habit just to be sure I didn't forget to charge it.
Also, if you run down say 300 amps out of it, it'll take that little charger 150 hours to put them back in.
It's common to see people leave deep cycle boat batteries on a little 1 amp charger to maintain its full charge year around.

[rancher1913]

they have limited number of recharges, if you deep discharge each time the life will be shortened, verses a shallow discharge. use it as needed and recharge after each use, try to avoid complete discharge or really deep discharges.

[GBertolet]

Thank you both, those were the kind of answers I was looking for.

[Driver man]

When the battery is not in use, recharge it if the open circuit voltage (OCV) drops below 12.5 volts. Deep cycle batteries are not designed to be kept in a low state of charge and will build up sulphation on the battery plates that will reduce the performance and cycle life of the battery.
The deeper you discharge the battery the more it will reduce the battery’s total cycle life. It is recommended discharging a battery to no lower than 50% DOD, with a maximum of 80%. If you discharge the battery to 50% of its capacity instead of 100%, the battery will produce an extra 40% more amperes over the life of the battery.

[tja6435]

Most people kill deep cycle lead acid batteries by UNDER charging. You need to keep an eye on the specific gravity of each cell, which is checked with a refractometer. That’s the only way you can really tell if your battery is obtaining full charge. 1.5 amps for a 675ah battery may not be enough -ever- to fully charge that battery.

Look up ‘battery charging settings rolls’ on YouTube and be edumicated.

[GregLaROCHE]

they have limited number of recharges, if you deep discharge each time the life will be shortened, verses a shallow discharge. use it as needed and recharge after each use, try to avoid complete discharge or really deep discharges.

This is what I have always heard and believed.

[Springfield]

If they have a limited number of charges, then fewer deep charges should be better then many shallow discharges, otherwise, you are contradicting yourself.

[jim 44-40]

Make sure you start with a full charge on battery,run your trap machine for how ever long it takes for shooting session.Then check the voltage,a least you will know how much you drained out of the battery.I would not go below 12.5 volt on a regular basis.I would use a charger/maintainer.After reading post on Shotgun World sounds like you can throw alot of clays without much drain on battery

[georgerkahn]

I have a Do-all electric trap for clay pigeons. It runs off a deep cycle battery. I just repaired it and got a new 675 CCA marine battery, which was what the manufacturer recommended. Being it's a deep cycle, is it better to let the battery run down before recharging, or should I recharge it after every use? It's a typical Lead acid battery. I bought a special 1.5 amp trickle charger, with desulfinator, for this one, as the typical battery charger, did not seem to charge the previous battery.

Imho you are doing the 100% thing, having/using the trickle charger. I have several Battery Minder chargers (I bought mine from Northern Tool, on line) which have ALL more than paid for themselves! The drill is to wire their short cord directly to the battery, and 100% of the time when not in use -- simply connect it to plugged in charger. In short order the charger will commence blinking indicating full charge, as well as the occasional blue light indicating desulfaction. Vis the deep-cycle 12v batteries in my boat (trolling motor) just using these chargers extended life from 2 years to five years, plus! Similarly, I have one on both my Kubota tractor and the John Deere and Kubota mowers -- now more than six years with original batteries functioning as when brand new.301156 Amazon sells them for a penny or two less than thirty U S dollars -- money more than well spent imho! As others have posted, deep cycle batteries have "X" number of cycles/chargers... imho unless you totally deplete charge on one multiple times, using the Battery Minder will make it last much longer!
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