How To Choose The Right Battery

When choosing the right battery for your needs you may be comparing a few different battery types at different price points and configurations. To help you in selecting the right battery we have put together this simple guide comparing Wet Lead Acid, AGM Led Acid and Lithium batteries.

Wet Lead Acid

Wet Lead Acid batteries (otherwise known as flooded batteries) are commonly used in vehicles and large UPS systems for Deep cycle and standby operations and are cost-effective battery solutions. Wet let acid batteries may require maintenance depending on the product. Most sizes come fully sealed with a 'spill proof' design but there are still a few batteries where the cells are fully accessible and electrolyte levels need to be monitored for optimal performance.

Pros	Cons
Great value for money Easiest to maintain Can withstand high temperatures Suitable for under bonnet use	Needs to be maintained Acid can be spilled Shortest lifespan of the chemistries Exudes toxic gas if an internal fault occurs

AGM Lead Acid

AGM Lead Acid batteries contain glass mat separator which allows the fiberglass to be saturated with electrolyte, this means the electrolyte is stored in a “dry” state unlike Wet/flooded Lead Acid batteries. The benefit to this approach is that AGM Lead Acid batteries are fully sealed maintenance free and are more resilient to vibrations than their Wet/flooded Lead Acid counterparts. With these benefits they generally have a longer lifespan and cycle count to the Wet/flooded versions.

Pros	Cons
Absorbed Glass Material (AGM) Sealed unit without risk of spills up to 90 degrees angle Up to 20x greater vibrations Higher cycle count than standard wet cells	Heaviest of the chemistries Requires higher charge rate than wet cell

Lithium

Lithium Iron-Phosphate batteries contain metallic lithium and are becoming more prevelant in Deep Cycle batteries. Lithium Iron-Phosphate batteries have a much longer life cycle than their Lead Acid counterparts, but do require specific chargers to ensure optimal charging output and battery longevity. These Lithium Iron Phospate deep cycle batteries are generally 50% lighter than their lead acid equivalents with a much longer discharge profile.

Pros	Cons
Excellent depth of discharge down to 80% Lightweight, excellent power to weight ratio Exceptional cycle count Slow self discharge rate	Most expensive of the options Requires specific charge rates unique to Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistries Difficult to rejuvenate if drained too far Smaller temperature range when charging and discharging.

For more expert tips and battery advice, come in-store and speak to one of our local battery experts!