Another battery question, actually 2 questions

[kampingkoge]

ok ... just purchased a new marine starting 650 amps / deep cycle dual purpose battery for my boat.  Question 1 that I have is can I also use this battery for my PUP as a 2nd battery in the event my RV deep cycle battery dies (we do almost all dry camping).  Any issues with a starting / deep cycle battery on a RV's 12 volt system.

Question 2 I have is since this is a marine starting / deep cycle battery could it also be used in a pinch in the TV?  My boat has a chevy 350 mercrusier in it so I assume the answer is I could ... but since I do not know much about these batteries I figured I would throw out the question to the experts.

Thanks all.

[mike4947]

Well the main diference in batteries is in the plate construction and addatives to the lead they are made of. Starting batteries tend to have thin plates and more of them, and IIRC antimony as the primary addative. They are designed to allow LARGE amperage discharges such as a starter motor over short periods and to be recharged at fairly high amperage levels as soon as possible.
Deep Cyle batteries tend to have thicker plates and use Cadmium Again IIRC (could be the exact reverse on the addatives) They are designed for long term low level amperage discharges and to be recharged apx the same way.
marine/hybrid batteries try and assume both roles, usually by having intermediate thickness plates and a multiple of addatives, so they will accept high discharges and allow long term low amperage discharges. Of course they won't do either as well as a specific purpose designed battery but will do an adaquate job in place of either. They just won't last as long or do the job quite as efficiently.

[AustinBoston]

Of course they won't do either as well as a specific purpose designed battery but will do an adaquate job in place of either. They just won't last as long or do the job quite as efficiently.

I have never priced one, but my guess would be that they cost more than either as well.

Austin

[tlhdoc]

You will be fine using the battery as your spare.  There isn't any point in getting a third battery and leaving this one sit.  It isn't as good as a straight deep cycle battery, but you already have it, so it doesn't matter.  As for starting your TV, I think it will, but you would have to test it to make sure.

[mike4947]

As for cost they actually tend to be slightly cheaper than deep cycle batteries for their size and slightly higher than starting batteries of the same size. Of course they contain less lead than most deep cycle batteries and more lead than most starting batteries.
Lead equals both cost and power capacity...LOL
 
And I realailzed I never really answered your question. Yes it will work for either a deep cycle application or starting a tow vehicle, just not as well as a specific purpose type and won't last as long as one either.
 
Way back when I could only afford one battery and needed one for the trailer and for an electric trolling motor I just used the cheapest hybrid one I could get for any size figuring I'd collect on the full replacement clause time, where as most deep cycle abtteries have only a 90 day "free" replacement. Even though they last longer.
A 20 amp charger and a 600 watt Honda genset would pump up the battery after fishing so we could have lights and furnace at night without the genset running after dark. It was hard on the batteries being recharged twice a day so the hybrid with the year free replacement was the best solution for me as even a deep cycle wouldn't last long in that kind of SEVERE service...LOL

[kampingkoge]

Thanks for the responses ... Hopefully I'll get more use out of the hybrid as I can take it out of the boat and use it in the RV if I run down the deep cycle ... won't have to be so conservative with my electrical items in the camper anymore.