How Do You Charge Deep-Cycle Marine Batteries?
A deep-cycle marine battery isn’t used for starting your boat. It keeps the cabin lights burning and the stereo playing. Unlike the starting battery that’s rated in cold cranking amps (CCA) and used for short bursts of energy to start your motor, deep-cycle batteries “are best at withstanding the deep discharges, recharging abuse and physical pounding of the marine environment,” states Don Casey, an expert for the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BOATUS), in his library of boat manuals. Recharging these types of batteries is an uncomplicated process. Charge your battery from your boat’s alternator. If your boat is wired for this, you’ll have a battery selector switch on your dashboard. Setting the switch to the “Off” position will charge both your deep-cycle and starting batteries. Remove the battery from the boat if you and your boat are on shore, and connect the battery to a portable silicone-controlled rectifier charger. Attach the positive lead (red wire) from the char
