Written By Michael Howard

Before you head out to purchase a new 6-, 12-, or 24-volt battery, it’s a good idea to take stock of your needs, capabilities, and finances.  It’s easy to assume that you should simply buy the most powerful battery that you can afford, however this does not take all factors into account and may result in the purchase of a battery that is all wrong for you.  The result could be a very short-lived battery.

The first thing you’ll want to consider is the purpose that your purchasing the battery for.  There are many different types of batteries, and how you want to use the battery will determine what type you want to buy.  First is the decision between a starting or deep-cycle battery.  If you require a battery to start your engine, a starting battery will do the trick.  However, if you need a battery for your boat or RV where you’ll be running a relatively constant charge for long periods of time because of electrical appliances and devices, then you’ll need a deep-cycle battery.  These are much more capable of undergoing the discharge/recharge cycle necessary for this type of use.  Using a starting battery in place of a deep-cycle battery will result in a battery lifespan of less than a year, whereas using the proper deep-cycle batteries will allow them to last for several years.  Conversely, it is not a good idea to use a deep-cycle battery for ignition, as they do not have the high power over short periods of time needed to start the engine.  When thinking about what you need, consider the starting battery a sprinter and the deep-cycle battery a marathon runner.

In addition to starting and deep-cycle batteries, there are also different batteries that have been made for use in different vehicles.  The most common of these is the marine battery for boats.  These are made to withstand the rough conditions and constant, heavy vibrations that boats undergo on the water.  You might also consider other batteries specifically suited to your needs, such as an automotive battery or a motorcycle battery.

Next you’ll want to think about where you are putting your battery.  Be sure you measure the area so that you don’t accidentally purchase a battery that is too big to fit in the compartment.  This is typically an issue with RV owners who are replacing the standard batteries that come with their vehicle.  Many RV owners are switching to golf cart batteries as a better long-term battery option, however not all RVs can accommodate the larger cases.

Finally, consider whether your battery will be undergoing light or heavy usage.  You’ll want to do some number crunching to find out how much power your vehicle will demand from the battery.  Will you be running a lot of appliances and electronics?  Will you be relying on the battery to supply the power to these devices?  And will you be relying heavily on the devices themselves?  Anyone who is looking at camping in their RV or boat without a hooking up to power will want to be comfortable, with full use of their appliances.  It won’t be much fun to be camping overnight and find that your heat and lights don’t work.

Once you have all this information, then you can look into purchasing the best battery for your needs at the cost you can afford.  It is usually best to invest as much as your budget allows in order to get the highest capacity battery for your needs.  It’s usually better to have too much power than to find yourself wanting.

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