Making Waves With Marine-Grade Lithium Batteries
There’s not much better than getting out onto the water: the freedom and relaxation, the feel of wind on your face and the soothing sound of the water against the hull. Whatever boating-related recreation you’re interested in, you’re going to want your trolling motor, appliances, or your entire vessel to be running on the power of dependable, long-lasting batteries. While SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries have been a common choice for powering boats and yachts for years, boating enthusiasts have started to find that marine-grade lithium batteries are changing the game when it comes to boating. With benefits such as longer lifespans, more stable power output, built-in safety features, and zero routine maintenance, it’s no wonder that boaters are choosing lithium over SLA batteries for their marine applications.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into what advantages lithium has over SLA batteries and why they’re gaining so much popularity!
The Benefits of Lithium – Is It Worth It?
When it comes to the benefits of lithium batteries, there’s no competition when stacked up against lead acid. Let’s take a look at some of these advantages:
Long Lifespans
The most attractive feature enamoring boaters with lithium batteries is their long lifespans, especially when compared to that of lead acid batteries. While SLAs typically offer around 300 to 1,500 cycles, lithium batteries can last up to ten times as many cycles – from 3,000 to 5,000 cycles – which can add up to ten years of reliable use with zero regular maintenance required.
Fast Charging & Reliable Power Output
In addition to these much longer lifespans, marine lithium batteries also charge exponentially faster and maintain a consistent power output while in use, which persists throughout its entire lifespan. Comparatively, sealed lead acid batteries need long charging periods, and gradually begin to produce less power and shorter cycle lengths as they age, particularly if scheduled maintenance is ignored.
Lightweight
Another appealing element of lithium marine batteries that recreational boaters are singing praises about is how lightweight and energy-dense lithium solutions can be. Lithium batteries tend to be about half the weight of lead acid, and there’s a lot to gain from removing that extra poundage from your boat. You’ll experience benefits such as improved handling, greater speed, and shallower draft, not to mention more efficient fuel economy. On top of all of that, less weight used by your batteries means you’ll have more weight capacity for gear or passengers, and while lead acid batteries eat up space on your vessel, lithium battery systems are much more compact and can often be oriented in several configurations to work with the space you have available.
High Safety Ratings
Of course one of the first priorities in the manufacturing and utilization of lithium batteries is the consumer’s protection and safety, and being such a crucial component, lithium batteries are designed specifically with features built-in to prevent risks such as overheating and fire hazards. Marine-grade lithium batteries are also well protected from outside contaminants such as water and dust, making it corrosion resistant and more suited to marine use. For example, BigBattery’s marine solutions boast protection ratings of IP65 (NEMA 4X) or above!
Temperature-Resistance & Self-Heating Features
Planning to go out on a particularly hot day, or a cold one? What if it’s humid out, or rainy? With lithium marine batteries, it’s no problem. These batteries are specially designed in order to resist extreme temperatures and harsh conditions without compromising performance. Our marine lithium batteries even have built-in heating systems that activate automatically when the temperature dips below a certain level, allowing you to charge and use your batteries even in the coldest weather conditions. Additionally, along with low self-discharging rates, your lithium battery can be stored with confidence for longer periods of time without losing their charge. This makes them perfect for the seasonal boat owner who enjoys being out on the water at certain parts of the year.
Drawbacks to Lithium?
Naturally, when considering a substantial modification to your boat, you want to explore all of the pros and cons. In regards to performance, safety, practicality and reliability, marine lithium batteries clearly beat out the competition. These batteries are tried and true, and excel in nearly all aspects. It’s important to remember that lithium batteries are an investment, substantiating their higher initial price points in comparison to lead acid. Considering their many advantages, specifically their significant lifespan which allows them to outlive several generations of lead acid batteries, lithium batteries will be paying for themselves in the long run, allowing you to see huge lifetime savings.
Conclusively, converting your boat from sealed lead acid batteries to lithium will provide you with an array of benefits, bringing your boating experience to a whole new level. With a marine-grade lithium battery powering your trolling motor, solar setup, or boating accessories you can experience such advantages as longer and more consistent cycles and less drag weighing your craft down for better handling, as well as first-rate protection from temperature and debris, confidence in exemplary safety ratings, and simple, fast installations – all with zero routine maintenance necessary! Enjoy the open water with full confidence in BigBattery’s marine-grade lithium batteries. As leading professionals in the industry, we’re happy to answer any questions or comments you may have about our new selection of marine lithium batteries, so feel free to contact us! Happy sailing!
