Though car battery and marine battery both are flood-acid categories, they have significantly different in all areas. In fact, you can't use a car battery instead of using a marine battery. It'll bring a huge loss in the aspects of money, time and other resources.
So, you'll know the key differences between the car battery and the marine battery for the use of in a car and a boat respectively.
The key differences between Car Battery and the marine Battery
Though both car battery and marine battery use lead plates and sulphuric acid as substances, they have crucial differences. Here they are:
Design
Typically, marine batteries are thicker and more substantial than the car batteries. As car batteries needn't be discharge after starting the car engines, the batteries come with thin internal plates. They also needn't provide continuous power to remain the car engine active all the time.
On the other hand, marine batteries need to deliver continuous power to remain the boat’s electronic system active. So, the plates are made of thick plates. Also, they are built with thick and robust plastic. The top quality materials help them to last longer and provide better insulate against vibration and impact.
Furthermore, marine batteries have to go on more stringent condition than the car batteries. Don't you think the ocean is more challenging than the highway? So, the robust and thick plastic materials of the marine batteries ensure a long lifespan.
Plate Size
Usually, rechargeable lead-acid batteries come with two different batteries to accomplish different purposes. The first one is the starter batteries whether the other one is deep cycle batteries. The starter batteries are made of more plates than the deep cycle batteries. However, the lead plates are thin and used mainly for automobiles and vehicles.
On the contrary, the deep cycle batteries provide much more power than the starter batteries through its thicker lead plates. Though the lead plates are thick, they are small in number comparing to the starter batteries. They are mainly used for recharging solar power systems and so on.
However, here is the tricky part of the marine batteries. The marine batteries aren’t directly come from either starter or deep cycle batteries. In fact, it is the hybrid battery which is a perfect composition of the starter and the deep cycle batteries. So, it has both thin and thick plates for quick as well as long-term serving power.
Voltage
Providing proper voltage is the ultimate goal of the batteries. So, it's no matter which battery you use, and the battery should provide the required power to accomplish the task. Here, the power is measured through voltage and obviously different units are used for various sources.
On the one hand, for starter batteries used in a car or other automobiles, the batteries are rated in cranking amps (CA) or cold cranking amps (CCA). On the other hand, the marine batteries are rated in marine cranking amps (MCA). Here, both the marine and the car batteries supply 12 volts DC electricity.
Also, marine batteries always have a deep cycle which has a reserve capacity (RC) which prevents the batteries from early losing power. Even, marine batteries can operate more frequently and deeper discharges than the car batteries.
Purposes
Though both batteries are made from lead acidic substances, they have fundamental and specific purposes to accomplish. Also, they play a different role in the electrical ecosystem.
For example, car batteries are designed and made such a way that can deliver enough amperage within the shortest possible time. It helps to turn over the gasoline or diesel without regarding the outside temperature. So, the vehicles can alternate the charge and run.
Furthermore, marine batteries have a wide range of tasks to accomplish. Most often they are required to start an engine. Even they are continued after firing the things up. Typically, all the electric system of the boats in the ocean entirely depends on the marine batteries. The running lights, the functioning gauge, the operating pumps get the required power from the marine batteries.
Safety
Cautionary handling is a crucial part for any electrical equipment. As lead plates and acid substances are dangerous, they should be carefully handled. However, between the batteries as mentioned above, which is the most dangerous and requires special attention?
The car batteries are comparatively less-weighted and contain less amount of acid substances. So, it seems that car batteries are less dangerous. But remember that, thin lead plates may bring any explosive hazard due to unconscious handling.
Additionally, marine batteries are more potent than car batteries. They have much more acid substances and the capacity to produce electricity. So, they are more dangerous than the tiny car batteries. Also, they are used in the mid of the ocean where emergency aid may not be available. So, always pay special attention when you use lead-acid batteries.
Finally, never try using a car battery for your boat instead of using a marine battery. It may occur dangerous hazards.