You may be deciding between a standard SLI battery (eg. start, light, and ignition) or investing in a dual-purpose, deep-cycle battery for your Jeep. Standard ignition batteries are designed to start your engine by delivering a large pulse of energy upon ignition. Standard starter batteries discharge around 3% of its total capacity upon startup and are recharged by the alternator during vehicle operation.
SLI batteries are not designed for deep cycling (discharging below 50% of its max capacity) or else you risk dissolving the lead sponges found in its solution. SLI batteries are typically at risk of failing after 30-deep cycle states or after full discharge of its capacity. Due to this, starter batteries require more maintenance and often have shorter lifespans.
On the other hand, deep-cycle batteries are designed with thicker, solid plates that allow it to recharge after discharging up to 98% of its maximum capacity. Deep cycle batteries typically don't have the starting power that starting batteries do and characteristically have a lower CCA (cold crank amperage). For a more powerful deep-cycle CCA, you will require a larger or dual purpose deep-cycle battery.
Deep cycle batteries have two taxonomies:
- Flooded (FLA)
- Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA)
VRLA batteries are typically comprised of either gel mat batteries or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries, which we mentioned previously.