Marine Battery
Battery Installs
Choosing the right battery for your vessel is about far more than simply fitting something that physically fits the space. Marine environments place unique demands on a battery: constant vibration, damp and salty air, temperature swings, and the need for reliable power when you are miles from the nearest harbour.
Ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with marine regulations.
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Importance of The Correct Battery
The correct battery should be matched to your vessel’s electrical demands, charging system and how you use your boat. Whether you need AGM, gel or lithium (LiFePO4), the right choice will give you longer service life, safer operation and greater peace of mind on the water.
The right marine battery depends on how you use your boat, how you charge it and how much you expect from the bank between visits to shore power. AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries are maintenance free, accept high charge currents and suit engine starting and mixed starting and service duties. Gel batteries are the better choice for true deep cycle use, where the bank is regularly discharged and recharged. Both are safe in enclosed spaces when installed and vented in line with the manufacturer's instructions and BS EN ISO 13297. Their drawbacks are usable capacity and cycle life: a lead acid service bank is realistically limited to around 50 percent depth of discharge and a few hundred cycles, and it needs a full recharge every time to prevent sulphation.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) marine batteries are now the first choice for boats that spend time at anchor, run inverters, induction hobs or air conditioning, or whose owners simply want to stop worrying about their batteries. Lithium gives 80 to 100 percent usable capacity, several thousand cycles, much faster charging and roughly half the weight of an equivalent lead acid bank. Hartnell Marine Electrical is a Victron Energy Approved Installer and an approved installer for LithiumPro batteries. We design, supply, install and commission complete lithium upgrades to ISO 23625 and ABYC E-13, and we also supply AGM, gel and deep cycle batteries for simple replacements. If you are wondering whether to upgrade your boat to lithium, or which batteries your yacht needs, we will survey your existing system and give you a clear written recommendation.
