marine vrs normal battery

[indyyellow]

What is the diff? I have a pop up camper with a bad battery. I have a car batter that is perfectly good. Can I use it on the camper? It would be covered from elements. When hooked up to the truck and driving down the road the batt gets charged during that time as I am to understand.
What/why is the diff of the battery types.

[DTMAce]

Marine batteries (or deep cycle) can be drained farther and charged back up without damage as apposed to regular car batteries. Not only this, they deliver less AMP's in general at their peak sustainable load and can last longer than a car battery. Cars typically need a "hotter" or larger AMP battery, for starting the engine, etc., but don't need a lot of storage capacity.

So yes, you technically could use the battery for your camper, but it will not last as long as the correct kind, plus if you drain it too low, you could shorten its life, or cause it to not be charged back up as well.

[indyyellow]

Thanks. It is a battery I bought used so I may use it this summer until it dies then get a proper battery.

[indyyellow]

It would not get used much anyway as I typically camp in a place with a hookup.

[indyyellow]

is it true that if you put a battery on the ground it will ruin it? If so how long does it have tobe onthe ground?

[DTMAce]

Not exactly true.

It has to do with how clean the battery casing is, etc. Dirt, fluids, etc laying on the surface of the battery can cause them to slowly leak current and drain. There are some theories that leaving a battery sitting on concrete floors can drain them, but again, it has to do with the cleanliness of the battery itself, more so than what they sit on.

However if you are going to sit it on the ground outside, its best to sit it on something, rather than the ground itself.

The plastic housing cannot conduct electricity, but if the battery is dirty or wet, it could conduct using the dirt/water as a path. its simple as that. Just make sure its kept clean and dry, and it will be fine. It wouldn't hurt to charge it once in a while either, they sell simple trickle battery chargers both plug in and solar that would work for this.

[indyyellow]

Thanks for the info. Things I did not realize.