When going off the beaten trail with your 4x4 for the weekend, also means making some camping plans, cause once night falls, you'll have to settle in one area and rest. Now in order to make the experience more enjoyable, you'll probably want to play some music on your laptop or maybe watch a movie or a bit of TV. However, without a backup source of electricity, you wouldn't be able to all that in a carefree way as you'll be constantly checking your battery. Here's where a leisure battery can come in handy.
The two main categories they fall into are wet and non-wet batteries. Although both can serve the purpose right, is important to mention that the non-wet type are the preferred option when it comes to off-roading. The non-wet leisure battery type are divided into three main categories: gel batteries, AGM batteries and lithium batteries. Here's how they differ one from another.
Gel Batteries
Most wet batteries contain corrosive acid and that ingredient can cause personal injury if inversion occurs. Gel batteries, on the other hand, contain a gel that's a non-spill electrolyte and it comes in a thoroughly sealed casing. These batteries may not be able to perform as well as wet-acid batteries, however, the extra safety they provide is something worth considering, especially when it comes to driving in rough conditions. When recharging this type of batteries, just ensure that the charge voltage doesn't exceed 14.2V.
AGM Batteries
These are also known as absorbent glass mat batteries and have lead plates in each cell along with a highly compressed glass fibre which is added into each compartment. The electrolyte is absorbed by the fibre and the excess air is drawn from the casing. They also feature a pressure relief valve. Due to the fact that they work in a bit more complicated way, AGM batteries are more expensive. However, it all pays off long term since AGM batteries generally achieve more recharging cycles which means they last longer. In addition, these batteries can also act as starter batteries. When recharging them, the charge voltage shouldn’t exceed 14.4V.
Lithium Batteries
These batteries are self-contained units and they have their own on-board charge manager. Since they don't contain any lead, they weigh significantly less than lead-acid batteries. Another feature is that they can be fully recharged and discharged. When they are in their discharge cycle, they can retain stable voltage levels, and you can recharge such battery very quickly. The this that makes them less popular than other types is their price because they are far more expensive than all other types of batteries.
