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Using a deep cycle battery (ie: Red Top) as my car battery?

JEDI

JEDI

Lifer
2015 mazda3i
350cca battery (from factory 🙁 )

my car's cigarette lighter is always on, even when the engine is off.
I have a gps and a dashcam plugged into it.
I always worry I will drain the battery if I forget to unplug them.

so far, the worse I've done is forget overnight. car started fine.

so instead of me constantly worrying, I thought about replacing the oem battery on my new car.
walmart sells a ~600cca battery.

then I thought, if I'm going to replace a perfectly good battery, then why not go for a deep cycle battery.

is that even possible? if so, is it as easy as removing the old and popping in a Red Top just like I would any other car battery?
 
It will not hurt a deep cycle battery to be used as a starting battery, but for the same size battery they cannot supply as much cranking amps as a regular starting battery and is usually much more expensive.

A car's battery is designed to provide a very large amount of current for a short period of time. This surge of current is needed to turn the engine over during starting. Once the engine starts, the alternator provides all the power that the car needs, so a car battery may go through its entire life without ever being drained more than 20 percent of its total capacity. Used in this way, a car battery can last a number of years. To achieve a large amount of current, a car battery uses thin plates in order to increase its surface area.

A deep cycle battery is designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period of time. A deep cycle battery can provide a surge when needed, but nothing like the surge a car battery can. A deep cycle battery is also designed to be deeply discharged over and over again (something that would ruin a car battery very quickly). To accomplish this, a deep cycle battery uses thicker plates.

Much better would be to get the right battery for your car and just unplug your devices from your cigarette lighter when not needed. Or you can setup your cigarette lighter to turn on with the ignition switch.
 
Raizinman said:
Much better would be to get the right battery for your car and just unplug your devices from your cigarette lighter when not needed.
Or you can setup your cigarette lighter to turn on with the ignition switch.
Click to expand...

lol.. if I remember to unplug then theres no need for this thread. 😛

how to setup cigarette lighter to turn off with the ignition switch if it comes from the factory as constant on???
 
JEDI said:
How to setup cigarette lighter to turn off with the ignition switch if it comes from the factory as constant on???
Click to expand...

Use a relay. Use the ignition switch turn-on lead, VERY common in car audio, to signal it. That wire is available off the back of the radio.
 
If you do switch batteries, be aware that they come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and charge-post locations, so you need to get the appropriate type for your car, or else be confident that the different replacement will fit anyway.

Remember that "cca" and capacity in ah (amp-hours) are unrelated figures. 330cca is wimpy but probably plenty for your little Mazda. But even with that low crank rating, the battery capacity could still be pretty large. Raizinman's explanation of deep-cycle is a good example. Those have low cca but large capacity (plus the ability to use all the capacity repeatedly).
 
Definitely don't use a red top, use a yellow top or some other deep cycle battery. Red Tops are garbage now a days anyway.
 
I've left my dash cam plugged in by accident for 3+ days (recording my garage door how exciting lol) and my truck started just fine.

As mentioned, a red top is not a deep cycle so would gain you nothing at all, just lighten your wallet.
 
Starting battery's and deep cycle battery's have different charging requirements. The deep is designed to charge slowly and the starting is designed for a quick charge. The cars alternator is not designed to correctly sense the charging of the deep cycle. Result is shortened life of the battery.
 
you could leave the dashcam on a week and it would not deplete a good battery. I'd stay with a proper starting battery.
 
RLGL said:
Starting battery's and deep cycle battery's have different charging requirements. The deep is designed to charge slowly and the starting is designed for a quick charge. The cars alternator is not designed to correctly sense the charging of the deep cycle. Result is shortened life of the battery.
Click to expand...

This is absolutely not true at all. Neither battery is designed for "quick charging". The primary difference between deep cycle and starting batteries is the thickness of the plates. There are more fragile plates in a starting battery for maximum cranking amps while deep cycle have thicker but fewer plates. If cranking powering isn't the issue (and it usually isn't) a deep cycle battery is plenty sufficient.
 
Thanks for posting OP. I just got a dashcam and my F150 cigarette lighter stays on when the truck is off and I was wondering how leaving the cam plugged in would affect the battery. Saved me from starting my own thread. Now I guess I just need to learn how to rewire or remember to unplug every time I drive the truck.
 
fstime said:
Red Top is the best battery I have ever had, mines going on 10 years old now in a seasonal climate.
Click to expand...

They haven't made decent red tops in about 10 years...lol They changed the manufacturing facility and quality of work which is why they're not as good as they used to be. They're pretty marginal batteries now.
 
tortillasoup said:
They haven't made decent red tops in about 10 years...lol They changed the manufacturing facility and quality of work which is why they're not as good as they used to be. They're pretty marginal batteries now.
Click to expand...

That's good to know, I would probably go with a NAPA Legend battery in the future then.
 
I recommend Costco for your battery. Interstate branded batteries have replaced the Kirkland batteries at most all the local Costcos. Warranties of older Kirkland batteries will still be honored but with an Interstate battery. When purchasing an Interstate battery at Costco, you will receive a 42 month FREE replacement warranty.

Who makes Interstate batteries? Johnson Controls.

Johnson controls also makes some or all of these batteries as well.
Acura, Advance Auto Parts, Autocraft, Western Auto, Tough One, Alliance, American Hardware, Ames, Varta, Blains Farm & Fleet, Battery Alliance, Bosch, Carrefour(Europe), Champion, Amara Raja Batteries LTD(Joint venture with Johnson Controls India).
Varta, Optima Batteries, LTH, and Heliar are all battery manufactures owned by Johnson Controls.

Johnson Controls supplies Ford Motor Company, Daimler Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Isuzu with original equipment batteries. So next time you go and buy a battery, or an automobile chances are it’s a battery made by Johnson Controls.

Who makes the NAPA Legend? Exide
 
Raizinman said:
I recommend Costco for your battery. Interstate branded batteries have replaced the Kirkland batteries at most all the local Costcos. Warranties of older Kirkland batteries will still be honored but with an Interstate battery. When purchasing an Interstate battery at Costco, you will receive a 42 month FREE replacement warranty.

Who makes Interstate batteries? Johnson Controls.

Johnson controls also makes some or all of these batteries as well.
Acura, Advance Auto Parts, Autocraft, Western Auto, Tough One, Alliance, American Hardware, Ames, Varta, Blains Farm & Fleet, Battery Alliance, Bosch, Carrefour(Europe), Champion, Amara Raja Batteries LTD(Joint venture with Johnson Controls India).
Varta, Optima Batteries, LTH, and Heliar are all battery manufactures owned by Johnson Controls.

Johnson Controls supplies Ford Motor Company, Daimler Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Isuzu with original equipment batteries. So next time you go and buy a battery, or an automobile chances are it’s a battery made by Johnson Controls.

Who makes the NAPA Legend? Exide
Click to expand...

Nah, Deka/Penn makes NAPA batteries and they have a 7 yr prorated warranty.

BTW, you sound like you work for Johnson Controls
 
tortillasoup said:
They haven't made decent red tops in about 10 years...lol They changed the manufacturing facility and quality of work which is why they're not as good as they used to be. They're pretty marginal batteries now.
Click to expand...

ive bought a couple red tops over the last few yrs. it seems they will fail in a few months or last a long time. 1, in 4 of the ones I have bought failed early, the other 3 are 3 yrs in. I bought them due to mounting location. Also, my cost on them was about the same a standard battery

napa legend and duralast are also good batteries in my experience.

as far as OP, don't be going trying to find solutions to a problem you don't have. Your oem battery is doing just fine in you car
 
JEDI said:
2015 mazda3i
350cca battery (from factory 🙁 )

my car's cigarette lighter is always on, even when the engine is off.
I have a gps and a dashcam plugged into it.
I always worry I will drain the battery if I forget to unplug them.

so far, the worse I've done is forget overnight. car started fine.

so instead of me constantly worrying, I thought about replacing the oem battery on my new car.
walmart sells a ~600cca battery.

then I thought, if I'm going to replace a perfectly good battery, then why not go for a deep cycle battery.

is that even possible? if so, is it as easy as removing the old and popping in a Red Top just like I would any other car battery?
Click to expand...

What you want is a battery with a higher RC (Reserve Capacity) rating, I think. A battery with a higher RC rating will power the 12V outlet a lot longer without running down.

It will also power your car's ignition system longer in case of alternator failure, when you need to make it home. 🙂

http://knowhow.napaonline.com/car-battery-know-how-cold-cranking-amps-and-reserve-capacity/
 
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