Battery capacity will be defined as Amp hours (Ah) at a certain Voltage (V) or Watthours (Wh).  The battery capacity should be matched to the daily energy usage with a 20%-40% buffer to increase battery life expectancy.

Most recreational boats have operated at a system voltage of 12V in years past but more and more boats are moving to 24V & even 48V with higher loads and faster charging capabilities.  Operating at a higher voltage reduces current & voltage drop.  This will reduces cable size resulting in weight & cost savings.

All batteries have a recommended charging algorithm.  For lithium and carbon foam, adhering to these recommended charging parameters is important for safety & battery lifespan.  When considering an upgrade to lithium, it is important to make sure that all chargers are programmable to the recommended charging parameters.

There are many different types of lithium batteries on the market.  Each one has a different set of attributes related to stability (safety), energy density, & cost.  Lithionics uses exclusively lithium iron phosphate which are known as having a very good balance between energy density and safety.  This is a different and safer chemistry than the batteries that caused many of the boat fires that have been publicized.

Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM), flooded, gel & carbon foam or otherwise carbon “enhanced” batteries are all lead-acid batteries. They all share the most basic characteristics of lead batteries.  Carbon foam batteries are set apart from other lead-acid batteries because the presence of carbon blocks the battery from experiencing permanent sulfation during partial state of charge operation.