What Is the Best Hot Dog Cart Battery?
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Steve, I have a quick question for you. You had said that any marine deep cycle battery will do to run lights, radio,. My question is, does it have to be a marine, or will any deep cycle rechargeable battery work for the purpose? Wal-Mart has a deep cycle they said would work, but it isn’t a marine, and harbour freight has another for powering solar, but it is just a 12 volt rechargeable. Thanks for the help on this.
-Teri
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Hi Teri,
No, it does not have to be rated “Marine”. But yes, it needs to be a “deep cycle” battery, not a “starting” battery.
What’s the difference?
Both deep cycle and starting batteries are lead-acid batteries. They use the same chemical reaction to produce electricity but they are built very differently for very different uses.
The term “deep cycle” means that this type of battery was designed to be discharged slowly and deeply all the way to empty and then recharged again. This process of deep discharging and recharging over and over is what called the battery’s “cycle”.
Many of these batteries are used to power electric trolling motors on fishing boats, hence the “marine” designation.
You will also find deep cycle batteries in use on RVs. These don’t need the “marine” rating.
Deep cycle batteries are very different than an automotive starting battery which is designed for very brief bursts of full power output. A starter battery will work for powering lights but not nearly as well as a deep cycle battery.
That is why you don’t want to leave your car headlights on without your engine running. A starting battery will be depleted quickly because it isn’t designed for that mission.
If you need to start your tow vehicle, get a starting battery. If you need to power electrical equipment on your cart, get a deep cycle battery.
-Steve
P.S. Be sure to check out part two of this series, How to Connect Your Hot Dog Cart Batteries
https://hotdogprofits.com/blog/how-to-connect-your-hot-dog-cart-batteries/
Richard Larrison owns the “Worlds Largest Small Electric Appliance Museum” in Diamond Missouri. He has collected over 7000 waffle irons, coffee pots, blenders, mixers, electric razors, and (drum roll please….)
