Battery Atlas
Illustration of a battery with a boat and a motorhome

Marine & RV Batteries — Starting and House Banks

Boats and RVs use two kinds of batteries: one to start the engine and a house bank for everything else.

  • Marine & outboards
  • RVs & motorhomes
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Vehicle type

Engine and version can change battery size and technology (e.g. start-stop).

Vehicle not listed? Identify it with NHTSA (U.S. market)

Official U.S. vehicle data. It identifies the vehicle only; battery data comes from our catalogue.

Starting vs house batteries

Outboard and inboard engines specify a minimum MCA or CCA; the engine maker's value prevails. House (service) banks power lights, fridges, pumps and electronics and should be deep-cycle or lithium.

Keep starting and house batteries separate with an isolator or DC-DC charger.

Size the house bank from daily consumption and days off-grid.

Lead-acid house banks should not be discharged below about 50%; LiFePO4 tolerates deeper discharge.

Follow ABYC or local marine installation rules.

Manufacturers

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