Renogy Vs BattleBorn Batteries
Whichever marine battery you buy needs first and foremost to be reliable. Here is a succinct overview designed to equip you with crucial insights into these top contenders in marine power solutions:
🏋️ Weight: Differentiating by mere pounds could influence your setup’s load.
🔁 Cycle Life: Vital for long-term value and reliability during prolonged use.
🔋 Charging Protection: Ensures safety and efficiency in power management.
🛡️ Warranty: Does the manufacturer put their money where their mouth is?
As you evaluate trolling motor batteries, align these attributes carefully with your maritime requirements to ensure seamless integration and operation aboard your boat.
Types of Battery Chemistry
Both Renogy and Battle Born Lithium offer a range of deep-cycle marine batteries, but the product offerings of each manufacturer are different, and each has its pros and cons.
🎓 Editor’s Note: If you’re new to marine batteries I’d suggest reading through our beginner’s guide to electric boat batteries that explains all the pros and cons of various chemistries
Comparing Battery Specifications and Performance
To compare apples with apples I’m only going to look at the lithium range from Renogy and weigh their offerings against Battle Born.
The table below outlines key data for two 12volt, 100 Ah and two 24 Volt, 50 Ah models of their respective deep-cycle batteries:
| Brand | Volts & Capacity | Weight | Dimensions | Cycle Life | Heating | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Born (12V) | 12V, 100Ah | 31 lbs. | 12.76×6.86×8.95 in | 3,000-5,000 | Yes | 10 Years |
| Renogy (12V) | 12V, 100Ah | 28.7 lbs. | 11.4×6.8×7.4 in | 5,000 | Yes | 5 Years |
| Battle Born (24V) | 24V, 50Ah | 31 lbs. | 12.76×6.86×8.95 in | 3,000-5,000 | No | 10 Years |
| Renogy (24V) | 24V, 50Ah | 28.0 lbs. | 13.0×6.8×8.4 in | 3,500+ | No | 5 Years |
As you can see there are some differences with the largest being the warranty offered. Here is another to consider:
Additional Features:
- Renogy includes a battery monitoring screen to keep you updated on its condition.
- Self-heating capabilities are standard in both brands’ 12V 100Ah batteries.
🎓 Editor’s Note: This activates automatically when the battery’s core temperature dips below 41°F (5°C). The effect is that it ensures that the battery remains charged and operates efficiently even in cold conditions.
Ultimately, your decision may boil down to longevity and weight preferences. With these specifications in hand, you’re equipped to select a battery that aligns with your energy usage and storage criteria.
Charging
The charging specifications of the batteries are virtually identical. But what about real-world results? Let’s take a look at the 12-volt models from earlier.
Both units will accept a 50 amp charge Voltage of 14.4V.
- Solar Panels: Harness sunlight to replenish batteries, pairing ideally with an MPPT solar charge controller for optimal efficiency.
- Standard Marine Chargers: Compatible with direct battery charging; ensure a charge voltage of 14.4V.
- Acceptable Charge Rate: Up to 50 amps depending on charger capabilities and conditions.
🎓 Editor’s Note: If you’re new to want to learn more about charging then here is our guide to charging trolling motor batteries that explains the ins and outs.
Lifespan And User Experience
To gauge the real-world lifespan of these batteries, I have sourced several real-world reviews from users of each product.
Safety and Durability
Safety and durability are paramount when choosing a marine battery. Boats operate in water, and as such, this is potentially dangerous for any electrical circuitry or other equipment.
It makes sense that both companies prioritize safety. Both use reliable and stable components that include a LiFePO4 cathode and an integrated Battery Management System (BMS).
The BMS serves as an invaluable safeguard, shielding the battery cells from a range of potential hazards that may include
- Excessively high or low voltages.
- Elevated currents
- Short circuits.
- Extreme temperature conditions.
These are the primary culprits behind battery malfunctions, and the manufacturers work hard to safeguard their batteries against these risks.
Li-ion batteries are safer than other batteries, which lack protection against ground faults. In addition, they contain no corrosive acid, which may damage components in the boat.
Customer Service and Warranty
When things go wrong, your only recourse to provide peace of mind is via warranties or customer service.
As I’ve already covered there is a massive discrepancy between their respective warranties.
But in Renogy’s favor they have a reputation for resolving problems, and the feedback is generally good.
Pricing
| Battery Model | Capacity (Ah) | Price |
| Battle Born | Lithium 12V 100Ah | $925.00 |
| Renogy | Smart Lithium Battery 12V 100Ah | $619.99 |
| Battle Born | Lithium Battery 50Ah 24V | $899.00 |
| Renogy | 24V 100Ah 50 Series Lithium | $599.99 |
The clear winner is the Renogy products. The Renogy products are, on average, 1/3rd cheaper than the Battle Born batteries.
The fact that Renogy batteries last for the same length of time as the Battle Born units makes these a compelling product to consider.
Even though the Renogy batteries are not protected by such a substantial warranty may be irrelevant, depending on how often you use the boat.
If the boat is used every day, the number of battery discharge and recharge cycles will add up very quickly, and the battery will need replacing before the warranty expires!
Verdict
| Battle Born | Renogy | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | Higher upfront cost | More budget-friendly |
| Reputation | Outstanding | Respectable |
| Warranty | Extended 10-year warranty | Standard industry offering |
Each is built to last and can deliver 80% of the rated power for up to 5,000 cycles in the marine battery market.
🎖️ My Take: This one is simple really. You pay the premium to get the assurance of quality backed by a 10-year warranty. Or you save yourself money in the long run if you use the battery so often that you don’t need a warranty period that long.
