Guide to Deep Cycle Batteries for Load Shedding
It's the most expensive mistake you can make during load shedding: hooking up a standard car battery to your inverter.
A car battery will power your inverter, but it will be permanently destroyed within a few weeks. You must use a Deep Cycle battery. Here’s why.
"Sprinter" vs. "Marathon Runner"
This is the best analogy:
- A Car Battery is a "sprinter." It's designed to give one massive, powerful burst to start the engine (a sprint), and then be immediately recharged by the alternator.
- A Deep Cycle Battery is a "marathon runner." It's designed to deliver a steady, low-power current for many hours (a marathon), be deeply drained, and then recharged.
Using a car battery for your inverter is like asking a sprinter to run a marathon. It will fail on the first lap.
AGM vs. Lithium (LiFePO₄): Which to Buy?
For your inverter in Alberton, you have two great deep cycle options:
- AGM Deep Cycle: This is the reliable, sealed, maintenance-free workhorse. It's the best balance of price and performance for most home inverter setups.
- Lithium (LiFePO₄): This is the premium, long-term investment. It is more expensive upfront but offers 5-10 times the lifespan (thousands of cycles), is much lighter, and charges faster. It is the best choice for serious solar systems.
Get Expert Advice
We are Alberton's load shedding and solar power experts. Visit our store, and we will help you calculate your power needs and recommend the correct, warrantied AGM or Lithium battery for your inverter and budget.
Quick answers
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How fast can Alberton Battery Mart replace my battery?
Most callouts in Alberton, New Redruth, and Meyersdal wrap in 60 minutes. We run Midtronics diagnostics first, then fit your Willard or Exide battery on-site so you avoid towing.
Do you handle Start/Stop and coding?
Yes. We stock AGM/EFB batteries and register them to the vehicle’s BMS before handover, preventing charging faults on BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ford Ranger, and other Start/Stop platforms.
Can you test my current battery before I buy?
We offer free battery, alternator, and starter testing in-store or as part of the mobile callout. You only pay once we’ve proven the battery is the failure point.