Sealed batteries are known as maintenance free batteries. They are made with vents that (usually)
cannot be removed. A standard auto or marine maintenance free battery is sealed, but not fully leak
proof. Sealed batteries are not totally sealed since all batteries must allow gas to vent during
charging.

Deep-cycle means using the battery in an application that will typically discharge 60% to 70% or
more of the battery capacity. Electric vehicles and many industrial applications make extensive use
of deep-cycle batteries.  An automotive battery is an SLI (starting, lighting, and ignition) battery. Its
plates are designed to deliver maximum power for a short duration. Starting a car typically
discharges an SLI battery only 1% to 3%. When an SLI battery is used in a deep cycle application, or in
a vehicle with heavy accessory loads, the battery life will be shortened proportionally to how deeply
it is cycled on a regular basis.

Batteries can be classified into two categories- application based (what they are used for) and
construction based (how they are built). The major applications are automotive, marine, and deep-
cycle. Deep-cycle includes solar electric (PV), backup power, and RV and boat "house" batteries. The
major construction types are flooded (wet), gelled, and AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). AGM batteries
are also sometimes called "starved electrolyte" or "dry", because the fiberglass mat is only 95%
saturated with Sulphuric acid and there is no excess liquid.

CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps. This is the amount of power supplied by your battery when
starting your vehicle on a really cold day (0 degrees Fahrenheit). The definition by Battery Council
International (BCI) is: The discharge load, in amperes, that a fully charged battery, at 0 degrees
Fahrenheit, can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain a voltage of 1.2 volts per cell or higher.

Yes, when working with or near a battery, or jump starting a vehicle, always:
Wear glasses or safety goggles
Shield eyes and face from battery
Keep as much distance as possible from battery
Do not cause any flames or sparks, do not smoke
Read your vehicle instruction manual before jump starting vehicle
Read warning labels on battery

Should acid get on your skin or in your eyes, flush with water immediately and seek medical
attention.

Yes, as long as the voltage is the same (i.e. 12 volts). Before doing this, however, you should make
sure that the replacement battery fits in the vehicle and can be properly secured (held down) to
avoid excessive vibration. You should also check your vehicle's manual to make certain that you use
a replacement battery with sufficient Cold Cranking Amps (CCA).

No, a battery will self-discharge slowly over time. Allowing a battery to sit in a discharged state will
ultimately lead to severe positive grid corrosion and battery failure. An un-used battery should never
be allowed to sit over 6 months without a recharge.

Any time you need the battery to supply all the operating power for a vehicle or other device.
Additionally, deep-cycle batteries should be used in vehicles that have heavy accessory loads where
the alternator cannot maintain the battery in a fully charged condition. Some examples include
vehicles with powerful stereo systems, vehicles with increased electronics like GPS systems, game
systems, DVD players and LCD screens or boats with on-board chargers, trolling motors, fish-finders,
stereos, lights, etc.