Posts: 3486
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I will agree with Shep here as well. Lead-acid batteries for deep cycle use are built to have a slow charge taken out of them and a slow recharge rate as well.
When a battery is discharged significantly, and without getting too technical on what is going on, the lead plates react chemically with the sulfur from the sulfuric acid, creating lead sulfate. The Sulfuric acid loses it's sulfur and becomes primarily water. Thus, when you discharge a long way, you have more potential to lose fluid via evaporation, which will shorten the life of the battery significantly. So...to offset this issue, keeping the battery at 20% charge or above helps prevent this type of situation happening.
Years ago it was assumed that all batteries had a "memory" so to speak, but through many years of testing, experimentation, etc...that was proven false.
After your day of use on the water, plug it in and recharge slowly... Doesn't have to be trickle charged (2 amp or lower) but definitely slower is better overall as your tm draws slowly as well...
Steve |
