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Posts: 386
| Hey guys -- I could use your advice, please!
Just had to get myself a new starting battery. It came "charged and ready to go" but my question is, is it recommended that I slow charge it often to keep it in good shape, or will doing so actually hurt the life of the battery. I've heard the alternater on my motor will do the trick and that I should not have to charge my starting battery often. I'm just wondering whether charging it often can do any damage?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Edited by gopackgo 9/18/2007 6:34 PM
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Posts: 79
| 1st - Do you have your electronics hooked up to it. If you do I would recommended a slow charger because I found out last Saturday the hard way I have 2 depth finders and had the lights on and she was about 30 degrees out. well wouldn't you know click click no juice. So if you don't run your motor long enough she never charges the battery full so now I throw the charger on it now. I wish I had a 3 bank charger that would take care of everything...... Christmas wish list LOL |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Good evening!!
Check that statement... When a battery is fully charged, it should keep it's charge for a very long time. So..hooking up a slow charger is not something that is needed. Through the winter months when the batteries are just sitting and not being used, it is usually recommended to unhook the battery. Many bring it inside, but in reality, it is not needed. If it is charged, it will not freeze. It is also recommended to put the battery on a charger about once a month while not in use to top it off since there will be a minimal loss in charge. Just put it on a normal charger (most are automatic shut off these days) and your all set. If you have an on-board charger, you can keep it plugged in and the onboard will maintain the battery through the time the boat is not in use without hurting the battery.
On top of that, a starting battery is designed to do a quick draw for starting your motor and a quick recharge by your alternator. Many alternators these days have more amperage capability than in years past, so it takes less time to charge the battery. Now...with colder temps, any battery will be less efficient, and thus may not last as long. Putting a slow charge (like a trickle charge) on a starting battery will work, but is usually not recommended.
Most boats are rigged with the main fuse/circuit breaker panel getting it's electric power from the starting battery. Most electronics, lights, etc do not draw much electricity when used in individual cases, so in most cases it is not an issue. But...consider how much we add to our boats, and the newer designs of many boats, colder temps, lots of electronics, running lights, marine band radio, stereo, etc. a battery can be drawn down pretty quick and getting caught with a dead battery can happen in fairly short span of time.
Having a 3 bank charger on-board is definitely a good item to have. You can plug in and all of your batteries will be fully charged, and kept "topped off" for the next time out, and in most cases, this will be adequate for a day of fishing without fear of running the starting battery down, given it is in good shape and not ready for replacement.
Recommendation: If you are in the situation of needing to purchase a new starting battery, I would suggest getting a dual purpose battery (like the Stowaway) that has the capabilities of being drawn down slowly or used as a starting battery. It will charge like a starting battery, but has a much longer draw-down time than a typical starting battery. Plus, it can take the slow draw down of the on board "stuff" we all use without hurting the battery over time.
Also...getting a set of 10 foot jumper cables to keep in the boat is a good idea as well. If your main battery runs down, you can jump-start by hooking up to a trolling motor battery. Not the easiest on the trolling battery due to it's design, but it works in a pinch. Even if your trolling batteries are hooked up in series for the larger trolling motors, the jumper for the 24 volts is usually in the trolling motor plug, so hooking up to one battery will be safe.
Steve
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Posts: 386
| Awesome reply, Steve! Thanks so much, buddy.
Tight lines . . . |
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Posts: 5874
| Pretty much agree with VMS, except that I have never come off the water, and had a fully charged starting battery. I always have an on board charger, and I always plug it in when I put the boat up. The starting battery is always the last to reach it's full charge. One reason is the short run time of the big motor, especially when muskie fishing. The other is all the stuff that draws on the starter battery. Radio's, livewell, sonars, GPS, Marine radio, and the most newer motors(DI/EFI) have some current draw when not running. I had to replace my starter battery this year alaready. It's not fun to do when in a tourney, and on the water! I need to get those jumper cables back in the boat! |
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| The battery should be fully charged periodically because not all the cells will charge at the same rate. One cell may be a little slower than the others and require more time to be fully charged thus bringing down the run time of the other cells. In industrial batteries this is called equalizing. |
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Posts: 386
| But can one cause any damage or hurt the life of a battery by charging it too often? |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Adam,
I agree with Shep. Get an on-board charger.
Since getting one, I have never had a starting battery go bad. Think of it this way, The battery in your truck gets charged every time you run it. Your boat does not get used as often as your boat (sure would be nice if it did, right?). The battery in the Jeep was 8 years old, before I had to replace it this summer.
On-board chargers provide a slow charge (which batteries love), and shut down when the battery has reached full charge. Some chargers (automotive) will way overcharge your battery, severly shortening the life of it. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Guess I should clarify a bit...
I would not use a trickle charger on a starting battery. From the perspective I was writing from, a 10 - 15 amp charger or alternators putting out 25 amps is extremely fast as compared to a 2 amp trickle charger.
Most on board chargers these days are definitely a good bet. Many have a 3 phase charging system that will put out more amperage when the battery/batteries have been drawn down significantly, and as the battery charges, less amperage is put out as the battery reaches full charge. This is to prevent over charging as nightmare stated.
Steve |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | My fish/charge all my batteries everyday, even if I only go out for 5-6 hours.
Charge them, it won't hurt a thing. Charge them after every use, just the same for your trolling motor batteries.
Charge your batteries after every use. |
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