I store my boat in Waukegan, Illinois over the winter. Do most people take out their batteries over the winter or do you leave them on board? Thanks in advance for the info.!
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Disconnect
It is best to take them out and keep them charged, however I leave mine in. If you leave them in make sure you disconnect them to prevent them from discharging or possibly shorting out and causing a fire. It is also important that they have a maintenance charge while stored in the boat or off the boat. If they lose there charge they will freeze and burst. I give mine a maintenace charge every 60 days.
It is best to take them out and keep them charged, however I leave mine in. If you leave them in make sure you disconnect them to prevent them from discharging or possibly shorting out and causing a fire. It is also important that they have a maintenance charge while stored in the boat or off the boat. If they lose there charge they will freeze and burst. I give mine a maintenace charge every 60 days.
Maybe it's just me, but.....
every time I leave my batteries on board over the winter and charge them a couple of times over the duration, within a year or so the batteries die. It has happened several times. Now I just lug them home, put them in my somewhat warm basement and put a tiny charger on them. I also measure the specific gravity and do a load test on them to determine the present capacity and to keep track of their performance.
every time I leave my batteries on board over the winter and charge them a couple of times over the duration, within a year or so the batteries die. It has happened several times. Now I just lug them home, put them in my somewhat warm basement and put a tiny charger on them. I also measure the specific gravity and do a load test on them to determine the present capacity and to keep track of their performance.
More a matter of preference
I've heard arguments both ways and it's certainly indisputable that taking them off the boat for warm storage can't hurt, except for your back perhaps. What's more important is to keep the charge up over the cold weather period - if you do that, you essentially treat them as you do your car battery. In my case, I'm too lazy to lug 5 batteries home just to have them relegated to the cold garage. Don
I've heard arguments both ways and it's certainly indisputable that taking them off the boat for warm storage can't hurt, except for your back perhaps. What's more important is to keep the charge up over the cold weather period - if you do that, you essentially treat them as you do your car battery. In my case, I'm too lazy to lug 5 batteries home just to have them relegated to the cold garage. Don
On the boat. . . .
six winters already. But you do not say which type. Most of my friends remove their wet cell batteries. My Gels have not been moved since 1998. I might work on the boat for a day or two a month. On those days the charger is working. But I never leave the boat with the power connected. It would be best to take wet cell batteries home if you cannot get to the boat to charge them occasionally. I also know of a few boats that leave power to a trickle charger all winter. Our marina does not charge extra for electricity.
six winters already. But you do not say which type. Most of my friends remove their wet cell batteries. My Gels have not been moved since 1998. I might work on the boat for a day or two a month. On those days the charger is working. But I never leave the boat with the power connected. It would be best to take wet cell batteries home if you cannot get to the boat to charge them occasionally. I also know of a few boats that leave power to a trickle charger all winter. Our marina does not charge extra for electricity.
Trickle charge vs full charge once a month
I assume that a trickle charge is the 2-amp setting on my charger? I lug my wet cell (deep cycle) battery home for the winter and keep it in the garage where it doesn't go much below 15 degrees F over the winter. I put the full 10-amp charge on once a month, for about 24 hours. Is it better to put on the 2-amp charge 24/7 for the entire 8 months of winter here? ...RickM...
I assume that a trickle charge is the 2-amp setting on my charger? I lug my wet cell (deep cycle) battery home for the winter and keep it in the garage where it doesn't go much below 15 degrees F over the winter. I put the full 10-amp charge on once a month, for about 24 hours. Is it better to put on the 2-amp charge 24/7 for the entire 8 months of winter here? ...RickM...
MY maintenance charger is low capacity
I think it can only supply about 0.2A max and it floats the batteries at 13.2V. After I do my year-end measurements and tests, I fully charge the batteries with a regular auto batter charger and then put them on float for the winter. In the spring I usually just put them back onboard without any further charging.
I think it can only supply about 0.2A max and it floats the batteries at 13.2V. After I do my year-end measurements and tests, I fully charge the batteries with a regular auto batter charger and then put them on float for the winter. In the spring I usually just put them back onboard without any further charging.
Battery Maintenance
Most experts will tell you to keep your batteries at full charge as much as possible. If you let them discharge over an extended period you shorten their lives. Sounds like a trickle charge is the best way to extend the life of your batteries.
Most experts will tell you to keep your batteries at full charge as much as possible. If you let them discharge over an extended period you shorten their lives. Sounds like a trickle charge is the best way to extend the life of your batteries.
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