Hello All, My H336 is in winter storage in Boston. The batteries have been taken out and kept in my house (warm). Do I need to charge the batteries over the winter? As always your response is greatly appreciated.
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charging batteries
I would suggest that you put them on a trickle charge for 12 hours once a month.
I would suggest that you put them on a trickle charge for 12 hours once a month.
Batteries
It is a good idear to periodicly charge the batteries. I keep mine in the garage abd charge them once a month. You never want to let a battery go dead. I also understand that the electrolite has the potential to freeze in real cold climates.
It is a good idear to periodicly charge the batteries. I keep mine in the garage abd charge them once a month. You never want to let a battery go dead. I also understand that the electrolite has the potential to freeze in real cold climates.
Not Necessary
If the batteries are healthy and fully charged they will be fine in the boat during winter. It would help to charge them for a short time maybe once every 6 weeks. They only way you'll have a problems is if they discharge. When discharged the fluid will freeze and may crack the case. Generally speaking, I leave mine on board unless one is old and questionable then I only remove that one during winter storage
If the batteries are healthy and fully charged they will be fine in the boat during winter. It would help to charge them for a short time maybe once every 6 weeks. They only way you'll have a problems is if they discharge. When discharged the fluid will freeze and may crack the case. Generally speaking, I leave mine on board unless one is old and questionable then I only remove that one during winter storage
Marine batteries
If the batteries are stored in a garage, that should be OK. IIRC, its a good idea to keep them fully charged over the winter. An inexpensive "smart" charger like a Vector (cheap at Wally World) will do the trick. Hook it up, plug it in and forget it until its time to take the batteries back out to the boat. Another option if they're inside a warm house is to charge them fully every couple of weeks to keep them fully charged, then charge them completely a day or two before taking them back out to the boat. If you're going to use one charger on two batteries, use it on individual batteries one at a time. As far as keeping them on the boat, if a car battery will freeze (how often does that happen?), then a marine battery will freeze. A fully charged battery will survive the winter better than a discharged one. If on the boat, its better to keep a "smart" trickle charger hooked up. I keep my battery in the garage (cold but usually above freezing) with a smart charger hooked up and on all the time.
If the batteries are stored in a garage, that should be OK. IIRC, its a good idea to keep them fully charged over the winter. An inexpensive "smart" charger like a Vector (cheap at Wally World) will do the trick. Hook it up, plug it in and forget it until its time to take the batteries back out to the boat. Another option if they're inside a warm house is to charge them fully every couple of weeks to keep them fully charged, then charge them completely a day or two before taking them back out to the boat. If you're going to use one charger on two batteries, use it on individual batteries one at a time. As far as keeping them on the boat, if a car battery will freeze (how often does that happen?), then a marine battery will freeze. A fully charged battery will survive the winter better than a discharged one. If on the boat, its better to keep a "smart" trickle charger hooked up. I keep my battery in the garage (cold but usually above freezing) with a smart charger hooked up and on all the time.
What kind of batteries??
If you have standard lead/acid batteries that are up to full charge you can leave them onboard for the winter months. Lead/acid batteries loose charge at the rate of .2volts/month assuming no drain. That means the electrolite will freeze at about -25* by winters end. If you have gel cell batteries, they can be allowed to fully discharge and still not freeze until -30*. If they are fully charged they can withstand temps below -70*. Gel cell batteries store perfectly well fully discharged and are able to be fully recharged whenever, with no residual affect.
If you have standard lead/acid batteries that are up to full charge you can leave them onboard for the winter months. Lead/acid batteries loose charge at the rate of .2volts/month assuming no drain. That means the electrolite will freeze at about -25* by winters end. If you have gel cell batteries, they can be allowed to fully discharge and still not freeze until -30*. If they are fully charged they can withstand temps below -70*. Gel cell batteries store perfectly well fully discharged and are able to be fully recharged whenever, with no residual affect.
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