Winter Battery Storage

[Scott]

Should a deep cycle battery be kept on a trickle charger over the winter or is there some other recommended way to be certain the battery will be ready for the next season?And if so, what kind of charger is best?I have seen trickle chargers for as little as $8.00.Will these work?Or is an automatic charger a better choice?I should note this battery is not used for the starting of the motor.(I have an outboard)

 

[Don Evans]

Trickle Charge At The Very Least

Scott, most automotive chargers trickle charge at a steady 2 A. If your topping -up deep cycles of larger capacity, say 200A or more, leaving the charger on, may not overcharge the battery. If your battery is smaller than 200A that trickle charge may overcharge the battery if you forget to unplug it. A smart, 3 stage charger will take out the guess work and the human error. If your going to invest in a "on board" smart charger, (if you have 110V system onboard) wire it so that you can plug/unplug it from the boat. That way you can bring it home, along with the battery, and plug it in for the winter at home. The smart charger will self-regulate the charging current based on the condition of the battery. I have a guest 10A, 2 bank smart charger, and have it plugged into my 110V system on board. I have unplugged it and have it at home keeping the 2, 6V, 240 AH golf cart batts topped up over winter. At the very least, check the battery condition with a hydrometer or voltage meter. A charged battery will show above 12.5V, and a flat battery will be below 12V. There is a post in the "Ask All Sailors" forum you may want to read. Don

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Smart Chargers are really a good idea

Scott,A decent three stage charger is a sound investment as the increase in the longevity of your batteries should more than make up the difference in intial price. A simple 'smart' trickle charger will certainly do so. You want 'smart' rather than always on because if you exceed aproximately 1% of the batteries rated capacity you risk drying it out out over extended periods. A smart trickle charger will sense that the battery is full and stop the flow until its needed again. Be careful of some of the least expensive of this ilk, however, because some of them come out of trickle mode and do not turn on again. These are really designed to top off batteries in vehicles with small alternators, not to maintain a charge per se. (I had a Norton Commando that drew more power than it made, especially with the lights on. Had to be plugged in whenever you weren't riding it or you had a really nice lawn ornament.)If you want to be able to charge the batteries and not just maintain them, then I would definitely invest in a decent three stage charger. These will puts lots of juice out until the battery hits 85% charge, then push it in more slowly until it reaches 100%, then go into a float mode coming on and off as necessary to keep the battery in prime condition. These are little more expensive but are well worth it because they charge your batteries in the least amount of time and maintain them in the best condition.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Russ Marcks]

You should definitely provide 'charging' to a battery being stored. However, you need to be careful what type of charger you use. In your case, I would recommend the Guest Battery Pal. This maintains an already charged battery (will not charge a battery) by replacing the inherent self-discharge.Guest also makes the Battery Pal Magnum which is the same as above but includes a 3-amp charging circuit. Both are available through West Marine at about $25 & $50 respectively.It sounds like you have a single battery so one of the above should be cost effective. I have two batteries and bought two Battery Pals several years ago. However, I've added two more batteries and am thinking about the Guest Charge Pro for a variety of reasons.I would NOT use an automotive charger. These are not designed to be left on continuously and are not designed for deep cycle batteries. They're cheaper (in price) for a reason.Also, make sure you store your batteries on a wood counter or plank. The self-discharge phenomena will increase if stored on concrete.Having some knowledge of battery maintenance, I go through special pains to ensure my batteries are maintained properly, and have not had to replace them for some time now. They're just one of those pieces of equipment that no one gives any thought to, have little difficulty in replacing every year or so, but wouldn't have to if they were properly maintained.