battery charging

[annonymous]

I used my battery for the first time this year yesterday. I drained it down pretty good. I have a Minnkota motor and a trolling battery from Wallymat that has a window to tell you the charge status of it. Well, after overnight on an older Sears charger set at the 2 amp trickle, there is no change in the status window. The battery isn't even warm. I still have it going as I left for work and will check it tonight. Any ideas?? (I have not done any fishing from my boat this year, always going out with others. The battery sat for the winter in the basement on wood blocks to keep it off the concrete floor in the basement.) Thanks.

[anon]

Just got home tonight and checked on the battery. Red light is still in the window on the battery. 9 more hours on the 2 amp charge. How long should it take to recharge a trolling battery??? Help...

[edd]

If it's not charged by now it's shot or the charger is shot.
Did you charge it up lastfall before storage? Are the cells full of water?

[edd]

If it's not charged by now it's shot or the charger is shot.
Did you charge it up lastfall before storage? Are the cells full of water?

[WayneH]

The battery is probably "sulfated" which means that it is very reluctant to take a charge. Try charging with a 10 amp charger. The higher output voltage may breakdown the sulfation. If it won't, a fast charger (40 amps or more) might.
Bottom line: Even if it takes a charge it will not be like new. Will have reduced capacity. Buy a new battery and take care of it. Make sure you recharge it every couple of months even if you are not using it. They will self discharge just setting around. Especially true in hotter weather. Doesn't matter whether they set on a concrete floor or wood, they will have the same problem.

[WayneH]

The battery is probably "sulfated" which means that it is very reluctant to take a charge. Try charging with a 10 amp charger. The higher output voltage may breakdown the sulfation. If it won't, a fast charger (40 amps or more) might.
Bottom line: Even if it takes a charge it will not be like new. Will have reduced capacity. Buy a new battery and take care of it. Make sure you recharge it every couple of months even if you are not using it. They will self discharge just setting around. Especially true in hotter weather. Doesn't matter whether they set on a concrete floor or wood, they will have the same problem.

[anon]

It is taking a charge now that I switched it to a 10 amp charge. Will it reduce a life of a battery by charging it at a higher setting for a shorter time? Do you trickle charge them when you are not using them? One man said that a 2 amp is a 'maintenance' charge. (I did charge it at the end of the season last year.)

[Terroreyes]

I have a 10/2 amp charger also. My best results come from charging it @ 10 amps until it shuts off or is 90% charged, then switch over to the 2 amp setting to finish it off. Much longer lasting charge.


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[anonymous]

Thanks for all the replies. I will hit it with the 10 amp for awhile. We hope to fish on Sunday. The window on the battery shows a green light if it is anywhere between 70 and 100% charged. The charger has an indicating gauge? that will reduce when it is getting close to being topped off. Guess I'll watch that. Thanks again.

[MuskieKid]

A 2 amp charge is basically a trickle charge. If your charger has a larger amperage (most likely 10), use that setting on automatic. You should charge your batteries after evertime you use them. Tom


Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!

[anonymous]

I do charge after every outing. I hope to troll this Sunday as the weather forcast is good. On the charger, when I have it on the 10 amp setting, the gauge shows battery to be approx 80% charged. When I switch it to the 2 amp, the needle in the window doesn't move off of zero. Even when I unplug it, the needle doesn't flinch. Yet, back to the 10 amp setting, the gauge shows battery can take some more. What do you make of this? One fellow said to go to 90% with the 10amp, then finish it with a 2 amp charge. He gets the best performance this way.

[MuskieKid]

Leave the charger on AUTOMATIC 10 amps when you charge it. After it is fully charged, it will automtically shut down and (I believe) will keep it on trickle charge (at 2 amps). If you leave it there too long, it will eventually dry out your water (electrolytes) in your battery and burn your battery up. I would get an inexpensive battery tester (prong type for about $10) to find out the true charge in your battery as it charges. You cannot rely on the charger itself completely.

Water in your batteries: unless your battery is completely sealed, you must add distilled water on occasion. Otherwise it will burn up. If you hear "hissing" or gurgling from your battery as it charges, it's time to add water. The salesman in the store will sell you a so called "maintenance free" battery and tell you TO NEVER ADD WATER. If there are removalble caps on the battery, you must add DISTILLED (no minerals to attack the lead plates) water on occasion.

I fish electric lakes and have four batteries in my boat. Two in the front (for a 24 volt motor) and two in the back (hooked in parallel) for a 12 volt motor. The front batteries are hooked to an on-board charger (the type you plug in the wall - not the kind that charges your batteries from your motor). The back batteries are hooked to a regular (removable) charger (10 amp/2 amp). I NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ONBOARD CHARGER - it shuts down automatically when it reaches full charge and will start recharging when needed (90% of full charge). I seldom have to add water, but do check the batteries.

The REGULAR battery charger (like yours) has to be monitored because it will not shut down completely, running at 2 amp (trickle charge) when the batteries are "fully charged" according to the gauge on the charger. This will result in the battery water going low because it is constanly under charge, thus heating up the water causing the water to run low.

I got my onboard (2 bank 10 amp + 10 amp) charger from Cabelas for $149.00 plus shipping. It's called a Pro 120 and is really a Guest (brand name) charger. It has a three year guarantee. I can charge two batteries at a time and never have to remove the batteries from my boat. The batteries remained hooked up to the charger at all times. All you have to do is plug it in after each use of the motor. I don't know how I ever lived without one. Great investment. You can also get these (and other brand) chargers in 3 & 4 bank models (for 3 & 4 batteries at a time). You can charge trolling motor batteries AND starter/accesories batteries at the same time. The charger monitors & controls electrical output to each battery as needed and stops charging them individually when they are fully charged. One other thing: keep your accesories (depthfinder, lights, etc.) attached to a separate battery from your trolling batteries.

Here's a really great source for you: http://pub165.ezboard.com/bbbcboard For electrical, trolling motor, battery questions scroll down and you will find a great board there that will get you answers on all of this type of question. Tom


Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!

[anonymous]

Haven't heard a hissing sound. The battery IS a MAINTENANCE-FREE and those caps are on there good. Had no luck trying to remove em. I do unplug it overnight cause it is in the basement and I am up on the 2nd floor. Do batteries get 'warm' during a charge? Mine has remained the same. It has been about 2 seasons since I bought the battery. Though I haven't used it much I may have to buy another next spring.
DOES ANYONE LEAVE THEIRS ON A TRICKLE CHARGE OVER THE WINTER??

[MuskieKid]

Yep, they do get warm at first and cool down as they are charged.
Check this board out: http://pub165.ezboard.com/fbbcboardfrm3
Remember...fish don't live in ugly places!