View Full Version : Battery storage over winter
In the past I have always taken my batteries out of the boat and trickle charged them once a month. I bought a new Ranger 620 this spring and its now time to put her up for the winter.
My question: Rather than take everything apart this year, I am wondering if you guys think there would be any problem with, after ensuring all battery levels are where they should be, just leave everything hooked up as they are and plugging in the Dual Pro on-board charger once a month to bring them up to charge. The boat stays in a heated garage all winter.
Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
PS: I tried the search thing but didn't get any results
Kroe
my garage is not heated and I do use my boat during the winter, so I just plug in the pro mariner on board charger and the bateries are ready to go whenever I am.
for storage over a long time period I would simply charge the batteries and then put them on a battery maintainer for the winter. it just keeps them topped off
Dillon
09-18-2008, 08:57 AM
Just be sure both breakers(bow mount & main) are off and you should be fine. You'll still have power to trim/tilt but it shouldn't draw on the batts. I've got '05 620 that I top off, disconnect the negatives and put in cold storage for 5 months. When I reconnect the charger in the spring, all 4 banks go green in a couple minutes.
Kroe
Dilllon way of storing the batteries is the same way that I do it. If a battery has a full charge, it will not freeze and the best way to store batteries is in the cold. If you store batteries above like 68 degrees they start to self discharge. Go to Trojan batteries web site and they will tell you the best way to maintain batteries.
boat nut
09-18-2008, 09:54 AM
Batteries naturally self discharge, even when completely disconnected from your accessories. The rate at which they do this is primarily determined by ambient temperature, and the colder it is the less they discharge, till about -80. I live in Saskatchewan, and it gets cold here in the winter. I fully charge my batteries, check and add distilled water to cells as necessary (recharge again if watering was required) and store them in my unheated shed (in November for me). In the spring (April here), I put them on the charger, but they're done in a few minutes.
If you are leaving them in your boat in a heated garage, I would recommend charging them monthly, even if otherwise disconnected. Because this effectively is cycling your batteries, it might be wise to check the electrolyte about mid winter.
Yes Boat Nut,
I know of the weather you speak of as I live in Denare Beach, SK (about 18km from Flin Flon). Based on what you guys have said, I am going to leave them in the boat in the heated garage, charge them, check distilled water level and top up if necessary. I will then charge them again, unplug the charger and then plug in the charger every month until the onboard Dual Pro shows green. The garage is kept at 10 C (50 F) all winter.
A big thanks to all who replied!!!:D
Kroe