battery charges between trips

[I guy]

I am curious as to how long a full charge on batteries will last in between trips boating,, and if it will damage the batteries in any way. Heres the deal... I was out fishing and had charged my batteries up and only used the trolling motor for about 1 hour. Now my question is will it set for 5-6 days with that charge or should I charge it before I go out next... Also will allow my batteries to develop a memory I don't want?

[suzuki]

My experience shows me that trolling batteries will last longer if you keep them at full charge all the time. That means topping them off everytime you use them and even periodically when you don't. It's important not to overcharge as well. A battery charger that shuts off and/or floats the charge is ideal. I'm on my fifth year with my current trolling motor batteries. (2 batteries/24V setup)
Not charging after little use once in a while should not be a problem though.

[Ben Nelson]

I would keep them charged and also unplug the electric motors if they have a maximizer on them. They can draw juice when not in use.

[Jbob]

If you can put in an onboard charging system. When you get home plug it in and don't worry about it until you use it again.

[I guy]

I do have an onboard system, you don't mean leave it plugged in the whole time do you,, until I use it again... Or do you mean it will hold the charge until next time..
-thanks

[REW]

Most of the pros that have on board chargers -- and according to the manufacturers recommendations of on board chargers - come home - plug in the charger and forget it. Unplug the charger before going out again.
The on board charger senses the battery voltage - and turns itself on - if the battery is low. It also turns itself fully off - once the battery has become charged. This is what the literature says. It is up to you to decide if you want to do it or not.

Actually - if you leave it plugged in overnight - you will have a full charge - that will stay that way - unless you have a leak or short in your system, or if you have defective batteries for at least a month. I believe that the typical discharge rate for a lead acid battery at 70 degrees is something like 3 or 4%. Basically negligable.

Lead acid batteries don't develop memories, like Nickle Cadium batteries do, and most battery manufacturers recommend that for the longest life -the batteries be maintained in a fully charged state.

Come home - plug in your charger overnight - unplug and go fishing the next week or month, and be assured that you have a full charge.

Take care
REW

[Rapster]

Lead Acid Batteries are just a pail of electricity. When you come home, put it on the charger and fill it back up. At 70-80 degrees, they loose about 1% of their charge a day. If you bring your boat home after using 25% of your batteries capacity and it sets 3 weeks without being charged, your down to 50%.
Winter storage...
The process slows down when they get cold. The best way to store a battery is fully disconnected, fully charged, and stored as cold as possible. Fully charged batteries are good to -60 degrees.
* Disconnect all electrical devices attached to the battery.
* Completely clean and dry the top of the battery
* Completely charge the battery prior to storage.
* Don’t store any batteries in the basement
* Store batteries in a location that offers the coldest possible temperature.
* Recharge your battery approximately once each month or when the specific gravity of the electrolyte drops to 1.225.

[Honest John]

Why shouldn't batteries be stored in a basement?
Thanks.

John

[Thom]

A couple of things. Lead acid batterys do not have memory, but then neither do NiCad's, at least according to NASA they don't.

The kiss of death for a battery is to be left in a partial state of discharge. Recharge yours as soon as you are done using the boat. As far as "Smart" chargers go, just plug them in and forget them until you next need to use the boat. I've had mine plugged in virtually every hour the boat wasn't moving (either on the trailer or on the water) for the last 3 years. I plug it in when the boat is docked and I plug it in when the trailer is parked. My batterys are always at 100 percent.

As for the self discharge rate, I don't know what it is but I'm sure its not on the order of even 1% per day (a number I've seen used with NiCad's by the way). I say that because there are thousands of battery on the shelfs of various retailers around the country that are at 100 percent and they are over 3 months old. Think about it, if they were loosing 1% a day they'd be stone dead in three months but if you can find one that is newer than 3 months on the rack at your local Wal Mart you're doing awfully good. Those things are at least that old but they tend to be nearly fully charged and ready to go the moment you stick them in the boat, or car, or lawn mower, or whatever else.

Thom

[Tom B]

I just talked to a friend that is replacing batteries that are only 2 years old. He has an on board charger, but plugs it in the night before a trip. I also have an on board charger, but plug mine in immediately after fishing and my batteries are on their 4th season.

Tom B

[Silentsixty]

http://www.marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm

Section 9 of the link answers most of the original questions. All of the items that there are some different opinions on are addressed within the link with the exception of whether NiCads have memory.

I have read this from two different sources (literature that came with something maybe laptops at work?) - The 1st generations of NiCad batteries did have memory but the problem has been corrected for quite some time.

Best Wishes,
ss

[hgmeyer]

ABSOLUTELY...get an onboard charger...read the literature and forget your battery problems. I plug my Guest Charger in as soon as I hit the garage and unplug to vacum out the boat, otherwise they stay plugged in until I get ready to leave. Partial dischraged state is the killer...keep them charged and the batteries last.