Battery maintainers

[capecodder116]

This question concerns battery charging over the winter months....I have two batteries which I have taken out of the boat for the winter months. I alternate putting a two amp charge on each battery, every couple of weeks for a couple days each....
I'd like to purchase a couple of these small battery maintainers to monitor each of the batteries so I don't need to continually keep switching charger from one battery to the other all winter. Can you offer suggestions as to which units would be best.......Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery maintainers

Schumaker makes a very nice unit which is potted and waterproof. I have one installed in my boat for the start battery and its been plugged in since the boat was layed up in November. It will remain plugged in until I do the spring tune up. My trolling motor battery is also being maintained by the dedicated 6A Guest on-board charger which also has a "float" feature so my batteries remain in the boat. The maintainer I mentioned is about $25.00 at any store that sells auto parts. Places like Harbor Freight have maintainers for as little as $10.00 but I don't know how well regulated they are.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Battery maintainers

i bought 8 of the harbour freight float chargers, and am very pleased. used 6 of them as xmas presents. boy it was a cheap year. mo money for gas & bait.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Battery maintainers

Check the link below to iboats store and scroll through the pages. They list a few and it'll give you an idea of what you want. I have three "Battery Pals" I use on my rigs batteries. Bring the batteries in the shop, put the pals on them and almost forget about them. My son even uses them on his bikes.

http://www.iboats.com/mall/?cart_id...words=battery+chargers&submit.x=30&submit.y=9

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery maintainers

There is an interesting discussion about these going on over on the I/O forum. Apparently some the I/O experts don't believe in them but on this forum nearly everyone uses them -- especially if the boat has a trolling motor. I happen to be a firm believer in them and have used them for years as it does seem to prolong battery life. I posted four links to various battery storage and "float charging" sites. Here's the link to the I/O forum and the links are posted in my response on that thread.
http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=24;gtid=1241881

 

[wileecoyote985]

Re: Battery maintainers

There is an interesting discussion about these going on over on the I/O forum. Apparently some the I/O experts don't believe in them but on this forum nearly everyone uses them -- especially if the boat has a trolling motor. I happen to be a firm believer in them and have used them for years as it does seem to prolong battery life. I posted four links to various battery storage and "float charging" sites. Here's the link to the I/O forum and the links are posted in my response on that thread.
http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=24;gtid=1241881

Yup. Some pretty strong opinions and argumentative language on the I/O forum.

No expert here, but I've done a fair amount of research on this subject. It appears to me that the bottom line is that it doesn't take much neglect (as in deep discharging of batteries not specifically designed for it, or failure to completely re-charge a battery ASAP) to cause permanent damage to any lead acid battery.

The fact is that batteries do self discharge if not maintained, with the rate of self discharge varying with the particular battery and the ambient temperature. The price on "smart" chargers has come down enough so that it's easy (provided AC power is available) and cost effective to maintain your battery at it's peak, which should extend it's life.

Gary

 

[thurps]

Re: Battery maintainers

I use a $9.00 solar charger purchaced from harbor freight and I'm still on the same battery after 5 years.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Battery maintainers

For my money I would buy a good 10 amp or more Automatic charger that also is a maintainer.
Cost more but when you discharge that big deep cycle 50 percent it will recharge in
12 to 15 hours for the next day.

Still will taper to zero amps and maintain battery without over charging.

I been useing one on my boat since 1980 and charge both batteries thru same
battery isolator my alternator uses. Never had a battery that did not last 6 years.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery maintainers

Still will taper to zero volts and maintain battery without over charging.

It won't taper to zero volts.

I been useing one on my boat since 1980 and charge both batteries thru same
battery isolator my alternator uses.

Why charge through a diode and get the voltage drop?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Battery maintainers

It does taper to zero amps and works perfectly without over charging.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery maintainers

It does taper to zero amps and works perfectly without over charging.

Charging through the isolator undercharges the battery which is bad for the battery.

You didn't say amps...you said volts. I see you edited your post.

 

[wileecoyote985]

Re: Battery maintainers

edit

 

[drewpster]

Re: Battery maintainers

I see the isolator debate still rages on.

I use a Shumacher Charger when the batteries are on the bench and an onboard charger while they are in the boat. I bought the deep cycle three years ago and the marine start batt before that. Its been awhile, i cannot remember when. They both seem too be holding up well.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: Battery maintainers

How much did you pay for your shumacher battery charger...

In Canada here, you can buy a Nautilus Intelligent Battery Charger. It has a 15/10 Amp fast charge. It also has a 2 Amp trickle charger as well. It charges batteries twice as fast as conventional chargers. Smart Technology automatically adjusts charging rate to match batteries requirements. Ideal for AGM, Gel, Deep Cycle, and conventional batteries. 5 Year Warranty all for $99.99 CND.