Battery question

[ceasarea]

I just removed the battery to my 1997 4.3gl 18' Glastron....Its not a marine battery....it really didnt fit the battery tray...Its a few inches longer. That being said i had no issues with it. Is it ok to use to it dies. I never have to charge it so everything seems to be working fine. Thanks

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Battery question

So you have no 2nd battery, of any kind, on board? How old is the current battery? Group 24 or 27? Battery load tested lately?

Having a 2nd battery installed with a battery switch is always ideal if space allows for the additional battery, switch and some cables.

Even if you can on go with the 1 battery and run it till it dies, might want to bring a portable jump-start device, just in case.

I always prefer using a "marine" rated battery.

Mark

 

[limitout]

Re: Battery question

there is a difference in marine batteries but I never bothered or cared enough to find out exactly why, I think the marines have more reserve cranking amps or something.

I have always used regular car batteries and never had any issues and if anything I think they last longer then marine batteries, at least the marine batteries I have had barely made it past the expiration dates where car batteries have gone an extra year or two on average for me.

 

[fen-isl]

Re: Battery question

I just removed the battery to my 1997 4.3gl 18' Glastron....Its not a marine battery....it really didnt fit the battery tray...Its a few inches longer. That being said i had no issues with it. Is it ok to use to it dies. I never have to charge it so everything seems to be working fine. Thanks

I would think you have been very lucky. Why not just buy a new marine deep cycle battery in the spring just before commissioning her. You will have a fresh proper battery and no worries for a few years.
Plus a deep cycle battery can power accesories longer and still have power to start the engine. (Within reason of course) And take the abuse of a boat bouncing around in the chop.
Also it should fit in battery tray and be secured to the tray, so you wont have any type of short or electrical fire from loose wires and arcing.

Good Luck !!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Battery question

I just removed the battery to my 1997 4.3gl 18' Glastron....Its not a marine battery....it really didnt fit the battery tray...Its a few inches longer. That being said i had no issues with it. Is it ok to use to it dies. I never have to charge it so everything seems to be working fine. Thanks

Yes, it's ok to use what you have tll it dies or gives you trouble.

Marine batteries are designed to handle vibration better (not going to get into deep verus starting) but this to depends on the manufacture. Use auto type, use marine type, your boat your money, neither will hurt your boat.

 

[ceasarea]

Re: Battery question

Thanks guys....If they are on sale in the spring i will get a marine one...if not i will continue.....it showed a little over 14 volts....It was group 27.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Battery question

On my old boat I had a regular battery for the starting side and a marine battery for the accessories. They were hooked up through an isolator so that the the starting battery never drained from running the accessories. I never had a issue with the regular battery on the baot. Once I get my isolator I am going to do the same setup on the current boat. The main advantage with a marine battery is that it can be drained without damaging it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery question

The main advantage with a marine battery is that it can be drained without damaging it.

Only if its a deep discharge battery. There are marine starting batteries that you don't want to drain. Even with a deep discharge battery, you never want to discharge them more than 50% or the capacity ends up dropping a lot.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery question

Thanks guys....If they are on sale in the spring i will get a marine one...if not i will continue.....it showed a little over 14 volts....It was group 27.

You need to wait until it is off any charge for 30 minutes, If you measured 14V you measured a surface charge. A fully charged battery should read 12.6V.

 

[ceasarea]

Re: Battery question

Jut checked the batteries....including the riding lawn mower....all show between 12.5 and 12.6...so it seems i am good to go...Thanks.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery question

And I will add, when a battery is at 12.6V, it just means its fully charged. The true test is to then do a load test. You can have a fully charged battery that will discharge to a much lower voltage after a small amount of current draw. I like to use a load tester occasionally on my batteries to determine their health.

 

[ceasarea]

Re: Battery question

I will have to look into that.....never done it.....and what's your opinion as to storing them for the winter....it get cold up north in Ontario/Canada.I usually keep them on the wooden shelf in the garage and charge overnight every few months..so far so good

 

[thumpar]

Re: Battery question

I have a battery maintenance that I use. About every week I change from one battery to the other. I need to get another one so I can just leave both hooked up.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery question

I will have to look into that.....never done it.....and what's your opinion as to storing them for the winter....it get cold up north in Ontario/Canada.I usually keep them on the wooden shelf in the garage and charge overnight every few months..so far so good

As long as they are fully charged, you can leave them anywhere. They will never freeze if fully charged unless your temps drop to -90?F.

By the way, they don't have to be left on wood...concrete floor is just as fine.

The colder it is, the less they self discharge so being in cold is not bad at all.

I use smart chargers on mine 24/7.

 

[ceasarea]

Re: Battery question

Awesome....thanks

 

[tav]

Re: Battery question

an on board charger whould help also, i have one and keeps battery's nice and charged.

 

[tav]

Re: Battery question

hey bruce....you got me wondering ......whats a load tester, can you buy it ?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery question

hey bruce....you got me wondering ......whats a load tester, can you buy it ?

100 Amp 6 Volt/12 Volt Battery Load Tester

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Battery question

A load tester if a handy item to have around, I picked up one a few days ago. Its easier than pulling battery out of the boat.

 

[ceasarea]

Re: Battery question

Just wondering how do you know what size of battery to buy.....I have a 4.3 gl with volvo sx outdrive and one radio....only use while boat is riding....