charging outboard battery with deep cycle charger

[jjbuoni]

My cranking battery is registering 11.7 volts on my depthfinder. This is because I have been using a kicker motor and not my main motor but running accesories from that battery such as depthfinder and aerorater. I know it will still start my main motor.

Should I charge it ?
If so, can I use my deep cycle charger?
And if so how high do I want the volt reading?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: charging outboard battery with deep cycle charger

[colour=blue]If it hasn't already happenned, you will kill the starting batt. with the kicker.

Yes, charge it.

ANY charger will do but a smart charger is best.

At rest, one day after you disconnect the charger, you need about 12.8v, but that is a guide only. The most accurate way to test a batt is with a hydrometer.

Don't trust the depthfinder volt gauge, use a meter connected directly to the batt.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: charging outboard battery with deep cycle charger

A starting battery does not like to sit in a partially discharged state. Keep it topped off. If that means putting the charger on it every time you return to the dock, by all means do so. I'd suggest you buy a Schumacher "battery maintainer" and mount it permanently in the boat. It's a small, 1.5A maintainer and can be left plugged in indefinitely. They work very well. About $25.00 at any store that sells auto parts. Don't need to drag out a charger all the time. Just plug in the maintainer.