How do I properly charge a battery?

[orca1967]

I searched the forum but did not come up with my answer. I inherited a schumaker battery charger. It has different settings on it along with a charging timer. My question is how do I properly charge a marine battery, and how do I know when it is fully charged?

 

[marty_scher]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Is it an old battery charger?<br /><br />Schumaker battery chargers are good, but unless it has a trickle (slow) charge and auto-shut off, it may not be worth messing with, especially since a new Schumaker can be had for $35.<br /><br />Usually the best way to charge a battery is slow and then have the charger stop, when the bettery is fully charged.<br /><br />Many of the old chargers were pretty basic and the timer not that accurate, and may be hard on newer batteries.<br /><br />Marty

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Depending on which model charger you have, you may have some switches to set.<br /><br />Unplug the charger.<br />Select "charge" not start.<br />Select 12 volt.<br />Select the lowest amp setting (1, 2, 3), but not .2 or .3, these are maintainer levels for an already charged battery.<br />Hook up the battery.<br />Plug in the charger.<br />Turn it to "on".<br />The meter should move, charge until meter drops back down to zero.<br />This may take a few days, depending on how depleted your battery is.<br /><br />I would not use the timer.<br />If you hook up the charger during the winter to maintain your battery, you can set the timer for a couple hours, once every 3 weeks.<br /><br />You can charge it much faster on the 10 amp setting, but this is not real good for your battery.

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

One more thing. Always fill the battery to the proper level, before AND after charging. Use distilled water.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

orca1967<br /><br />There has been many wives tales told on the net. Charging batteries is not as complicated and critical as some make it out to be. <br />>charge your battery at any rate that does not raise the temperature of the battery above 125F.(warm to the touch is too high)<br />>check the "specific gravity" of the electrolyte with a hydrometer every few hours until no rise in reading is observed. <br />>When the battery has been checked three consecutive times with no increase in specific gravity, the battery is fully charged. <br />>If the battery is a maintenance free battery, observe the charge rate when the applied voltage is 14 volts. If the current is less than 2-3 amps, its fully charged.<br />

 

[C17LoadSmasher]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

If the battery is removed from the boat, set it on some wood boards, two by fours or something like that. Setting batteries directly on concrete can cause them to discharge. I don't know why, but they do.

 

[enriquepagan]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Hope this works. <br /><br />I just picked up a new charger at WAlmart (yes walmart) it is fully automatic, its controlled by circuit board. <br />Fully resets in event of short or improper connections<br />It has the 2amp 4 amp 6 amp settings.<br />after a day of fishing i set it to 2 amps the slower the charge the better the hold. the 4 amps is usally used when the battery is totally dead (also the 6 amp) you boost up the charge to activate the acid in the core for about an hour then drop it down to 2 amp and you will have a refreshed battery..Good luck and have fun.

 

[marty_scher]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Hey Goin<br /><br />Walmart rebrands the Schumaker battery chargers. <br /><br />You should be good to go!<br /><br />Marty

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Batteries on cement is an old wives tale. 10 amps wil not hurt anything, your car and boat charge a battery alot higher than 10 and it is always better to charge a battery faster rather than slower.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Usually the best way to charge a battery is slow

You will improve the quality and longevity of a deep cycle battery by charging it as fast as possible and as soon as possible.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Originally posted by C17LoadSmasher:<br />If the battery is removed from the boat, set it on some wood boards, two by fours or something like that. Setting batteries directly on concrete can cause them to discharge. I don't know why, but they do.

That is not true. It comes from batteries 100 years ago that did not have a plastic case. Concrete will have no effect on any battery you can find today.

 

[Boatist]

Re: How do I properly charge a battery?

Goin<br />Charge on the 6 amp setting. That will get the battery charged up faster and also that charger you have will switch to 4 amps and then 2 amps on it's own as the battery reaches near full charge.<br />If you had a starting battery in your truck or a deep cycle in your camper but charged by your motor alternator then you would be charging with a 60 to 100 amp alternator. Alternator is voltage regulated so as not to go over proper voltage and so is charger you got from wallmart.<br /><br />Even a group 24 deep cycle run down to 50 percent will take all night to recharge at 10 amps. Group 27 or 31 take even longer.