How to charge batteries now???

[hotkey]

I recently moved my "storage location from my driveway to a secure storage lot not far from home to allow for a bit more parking. Of course being a pretty naive boater, when I parked my boat at the new location I realized I no longer can plug in my mounted trickle charger! Geez! Mine is a 16' Javelin Bass boat. 2 marine batteries. 1 for big motor and accessories and 1 for trolling motor.

So I'm looking for best/easiest ways of keeping things juiced up! Any suggestions welcome and thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

solargizer

here is one on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/252474011121?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

 

[KD4UPL]

A solar panel will work if you can get it in the sun. I don't know if you're boat is under roof or if there are a lot of trees around.
If you just want to keep the battery topped up then any little 10 or 20 watt panel will work. If you actually want to recharge the battery you would want something larger; maybe 50 or 100 watts. It just depends on the size of the battery, how deeply you discharge it, and how quickly you want to recharge it.
If you go with a panel that puts out enough amps to be more than 1% of the battery's amp/hour capacity you would also want to have a charge controller.

 

[MH Hawker]

a 15 watt panel is 1.2 amps at a peek charge

 

[bruceb58]

a 15 watt panel is 1.2 amps at a peek charge

It's not even that good since most panels are rated at 17V. Closer to 0.8A.

And likely it will also be 20% less than that unless its angled perfectly.

 

[MH Hawker]

you cant beat a real charger, solar panels is one of things that sound nice but are real expensive if their big enough to really work

 

[willamettejeff]

When I have my boat in inside storage for the winter I use a battery box with a 110vac inverter to run the onboard battery charger. Just hook up in the morning and come back in the afternoon. Have a large very heavy AGM battery onboard, so my back does not want to remove from boat. Also, because it is AGM, only need to charge twice during the off season to keep the battery good. Have a different storage unit now and it has a inside light socket on a switch, Hmmm.

 

[bruceb58]

When I have my boat in inside storage for the winter I use a battery box with a 110vac inverter to run the onboard battery charger. Just hook up in the morning and come back in the afternoon. Have a large very heavy AGM battery onboard, so my back does not want to remove from boat. Also, because it is AGM, only need to charge twice during the off season to keep the battery good. Have a different storage unit now and it has a inside light socket on a switch, Hmmm.

If you are using a battery box to charge an AGM, you must not discharge the AGM very far or you are just using it to trickle charge it.

 

[BRICH1260]

You may have to remove the batteries before storing the boat and take them home with you to charge. Could be a PITA, but at least your batteries will always be fully charged. Solar chargers are not yet practical for short term deep charges.

 

[willamettejeff]

If you are using a battery box to charge an AGM, you must not discharge the AGM very far or you are just using it to trickle charge it.

Bruce, Only using the battery box / inverter method to top off my battery from storage loss using my 6amp onboard charger which is really all that is needed. Agree would not be feasible for much more than just that. AGM batteries have a very low storage/non-use loss rate compared to regular batteries, so don't need to be topped off nearly as often, but method would still work for regular batteries. Just one of the many reasons I use an AGM battery, but they are &*$(@! heavy. I have mine under the passenger seat which nicely counterbalances weight of steering, controls, and me when using boat solo.

Another idea would be to use a small portable generator and something faster than a trickle charger to keep the batteries up if boat stored outdoors. Would need to do this about once a month or so during storage / non-use.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Is this storage area for the boating season or winter storage? That would take a very large solar array to keep batteries charged over the winter, even summer if it's sunny. Unless you have a small generator I believe you are talking the batteries out off season or taking it out on the water every few weeks bringing a booster pack with you in case.

 

[Grub54891]

If a battery is good, and charged, it will be ok through the winter months if disconnected. If its bad in spring, it was on it's way out to begin with. As far as charging while in storage, There is a certain liability involved. If you have a charger hooked up 24/7 in storage, and something happens, you may be liable for any damages to other units/property. At the very minimum, I would use a charger, but have a timer on it to shut off at a given time, say 12 hours later, then at least you know they are charged, and the charger is shut down most of the time. I have that type of set up at my cabin, so I have no risk of overcharging, and feel safer when I'm not there.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I kept 3 batteries topped off with a single solargizer over winter. Just ran the panel to outside the storage area and duct tapped it to the door. Simply disconnecting the batteries will be ok for about 6 months

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Here with the howling winds either coming off Erie or from the north a battery won't last 5 days in a car. Scott what type of solar system do you use here? I have never seen a system within a reasonable cost that works to keep anything topped up in winter. After loosing batteries after a few years I remove mine and it's a pain. Literally since I was laid up for days in bed when I wrenched my back carrying all 3 inside. As far as just disconnecting them it depends on how cold it is. I'm thinking about a bank charger and just plugging it in in Nov to April.

 

[82rude]

Though you may get more snow sometimes were I live we consider your area the deep south,lol.Ihave a blue top optima and it hasn't been out of the boat for 3 years and never charged in 6.The 60 etec has a great charging system for on the water and like most people I carry a booster.Im going to buy one of the l-ion boosters as they weight bugger all and can be stored anywhere.Sorry I'm wandering,lol.Until I got the blue top I use to take my batteries out every year but not anymore. Someday the optima may die but 6 plus yeas of abuse and it still preforms like new so far.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Compared to us up here, 82, you are the deep south...Lol I've left mine in all winter. Just disconnected the cables. Otherwise, just pull them if we're talking winter storage....

 

[Silvertip]

Any solar panel regardless of size is a target for thieves and that includes others using the same so-called "secure" storage. Sticky fingers just can't seem to leave stuff where it is. Quick disconnects are readily available for batteries. If I had to leave a boat anywhere other than my property and where power wasn't available, the batteries would go home with me for proper charging.

 

[82rude]

WIMUSKY point taken, and the guy in the Yukon has us all beat except for the guy in Siberia,lolLeast you guys have citys around we got nothing for 200 in any direction.Idont even bother to disconnect anything ,lucky I guess.the etec helps a lot as its got lots of amperage to keep the battery charged up during the season.

 

[Grub54891]

I simply charge them in the fall and disconnect. Re-hook in spring and go boating. The battery's I have are 5 years old and still working fine. We will see how they do this winter in -20 or so.....

 

[bruceb58]

Bottom line, your battery will sulfate faster when it is discharged. If the battery discharges by 20% over winter, that battery will be more sulfated that a battery that is kept charged over the winter. It may start your boat in the spring but it will definitely have less capacity than a battery that is kept charged. I keep my batteries on a smart charger the entire winter.