How to trickle charge a marine battery

[minnguy32]

Im looking for some advice to trickle charge my marine battery...it is a fleet farm battery that says Group Size 24M...it says CA 575 and CCA 460...i have an older charger that says 2amp / 10 amp and 50 amp jump start...i live in cold minnesota and i took my battery out of my boat this fall but id like to give my battery a little charge just to keep it fresh...any ideas or advise would be great...thanks alot, Brian

 

[coolbri70]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

2 amps to trickle charge

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

2 amp overnight and good, once a month

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

Yep, set it on 2amp. or get yourself a Smart Charger, turn on and forget about it.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

Yep, set it on 2amp. or get yourself a Smart Charger, turn on and forget about it.

I cooked a couple batteries by forgetting them before doing this:facepalm:, now no worries also, cheaper than a battery and will tell you when a battery is no good

 

[R DAVIS]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

A 2 amp trickle charger can still damage a battery if left on indefinitely. The automatic chargers have a tendency to lock into the higher charge rate mode when they fail. That can damage your battery more quickly.

The best bet is to use an automatic charger, and plug it into a mechanical timer available at the big box stores. Some even have a lid or cover to make them weather resistant.

Plug your automatic charger into the timer and set the timer to run one hour every day. If the battery is discharged when you come in from fishing, just turn the timer dial to set it to run for several hours before it reaches the one hour window, and it will shut off after that hour and run the charger an hour every day thereafter. The true time setting makes no difference. If your battery is already fully charged, the 2 amp manual timer will work fine fhis way to maintain a float charge.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

Not sure if this fits the situation but I just plug my on board guest chargers in about every 2 weeks when not using the boat regularly. I have noticed that keeping the batteries full of water and charging with the smart charger really extends the life. I charge fully right after use, and every 2 weeks or so. Only takes them about 30 minutes to top off when it is very cold.

If you leave them plugged in full time, make sure to keep the battery water topped off.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

A good smart charger will not boil the batteries. You can leave them plugged in 24/7.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

A good smart charger will not boil the batteries. You can leave them plugged in 24/7.

Your call, but I have seen it done on my BIL bass boat. Both trolling motor batteries were low on water, Guest dual bank charger. Never held a good charge after that. He left it plugged in over the winter 24/7 and they were topped off initially. I agree it "should not" happen, maybe the batteries were weak to start with?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

Bad battery loses a cell.

Never had a problem with many batteries.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

2 amps to trickle charge for a few hours should be fine. many larger battery chargers have a timer on them. if yours does, then use it. if you want to maintain the batteries by hooking them up and forgetting them. I suggest a battery maintainer. they maintain the battery in a charged state. some even pulse the voltage to de-sulfate the battery plates.

 

[further]

Re: How to trickle charge a marine battery

Just ordered a couple Battery Tender Jr's in hopes that these can be those that you set and forget till its time to use. They have a micro processor that controls the rate of charge. Hopefully these will live up to the reviews I've read.