Need advice on new battery care

[MAXXIE]

Hey guy's, I picked up a new battery this past weekend. It is a "Duel Purpose" battery, Deep Cycle & Cranking. It has 1,000 cranking amps. Currently I do not have a trolling motor so it's used for starting, the radio & lights. A trolling motor is in the near future, looking to go with a 12v 50 or better thrust. My question is: How should I go about maintaining this battery? The last one I had got cooked due to me hooking the trickle charger up as soon as I got back from boating & leave it there until next trip a week later. I ended up cooking the water out of it & someone said fill it with distilled water & that worked. I had a few issues off & on last summer with it, but it's stone dead now. How often do I need to charge this new one so I know it's always ready to go? I never see anyone else farting around with their battery at the dock area like I always had to. I just want to make sure I don't damage this one thinking I was doing the right thing & killing it. Oh, BTW, 17' bowrider W/85hp outboard. Tanx for any advice, MAXX

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

Recharging when you get back in is a good thing to do, but that often only takes a few hours to over night and then look at the water levels in the battery then unhook it from the charger. Thats about it.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

I use a smart charger on my boat and it's plugged in from May to November with no issues.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

I use a smart charger on my boat and it's plugged in from May to November with no issues.

+1 ^^^

"Trickle Charge" is an Oxymoron!

If it only TRICKLES it won't charge; and if it actually CHARGES, it is not Trickling.

Smart chargers will charge the Battery and then stop charging completely.
Every time the voltage drops in to the lower 13v range, they will charge it lightly for just a few seconds.

Schumacher makes very reasonably priced Smart chargers.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

I'll go shopping around for one of these "Smart Chargers" later today, but what range, $$$ am I looking at?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

I'll go shopping around for one of these "Smart Chargers" later today, but what range, $$$ am I looking at?

Not more than $50.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

Not more than $50.

That's the charger I have. I'm completely satisfied with it.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

Ya, I found a few while I was out yesterday. I do have a new Craftsman battery charger, but I don't think it's working correctly. The little green light that indicates full charge never lights & the needle never drops all the way to full. Think I'll just junk that one, don't trust it. Tanx for the advice.

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Need advice on new battery care

Not that a charger is a bad idea, if it's a good one that won't cook your battery. But, do you really need one? When I return from a day on the lake my batteries are charged up very well because I've been running the engine. I only start the boat every couple of weeks and the batteries are always good an strong. The last set of batteries lasted 7 years being used like this. The current set is on 3 years and still doing well.
If you do add a trolling motor you will want more than a "trickle" charger or maintainer I think. A real charger will be needed since you may end the day with a heavily depleted battery if you've been trolling a lot.