Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

[hotrod53]

This is my second year after the total renovation, my starting battery was new at the start of last year. I kept the battery on float charge all winter, once I installed it this year I never charged it and it has never let me down .... UNTIL TODAY!

I took the boat out for a nice solo fishing trip today only to have the motor crank for 5 seconds and the battery die on the dock. I pulled the boat back out and went home to charge the battery. I pulled all terminals and cleaned them, they looked good all but one that was a little oxydized. The charger put 6 amps on it for an hour and started to drop slowly.

I'm thinking a couple of things.... dirty terminals, it did go to 40 degrees last night which doesn't help, rectifier could have failed, or maybe it is common to have to occasionally charge the battery and I just didn't know it. I usually take the boat out once a week, unfortunately this time it sat for 2-3 weeks which again would contribute to lack of charging. I typically monitor my battery voltage on my fish finder, it usually holds 12.6 volts and I do see it increase when the motor runs. I can put an ammeter in series and see if it'd charging if this continues.

Do you ever charge your battery during the season?

 

[emoney]

Re: Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

2-3 weeks shouldn't kill a good battery. I took my boat out yesterday, after leaving it sit for 2 1/2 weeks AND forgetting to turn the battery switch to "off". As soon as I turned the key, "VROOM". It shouldn't be a lot different than a car's battery, and you'd expect it to be charged if it sat for 3 months. Sounds to me like there's something amiss with your battery, and it should still be under warranty so exchange it. Make sure you're reading the CCAs on the label, as that's where the majority of the drain is. Also, keep in mind that the 55lb Minn Kota may be drawing more amps than the Merc is capable of "re-charging", so if you're using it a lot, might be time to consider a dual battery set-up.

Furthermore, are you sure you purchased a maintenance free battery? There are still those on the market that require the addition of distilled water as they're used. And finally, not all battery chargers are good for marine batterys, at least that's my experience. I remember struggling with a charger/battery to point that I replaced the battery twice. Took me a bit to realize that maybe the charger was the issue. Once I bought a new one of those, I haven't had a problem in the last 3 years with batterys.

 

[pdgs]

Re: Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

I run an onboard charger and both my house batteries and my starting battery get charged when the boat is not in use. That answers your question I think.

You don't mention your maintenance schedule for your battery. Is it possible that you didn't check the battery levels every 30 days while it was on the charger in maitnenance mode? You didn't say your battery was of the maintenance free type but this is a common problem when you use one of those in a boat that's used the way yours is.

I run only Marine grade batteries that can be easily checked and I maintain them every 30 days. I replace them every two years no matter what condition I think they might be in. I never feel lucky when it comes to batteries. That's just my way of dealing with it and not necessarily the way everyone should manage their batterie(s).

 

[mr 88]

Re: Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

Well your signature on bottom says 77 Merc 500,the older ones are not known for putting out a lot of amps if any lol.You also fish, so a fish finder,live well,radios,lights on early and later in the day is all a battery drainer. I have seen cars sitting in a body shop for a couple weeks have there battery go dead as well. The dust and any other crap on the battery top gives the battery some kind of outlet to discharge itself over a short period of time.I would buy a booster pack and carry that with me for piece of mind and you can throw it in your car for those warm Pittsburgh winters as a pre-caution and dual use. Then a small automatic charger on your marine battery whenever possible.

 

[hotrod53]

Re: Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

Thanks for all of the replies, here is more info. This is not a maintenance free battery and I checked the water level which looked fine. I do have a huge second battery that runs my 50# Minn Kota only, the starter battery runs the fish finder and that's about it. I have lights and a livewell, but you need to catch good fish to use the livewell ... LOL .... it currently stores the anchor.

After I charged the battery today for an hour, it was down to about 3 amps charging. I took the boat out for a couple of hours with no problem .. I took a booster with me just in case. When I got home I plugged in the charger and it immediately went to 3 amps, so it looks like I didn't lose any charge after being out on the water. Because I already had the carbs pumped up with fuel, then I took it home, then back to the river, I had a heck of a time getting it started, therefore I pounded the starter and battery, it took it with no problem. I'm hoping it was that oxyidized connection that caused the problem.

I have a float charger that I use on the Deep Cycle, Everready I think is the brand, I researched it thru the Mfg before I purchased it and was told that it would work fine on that type of battery.

 

[emoney]

Re: Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

Battery connections will definitely play a part in a "no-charge" situation. The ends need to be shiny on both cables and on each end of those cables. The reason a lot of them are installed much longer than needed is to allow you to clip off the ends and put the connector on fresh, shiny cable. Probably all it is. Do you use a 1/2/Both switch? If both batteries are starting batteries, those come in very handy. I always start up in #1 and about halfway out, I'll switch over to #2 for the trip back. That way, the motor charges both. Assuming your motor pushes enough amps to charge it, of course. BTW, what do you mean by "down to about 3 amps charging"?

 

[hotrod53]

Re: Newbie question, do you ever recharge your starting battery?

I do not have a 1/2/both switch. My starter battery is back under the splash well, my trolling battery is up in front of the console. I take the trolling battery out after each trip and put it on charge and then on float charge until the next trip. I can sure see a need for a waterproof connector mounted in the splashwell frame for charging.

Yes, down to 3 amps... I started at 6 which you would have thought that it would be much higher if the battery was truly dead, this is what made me think bad connection. I charged it more and it was down to 2 after about an hour and a half. I'll have to give it a little more this week. Its a pain removing the cover and climbing up over the side to hook up the charger, even worse if it looks like rain, but the alternative is not good either ..LOL.