storage maintenance chargers????

[tennisabcd@aol.com]

I bought those slow charges for leaving the boat in storage charging all the time. It did not charge my battery after a weeks time, is that normal? Also can a nonfunctioning rmp gauge run down a battery, it just stopped working one time and not sure if it could be drawing a current. advise thanks.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

Typically when a tach stops working it is usually the Voltage regulator/rectifier that is fried. If battery sat any time totally discharged it is fried and time to get a new one. Read voltage on battery with a volt meter and if reading is below 12 volts it is toast.

 

[DangerDan]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

your Tach and chargers are likely seperate issues. Did you add any batteries? What brand chargers are you using? Check the fuse between your chargers and batts. depending on the brand of chargers, if the fuse is blown the charge light indicator will reflect that the batts are still being charged when actually the connection is broken due to a blown fuse.

 

[tennisabcd@aol.com]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

Thanks I will check this evening. Do those slow chargers have be put on only when the batteries are at full charge and they just hold the charge after that.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

The tach works off of pulses off the rectifier. If the rectifier goes the tach stops working and so does the charging system. Tach and charging are not separate issues. They are related. The best way to test this is with the motor running and a Volt meter hooked to the battery. If voltage does not shoot up to around 13 volts with motor running the rectifier is shot.

 

[DangerDan]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

I think he's talking about "onboard chargers" and his alternator/tach. This is why I asked if he added batteries to is system. The alt diodes can get burnt charging dead batts. If his onboard chargers were not charging the batts and he continued to use the boat, putting it away and hooking up the chargers in time the result would be dead batts. the strain on the alt could be too much for it's rating cooking the diodes. Just guessing here as there needs to be more info.<br /><br />what type chargers? how many batts and what type/amp? what is your alt. amp. rated?

 

[jastacey]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

I've use the so called maintance chargers ( battery tender )and, yes they will charge a batery ... very slowly ( weeks at a time at 1.25 amps ) provided the battery is in good shape, however one needs to check the water level, as they have a tendancey to boil off the water

 

[byacey]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

An automatic/regulated charger properly set will mantain the batteries without boiling them, 14.4 volts maximum (at 68F degrees) for a 12V wet cell. Kohler makes a charger like this to keep diesel power plant batteries fully charged at all times. Wet cells like to be cycled a little with a load though, if you maintain a full charge on the battery and don't use it, they seem to go bad from sitting. Run your light for 3-4 hours or some other appreciable load, and then immediately charge the batteries up again.

 

[imported_bjs]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

i think its a good idea to unhook all batt.before you charge any batt.i always unhook mine because you never know what might happen to a batt.charger might malfuction anytime.i just fully cgarge mine before i store my boat.but i always take them out of the boat i always worried about them freezeing in winter.

 

[byacey]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

Up around where i live, a fully charged battery won't freeze, even at -42F, but I don't leave it in the boat for the winter either. It's easier access to charge while in the basement, porch, garage or wherever.

 

[tennisabcd@aol.com]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

hey thanks for all the info. I will print and save in file. I will get a volt meter to check the batteries while running to see if rectifer is shot. If so , I will be back on line next week asking more questions. I started to wonder why my battery seemed to be running down.

 

[imported_LakeRunner]

Re: storage maintenance chargers????

Make sure you don't have any blowers or lights on. Also, some radios have seperate power for memory. That can also draw down a battery over time. If the above are cleared, then you may have a bad cell. Have the battery checked, most auto part stores do this for free. They can also put a charge on your battery then all you have to do is hook it to a maintenance charger for the winter and you will be ready to go come spring.