winter battery maintenance

[wtxpatrick]

How do you guys keep your batteries maintained during the cold months. My new (used boat) has a good one on it and I would like to keep it operational, in good shape.
Thanx
Patrick

 

[noizmaker]

Re: winter battery maintenance

I'm in the same position you are Patrick. Have new/used with new batteries and I'm a boatint first timer. Sorry, no experience to pull from but my plan is to pull both batteries, test them at auto parts store and if they test good store them in my basement on shelf and run a low amp charge about once a month.

 

[joe009]

Re: winter battery maintenance

i bring my battery in and put it on a battery minder plus.i leave the battery minder on all year,it maintains the battery and adds life to it.you should not leave it out side if you live in the north.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: winter battery maintenance

How do you guys keep your batteries maintained during the cold months. My new (used boat) has a good one on it and I would like to keep it operational, in good shape.
Thanx
Patrick

Just get a decent battery maintainer...this is the one that I use:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02871219000P

It comes with different leads, including one with ring ends that you can attach to your battery and leave...then you simply plug your charger/maintainer to the lead. It uses a 2 amp float charge and cuts on/off as needed...so you just leave it plugged in 24/7.

Happy boating...and welcome to the group!

P.S. this one is currently on sale...see the link!

 

[wtxpatrick]

Re: winter battery maintenance

I have a 25 watt solar cell for charging, could put that on it. Im wondering if a load, like a light bulb would help. That would cycle the battery, IE, charge during daylight, load it at night, I live in West Texas so the winters are mild here but there are times when the temps get into the Teens.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: winter battery maintenance

I have a 25 watt solar cell for charging, could put that on it. Im wondering if a load, like a light bulb would help. That would cycle the battery, IE, charge during daylight, load it at night, I live in West Texas so the winters are mild here but there are times when the temps get into the Teens.

I think that you are over engineering this thing!

Not all solar panels are suitable for unattended battery maintenance...they need a circuitry that doesn't actually draw down the battery when dark. And they don't know when the battery has had 'enough'....

Batteries discharge a small amount every day normally, and don't need a continual charge/discharge cycling. Every serious discharge followed by a recharge, takes away from the finite life of the battery. This is just the plain physics of wet cell technology?.

Happy boating!

 

[rbh]

Re: winter battery maintenance

our boat has a battery charger in the battery/bilge area.
charge up the batteries good before putting it to bed for the winter, then again in a couple of months.

 

[Philster]

Re: winter battery maintenance

Don't store the battery on a floor or the ground (esp concrete garage floor or basement floor). This can lead to damage/discharge.

Put it on a wood shelf. +1 on other charging recommendations.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: winter battery maintenance

Don't store the battery on a floor or the ground (esp concrete garage floor or basement floor). This can lead to damage/discharge.

Put it on a wood shelf. +1 on other charging recommendations.

That was years ago.I store mine on concrete every year.Charge it at 2 amps every month or so and they have lasted fine.
I think the old batteries back in the 70's or so were advised not to store on concrete.
I have read many posts on Iboats that concrete is not a problem...

 

[joed]

Re: winter battery maintenance

Don't store the battery on a floor or the ground (esp concrete garage floor or basement floor). This can lead to damage/discharge.

Put it on a wood shelf. +1 on other charging recommendations.

Not true. Never was. At least not for the battery. The floor could damaged if the battery is overcharged and acid spills out onto the floor.
A battery is a chemical reaction. Keeping it cool slows the reaction down and is the best way to store it. I leave mine in the unheated garage all winter. If it is charged it won't freeze. I give it 1 or 2 hours charge every month just to maintain it.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: winter battery maintenance

That was years ago.I store mine on concrete every year.Charge it at 2 amps every month or so and they have lasted fine.
I think the old batteries back in the 70's or so were advised not to store on concrete.
I have read many posts on Iboats that concrete is not a problem...

Right!

Batteries used to be made of a hard rubber case and a tar top. These could drain if placed upon concrete. In 1967 Delco introduced their first molded plastic case battery, affectionately called the ?hard top? battery.

Today's batteries are completely encased in a hard plastic...and can be placed on bare concrete with without any concern!

Happy boating!

 

[wtxpatrick]

Re: winter battery maintenance- Thanx guys

Re: winter battery maintenance- Thanx guys

That pretty well tells me what I need to do. I think a small trickle charger is how I will do it. I'm gonna do some striper trolling this winter a couple of times a month so, that too will help the battery hold it's life a little better.

Thanx to all that posted.
Patrick

 

[Chris1956]

Re: winter battery maintenance

There are still a lot of "old wives tales" about batteries out there, obviously.

Battery care is simple, you do not need to remove it or anything. Charge the battery fully after disconnecting if from the engine. Throw a charger on it every few months over the winter, and fully charge it in the spring, before use. A good battery will hold a charge, and will not freeze. If you live in the Great White north, you might put a trickle charge on it during the coldest part of the winter.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: winter battery maintenance

My on-board chargers are plugged in 24x7 but they are also connected to a timer that runs for one hour each day.

 

[Philster]

Re: winter battery maintenance

Did I say "floor" ? I meant "Door". Don't store it on a door, as it could fall on your head and make you believe in old legends.

 

[Tommyfmu]

Re: winter battery maintenance

My trusty mechanic says make sure it's charged before winterizing, then just disconnect and leave it until Spring. Nothing more needs to be done.

 

[JoLin]

Re: winter battery maintenance

My trusty mechanic says make sure it's charged before winterizing, then just disconnect and leave it until Spring. Nothing more needs to be done.

Yup. Charge it fully, disconnect it, go back in the house and stay warm until Spring. The battery will be fine. If for some reason it isn't, the battery has a problem.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: winter battery maintenance

My on-board chargers are plugged in 24x7 but they are also connected to a timer that runs for one hour each day.

Ditto this. Do it to minimize heating and electorlye evaporation.

However, WATCH the water level. Even low charges can evaporate water, at least in my experience.

Some chargers can heat the battery. This can warp plates, build up oxides and evaporated water faster than you might think.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: winter battery maintenance

that battery on concrete myth never dies!

(disclaimer, I store 3 boat batteries, 2 pwc's, and half a dozen other small batteries from lawn mowers, etc all on concrete over winter. Have yet to have any issues from that alone.)

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: winter battery maintenance

that battery on concrete myth never dies!

(disclaimer, I store 3 boat batteries, 2 pwc's, and half a dozen other small batteries from lawn mowers, etc all on concrete over winter. Have yet to have any issues from that alone.)

It was true back in the day....I remember in the 60's my dad had a shop and never stored them on the floor.
He believed it anyway....