Battery Storage

[jeremiah.hough]

I removed my batteries and plan on storing them in my basement for winter. Should i keep a battery maintainer on them? If so any suggestions on which one?

[freeheel4life]

Main thing is tender needs to have a float mode where it sees battery is charged and stops, constant 2A charge can cook the batteries. Definitely tend them though, will extend their life cycle.
These are what we use, there are some cheaper ones out there, but these have been working well for over two years and have charged many batteries
http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...nt=Catch%20All

[Jetdriver]

Also don’t set them directly on the concrete, that only promotes discharging. Put them on top of a board or something.
I use a battery tender junior on each battery I have. They’re cheap and effective. $30 shipped at Walmart.com

[Kraut]

I use a batteryminder (http://www.batteryminders.com/). I have had one of the 2A models for ~15 years. My first lead acid lawnmower battery lasted for 10 years keeping it on the charger over the winter months. I have had up to 4 batteries in parallel on the charger. I picked up a 2/4/8A model about 5 years ago. Charges AGM and GEL in addition to lead acid.

[bsreid]

After reading all this I feel like I might need to do something with my batteries this year. Left the boat in the water for 2 weeks at the end of the season and it didn’t want to fire up right away. How screwed am I come April?

My mechanic said ones at 75% life the other high 80.

[chpthril]

Left the boat in the water for 2 weeks at the end of the season and it didn’t want to fire up right away

If the battery switch was off, there is an issue. With the switch off, all of the non-essential systems should be isolated from the main cranking battery. Mainly, on these types of boats, the auto bilge should be the only battery direct wired device.

[bsreid]

If the battery switch was off, there is an issue. With the switch off, all of the non-essential systems should be isolated from the main cranking battery. Mainly, on these types of boats, the auto bilge should be the only battery direct wired device.

Interesting. The battery switch was off for that period of time. I did run the ballast pumps and blower for a couple minutes before starting....

[IDBoating]

Also don’t set them directly on the concrete, that only promotes discharging. Put them on top of a board or something.

Old wive's tale. Absolutely not true. Modern lead acid batteries use plastic housings, you could store them in a couple of inches of water and it wouldn't matter.

[chpthril]

Interesting. The battery switch was off for that period of time. I did run the ballast pumps and blower for a couple minutes before starting....

Ballast an blower should have been running off the house battery and not effected the main cranking.

[bsreid]

Ballast an blower should have been running off the house battery and not effected the main cranking.

What position should the switch be in? I was told to leave it just on both.

[chpthril]

Off for storage and ON for when in use. COMBINED is for emergency crank.

[tigemech]

Old wive's tale. Absolutely not true. Modern lead acid batteries use plastic housings, you could store them in a couple of inches of water and it wouldn't matter.

x2

[jeremiah.hough]

so will the battery tender jr work to charge both batteries if hooked up parallel?

[chpthril]

2 batteries wired in parallel = 1 large battery. So in theory the tender will work, just just twice the battery to service, as one smaller battery.

Given how tige configures their dual bank setup, which also typically utilizes a deep-cycle and a cranking, I would not want to wire the two batteries in parallel for a long term maintenance charge. Not to mention being different batteries used differently, batteries develop different internal resistance over time. This effects their rate of charge and discharge.

[jeremiah.hough]

Thanks Mike. You are talking way above my head but i will take your word for it. i will just buy 2 jr's and maintain them separately. I removed them from the boat and storing them on a shelf in the basement.

Just curious. how would i hook up the maintainers when the batteries are in the boat? is there a safe way to do this? do i need to turn the switch off?