Battery Storage

[chpthril]

With the batteries out, I would not buy a 2nd charger, just alternate week on, week off. They will be fine over the layup.

I would then suggest a 2-bank marine grade on-board charger that has fused bank leads and ring terminals for bolting right to the battery posts permanently. Yes, it will be a larger investment, but better all around results. This also gives you the chance to go with a charger that, well, has enough @$$ behind it to actually be a charger and recharge a depleted battery.

[jeremiah.hough]

any suggestions on which one?

[Jetdriver]

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.

Good to know. I wonder why so many people say this? I’m 41 and have yet to see a car/boat battery that wasn’t in a plastic housing. Funny how misinformation can perpetuate.

Jeremiah Hough- the juniors come with 2 types of leads to hook to a battery. One clip style and one that you bolt onto the leads. Both have a quick detach point that you then plug to the actual charger then to an extension cord. So the charger can be kept in your garage or whatever when not using.
My leads are mounted on the batteries(3) and I just connect them to the chargers with an extension cord connected to them when i put the boat in the garage. Chpthril is right about a higher amperage charger being superior. IE: something that charges at 12 amps instead of 2 or 3 but these are a less expensive option that works well for me. Higher amperage will charge your batteries quicker and deeper in the case of a heavily depleted battery. If your using your boat a lot and pounding tunes with the engine off a bunch I’d go with a heavy duty on board charger if not the less expensive tenders are just fine.

[IDBoating]

With the batteries out, I would not buy a 2nd charger, just alternate week on, week off.

x2. This is exactly what I do every winter. Think of it this way: Instead of buying two smaller chargers, you can buy one larger, more capable unit.

The one I'm using now is this:



Under $60 from Amazon, has 3K+ reviews with a 4.5/5 rating, good for up to 3.5A, automatically detects battery chemistry, has battery "recovery" modes (to the extent such things are useful on a given battery), etc. Been using it now for a couple of weeks and I'm very happy.

[IDBoating]

Good to know. I wonder why so many people say this? Funny how misinformation can perpetuate.

I think it's left over info from decades ago - maybe almost a century ago. Rumor I've heard is that lead acid cells were indeed once packaged in housings that could become conductive, so placing it on a concrete surface (which could become conductive if water got to it) could cause problems. Personally, a lead acid cell that is inside a potentially conductive housing is ITSELF a problem! Glad those days, if true, are behind us.

All of my summertime batteries sit smack on the concrete in my mechanical room all winter long, nice and warm indoors, cycling through the battery charger every few days. I'm still on the factory batteries for the 24Ve, which means they are 7-8 years old. I'm planning to replace them in the spring only as a preventive measure... I've had no problems, but that's quite a while for occasional use lead acid cells.

[TigeFamily]

Yes, turn off the switch when charging batteries in boat

[chpthril]

I think it's left over info from decades ago -

Yep, it was correct and relevant some time ago. Now a days, the only reason to place a battery on wood, is to keep it off a painted floor just in case it sweats a little acid, so it wont eat your floor coating.

[Jetdriver]

Thanks for the clarification guys. You think it’d have anything to do with the cold of a concrete floor if the room wasn’t heated?

Jeremiah- I was planning on buying this bad boy to install in my boat but I already had the 3 JRs and I’m a cheap a$$ so it’s hard to justify pulling the trigger when they do an adequate job for me. If I was in your position I’d probably buy it or a Noco. Both have good reviews. This would do everything you need and then some. Around $115 online at several stores. They make lower amp models that are cheaper as well as 3 bank chargers, etc... lots of options out there.
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[D&P Powell]

I have a similar ProSport that I won a few years ago at the West Coast reunion. A famous sponsor was kind enough to donate it! thegerman618 helped me install it, and it has worked great so far. Thanks MLA!

[jeremiah.hough]

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.

so do the dual bank chargers charge both batteries independently? i have noticed some people have separate chargers for their cranking battery vs their house battery?

[chpthril]

Yes, the dual bank chargers act as 2 chargers in one and they evaluate, charge and maintain each bank separately. This is most beneficial when you have a dedicated cranking and cranking banks.