Trickle charging

[Jim Ball]

2013 tige r20 single battery

I would like to trickle charge battery because of infrequent use this spring without completely removing battery from boat . I should still disconnect positive cable correct ? Appreciate your replies.

[ericinmich]

No need, trickle away.

I'm assuming you have all main stuff turned off. Maybe radio battery and bilge pump direct connected, but everything else off...

[Jim Ball]

Perfect thx

[ericinmich]

A couple more thoughts for a more inclusive answer:

- Assuming you have one battery. Not good to use a trickle charger across 2 batteries in parallel. If the batteries are at all different then one could get damaged by the trickle charger not sensing the correct state of charge.

- Also assuming you are using a smart battery charger, not an old fashion charger inductive only charger. A smart charger will sense the current it charging at and ramp down to a low level, then turn off while sensing the voltage, then turn on if it decays/drops enough to warrant some more charging required.

[Jim Ball]

Thank you . Very informative as usual.
Have a great weekend.

[dr1v3n]

What about a "Battery Tender" on a Crank/Accessory battery setup? I've been trickle charging with batteries in the "OFF" position for about 10 charges now. Should I be disconnecting at the terminal every time I charge?

[chpthril]

What about a "Battery Tender" on a Crank/Accessory battery setup? I've been trickle charging with batteries in the "OFF" position for about 10 charges now. Should I be disconnecting at the terminal every time I charge?

Really depends on the charger. If its a smart charger/maintainer with a float mode, then you should be ok to leave it plugged up, but consult the manufacturer.

The other thing to consider. There is a difference between a maintainer/tender and a charger. Most tenders/maintainers are designed to only keep a charged battery topped of. They are not intended to recharge a depleted deep-cycle house battery.