Batteries, Battery up keep, battery Storage, Milking every drop out of a Battery

[biglurr54]

The boat needs new batteries. I live on a small lake and have no electric run to the dock. Electric isnt an option. Due to the increase in price of batteries im only putting one battery in now. I have always used Everstart Maxx from Walmart. 3 year free replacement and 2 years prorated has worked out well for me. They typically last me 4 years in the boat. I use car starting batteries because thats the main use of it. Now on the small lake I have more deep cycle demand. Stereo, bilge, and lights at night. The motor never runs long enough to really charge up the batteries.

Im looking to get the most for my money. My thoughts were to get another maxx battery. Buy a 50 watt solar panel. Buy a good charge controller. This should keep everything charged up and maintained in the winters as well. The panel will go into the cover. I am over sizing the panel to account for the decrease efficiency for angel and direction. The angle is actually pretty close and the dock faces south so i am in better shape than one would think in that aspect.

Anyone else do something like this? What do you do with your batteries in the winter to make them last? What are the best batteries?

Can a solar charger controler work if i end up with a deep cycle later on? I wired the boat with a off,1,2,both, switch. I have no ACR on the system. Would the solar charger maintain both batteries on and off season wired through a ACR?

 

[bruceb58]

Would the solar charger maintain both batteries on and off season wired through a ACR?

Yes, an ACR would be a good way to go. Just realize that a 50W panel will likely only put around 3A in full sun for a max 5 hours a day depending on where you live. The reason it only puts out 3A, is that most panels are rated at around 17V.

Also, if you want your batteries to last a long time, never discharge more than 50% which is around 12V.

Edit: I thought we went over this a long time ago! Weren't you going with a 100W solar panel a that time? Why are you posting this on a new thread?

 

[UncleWillie]

Winter in New York likely means November through May. 6+ months.
If you are really concerned about getting the batteries to last through the Winter, remove them from the boat.
Store them indoors in a cool location. Top off the water in the cells, and charge them for a few hours every other month.
They should last 10 years with a little TLC.