Battery - keep it on 2amp walmart trickle charger?

[DavidPR]

I'm buying a new boat battery at Walmart for my boat that has 1978 70HP Johnson. Battery is kept in workshop on a wood bench until needed. I have a small 2 amp battery charger that I got from Walmart. Should I leave the battery hooked up to the trickle charger all the time? Or will this damage the battery?

Thanks.
DavidPR

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Battery - keep it on 2amp walmart trickle charger?

Welcome to iboats

It could technically overcharge the battery. I have battery maintainers that contain circuitry that turns the charger on and off as needed. I believe walmart carries them too and they are small.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Battery - keep it on 2amp walmart trickle charger?

I also keep my boat battery in my work shop, put it on the 2 amp charge overnight, about once a month or so...that keeps it charged up fine!...no need to leave it on the charger all the time, even if it is "automatic".

 

[DavidPR]

Re: Battery - keep it on 2amp walmart trickle charger?

This is what I have:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SpeedCharge-Battery-Maintainer-and-Charger/13005742

 

[DavidPR]

Re: Battery - keep it on 2amp walmart trickle charger?

Doing that once a month would be good, but I'm just worried that it'll be like my cranking and running my generator each month to keep it ready for when I need it. I have good intentions but somehow times slips by me and every month turns into every four or five months.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Battery - keep it on 2amp walmart trickle charger?

The charger you have in your above post is fine. Just leave it plugged in all the time, it has floating point logic so it will taper off the charger as the battery reaches fully charged, and will then stop. Leaving a battery hooked up to a 1.5 or 2 amp manual trickle charger is a bad idea, but your charger is fine for maintaining your battery.