Battery Tending Over Winter

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

So it won't hurt a battery to sit unused/uncharged for 7 months? BTW, I have not been disconnecting (until this year).

Depends on the battery I would guess ..

7 months is a long time.

I have my Bronco with a Battery that pulls amps like it was yesterday. .. Depends on the battery you get I guess.

Cheap ones are just that.. the pull out your pocket bucks are another thing when you want to start up your motors....

YD.

 

[sam60]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

Automatic Battery Charger - 12V

Ive been using these to maintain 8 different batteries from various boats/mowers/RV/cars etc. for several years with no issues. The batteries always come off the tenders full and ready to go. Havent had to buy a new battery since I started using them.

I bought one of these today. Instructions suck, but what do you expect for 9.99? It has 2 buttons but doesn't expain their function. It will end up in my lesson learned drawer of my toolbox.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

I bought one of these today. Instructions suck, but what do you expect for 9.99? It has 2 buttons but doesn't explain their function. It will end up in my lesson learned drawer of my toolbox.

You do not need much instructions for these; Red to Red and Black To Black.
The buttons do not do anything!
Check to battery voltage after a few days; if it is over 13.6 volts, you are boiling off electrolyte.

These are not actually "Automatic" in the customary sense.
They are just low current 13.5 volt continuous output power supplies.
The never shut off; they just supply a float charge.

The technique is a completely valid way to keep batteries charged for years.
The trick is that the actual voltage supplied is critical and must be in a very small tolerance band to work.

 

[sam60]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

You do not need much instructions for these; Red to Red and Black To Black.
The buttons do not do anything!
Check to battery voltage after a few days; if it is over 13.6 volts, you are boiling off electrolyte.

These are not actually "Automatic" in the customary sense.
They are just low current 13.5 volt continuous output power supplies.
The never shut off; they just supply a float charge.

The technique is a completely valid way to keep batteries charged for years.
The trick is that the actual voltage supplied is critical and must be in a very small tolerance band to work.

Thanks UW. This is not an equal to a Battery Tender and should not be used for "Set and Forget" as described for a real battery tender in post #4 above.

Only out 10 bucks but knew better.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

Battery tender/trickle charger: provides a small current that increases the charge of a battery slowly over a long period before damage. This type of slow charge is the best way to make sure that a battery is fully charged but will still overcharge a battery if left on for to long.

Smart Charger: Uses a microprocessor and a feedback loop to provide a variable charge rate. After the battery is charged a smart charger will shut down to prevent overcharging. It may trickle charge or it may not depending on the specifics of the unit. In most cases a microprocessor based charger can be left on for a long period without damaging a battery.

I personally don't trust smart chargers one bit. After my smart charger says the battery is %100 it goes into a float charge mode and I leave it there for as long as 2 hours before I turn it off. If the battery was severely discharged the reported %100 is not accurate at all and the additional float time is needed to top off the battery. That's just how my specific unit works.

 

[dwparker99]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

I bought one of these today. Instructions suck, but what do you expect for 9.99? It has 2 buttons but doesn't expain their function. It will end up in my lesson learned drawer of my toolbox.

I wouldn't give up on it so quickly. I've got a DVM that cost me about $10 and it works fine. I'm sure the logic that runs it is much more complicated than the charger. The specs say that the max output voltage of your new charger is 13.2v. That will not harm a battery. As to whether it is automatic or not is another story. Put it on a fully charged battery and monitor the voltage over a few days. If the voltage climbs to 13.2 and then starts to drop and then climbs again, it is automatic.

The problem with using a trickle charger/maintainer is that as the battery ages, the battery's internal resistance can get so high that the trickle charger's output will be consumed by that resistance and you will be burning energy for nothing.

 

[akorcovelos]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

Thanks UW. This is not an equal to a Battery Tender and should not be used for "Set and Forget" as described for a real battery tender in post #4 above.

Only out 10 bucks but knew better.

not sure what your saying here, but I leave numerous batteries on these for up to 8 months at a time with zero problems.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

Its just a very small power supply regulated at a constant voltage which won't be able to source a heck of a lot of current hence its not an automatic charger. Should be fine for a float charge.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

Its just a very small power supply regulated at a constant voltage which won't be able to source a heck of a lot of current hence its not an automatic charger. Should be fine for a float charge.

+1
They are fine for what they are.
Be cautious when you first get one; some batches have been reported to be delivering voltages in the 14 volt range. (BAD!)

I have a Schumacher charger that is truly automatic.
After charging the battery it stops charging completely.
Once the voltage fades to 13.2 it recharges for a few second at 2amps to pump it back up to 13.4 and shuts down again.
After it settles out I note it charges about 4 seconds every 5 minutes.
After a day I disconnect it anyway and retest monthly.
Battery is in a Warm/Cool garage.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

I usually just take the battery out of the boat and put it in the warm garage. The boat is in an unheated garage. I don't usually even charge the battery over the winter and have never had any problems. Just saying.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

I usually just take the battery out of the boat and put it in the warm garage. The boat is in an unheated garage. I don't usually even charge the battery over the winter and have never had any problems. Just saying.

I have been leaving mine in the boat. However, it does not usually get below the 40s at night here. Should I take them out?

 

[scipper77]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

I have been leaving mine in the boat. However, it does not usually get below the 40s at night here. Should I take them out?

No need to take them out other than making it easier to charge them. What you should do is disconnect the battery. plain and simple.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

No need to take them out other than making it easier to charge them. What you should do is disconnect the battery. plain and simple.

Yeah, I disconnected them this year...for the 1st time.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

Yeah, I disconnected them this year...for the 1st time.

As I said in page one of the thread .. most peeps around here just disconnect the neg. side of the battery.

Good batteries will start in the spring without a problem.

Larger boats in storage ( the 4/6/8 D batteries ) will hook up a Shore power cord to the charging system a few days before launch. We would test the acidic levels and add acid/water as needed.

BTW .. where do you store your little batteries ? Freezer or fridge ?

IMO .. the cold should not hurt the batteries if they are in good condition. If it cold/freezing was a problem .. then Every single winterizer mech out there would suggest pulling the battery(S) and charge another 20 bucks for winterize/summerize + 5 bucks storage fee.

If you want to take your 1 battery out and maintain it with such and such charger then Im not suggesting you dont do this.

I dont think its needed unless the battery is Bad. .. or your going to be storing it for a very long time. You would still need to check the water/gravity/charge/load of said battery before you determine its a Good battery.

You should have your batteries LOAD tested every year !

I dont want anyone to go out fishing and then calling the locals to tow you in .

YD.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

BTW .. where do you store your little batteries ? Freezer or fridge ?

Is true though that in both cases(alkaline vs Lead acid) the self discharge does get lower with temperature. No need to remove from boat unless you are getting -40? F temps.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

It should. Can you replace the electrolyte in it(add distilled water)? If you can, its not an AGM.

If you paid less than $150 for your battery, not likely its an AGM. If you paid more than $150 not guarantee that it is an AGM.

I have been using a HF float charger on my Optima Yellow tops (AGM) for a few weeks now and they seem to be working good. They are not getting warm or anything, Anyone have any issues with this combo? The charger does not say anything about AGM batts.

The previous 2 years I used the charger on my non AGM batteries and it worked great, Left them hooked up all winter.

LK

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

For the Optima AGM:
http://jci_media.s3.amazonaws.com/4713/4583/5068/YELLOWTOP_Full_Specs_Sheet.pdf

Float charge is 13.2 to 13.8. Measure with a meter when your battery is fully charged to see if the float charger is putting out this range of voltage.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

For the Optima AGM:
http://jci_media.s3.amazonaws.com/4713/4583/5068/YELLOWTOP_Full_Specs_Sheet.pdf

Float charge is 13.2 to 13.8. Measure with a meter when your battery is fully charged to see if the float charger is putting out this range of voltage.

I just checked it and one was 13.5 and the other was 13.6

LK

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

I have been using a HF float charger on my Optima Yellow tops (AGM) for a few weeks now and they seem to be working good. They are not getting warm or anything, Anyone have any issues with this combo? The charger does not say anything about AGM batts.

The previous 2 years I used the charger on my non AGM batteries and it worked great, Left them hooked up all winter.

LK

If you are talking about this charger -- Automatic Battery Charger - 12V , the manual says "CAUTION - To prevent battery battery damage: Do not use on gel lead-acid or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type batteries."

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Battery Tending Over Winter

If you are talking about this charger -- Automatic Battery Charger - 12V , the manual says "CAUTION - To prevent battery battery damage: Do not use on gel lead-acid or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type batteries."

Any suggestions on what type to use? My factory charger (inverter) on the boat seems to work fine with them.

LK