maintance free battery or not

[tblshur]

i was reading troubleshooting guide by cdi electronics , if i understand correctly they reccommend a battery that you add water to instead of maintance free for starting battery any reply much appreciated:joyous:

 

[notop]

Re: maintance free battery or not

NOT maintenance free.
Newer boats typically have high output alternators and charge batteries very quickly. Even though voltage regulated, the battery may need to vent given the current being used to charge it. When it vents, you lose water, even with maintenance-free batteries (yes, they still have a vent in them). If it's maintenance free, there is no way to replace any water that is lost, so the battery will die a premature death.

Older outboards (in particular) did not have voltage regulators and would often charge a battery up to just beyond 16 VDC while underway. The result, again, may be venting and the subsequent need to replace water periodically or suffer premature battery death.

 

[tblshur]

Re: maintance free battery or not

thank you notop for your quick responce and your knowledge of batteries. would it be better to disconnect the enjine charger and use the three bank onboard charger. that would ease the load on the stator also if my thinking is right . again i cant thank you guys enough for your time and knowledge.have a good day up there in BC!!!:laugh:

 

[notop]

Re: maintance free battery or not

If we're talking about the same thing here, your 3-bank on-board charger would be used to charge and maintain your battery/ies while you're at dockside or at home. It runs off of a 120-VAC power source, no? If you disconnect the engine charger, you will run down your battery/ies while underway.
Use the on-board charger to make sure the batteries are fully charged BEFORE setting out, and the engine-driven charger will do it's best to KEEP the battery/ies charged while underway.
If this isn't clear, tell us a little more about your set-up. Type of boat? Inboard or outboard engine? Type/horse-power/year? Single battery or multiple? Electric trolling motor? AC-shore-power plug-in or not?

 

[tblshur]

Re: maintance free battery or not

notop sorry i didnt explain my self. i have a 1983 ranger 383 v with johnson 140 hp, 83 model,have motorguide 24v trolling motor 2 batteries for trolling & 1 starting. i thought since i have maintance free batteries i could just charge all 3 with the on board charger.no need to use the enjine charger to keep the starting battery charging while fishing, therefore i wont have to buy a starting battery that you add water to like cdi reccommends. hope i havent completely lost it, the wife says you cant lose what you never had thank you again for your help!!!