Boatist
Rear Admiral
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2002
- Messages
- 4,552
Re: Wal Mart Battery
All lead acid batteries self drain and must be charge at least once a month. Gel cells or AGM batteries self drain at a much lower rate and do not have to be charged as often.<br /><br />Gold Bear The test light will work for big drains but not for low current drains. Most test light take at least 500 milli amps to glow but things light a radio that use 5 milli amps to keep its memory or a clock will not light the test light.<br /><br />You can charge a battery in you truck on van and it will not hurt it. Yes the Alternator will put out 13.8 to 14.8 volts but battery will charge quickly to point that it will not take that much current. Lots of people do this with their Camper or Trailer batteries. Use them all weekend to run camper then charge on the way home. I have my boat set to charge from a plug at the front of the boat. From plug go to a battery isolator then to both batteries. I can charge from a 12 volt line on the trailer by just connecting a cable. I also use this plug to charge in off season from my battery charger so I do not have to get in boat to hook up charger.<br /><br />Main thing is to charge often, at least once a month. If you use a battery charger get a automatic one, they regulate the voltage so it will not over charge. Some automatics charge to a certain voltage then turn off and light a charge complete light. 2 to 3 amp trickle charger are normally cheap manual charger and can over charge badly. Even a 2 amp charger can reach 18 volts. If you are going to use these cheap chargers then should get a digital volt Meter and monitor voltage. When it charges to 14 .8 volts turn it off.
All lead acid batteries self drain and must be charge at least once a month. Gel cells or AGM batteries self drain at a much lower rate and do not have to be charged as often.<br /><br />Gold Bear The test light will work for big drains but not for low current drains. Most test light take at least 500 milli amps to glow but things light a radio that use 5 milli amps to keep its memory or a clock will not light the test light.<br /><br />You can charge a battery in you truck on van and it will not hurt it. Yes the Alternator will put out 13.8 to 14.8 volts but battery will charge quickly to point that it will not take that much current. Lots of people do this with their Camper or Trailer batteries. Use them all weekend to run camper then charge on the way home. I have my boat set to charge from a plug at the front of the boat. From plug go to a battery isolator then to both batteries. I can charge from a 12 volt line on the trailer by just connecting a cable. I also use this plug to charge in off season from my battery charger so I do not have to get in boat to hook up charger.<br /><br />Main thing is to charge often, at least once a month. If you use a battery charger get a automatic one, they regulate the voltage so it will not over charge. Some automatics charge to a certain voltage then turn off and light a charge complete light. 2 to 3 amp trickle charger are normally cheap manual charger and can over charge badly. Even a 2 amp charger can reach 18 volts. If you are going to use these cheap chargers then should get a digital volt Meter and monitor voltage. When it charges to 14 .8 volts turn it off.
