Trickle charger or Battery maintainer

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Pachuckles
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2017/11/26 15:38:58 (permalink)

Trickle charger or Battery maintainer

This fall I replaced my deep cycle battery for my trolling motor.  I have a 10 amp battery charger for recharging the battery after 3 or 4 hours of use. Now in the off season should I use a Battery maintainer or Trickle charger to keep the battery charged over the winter?  
What are your thoughts on this?

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#1

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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Trickle charger or Battery maintainer 2017/11/26 17:47:17 (permalink)
    I wouldn't worry about spending money on either.   If your battery is acid core, make certain the cells are filled and fully recharge the battery then check it once in a while with a hydrometer.  Maintenance free, give em a shot with the battery charger just before fishing season. 
     
    Or purchase a battery tester from a auto parts store.  Just remember to buy a tester that puts a load on the battery.  Weak batteries can  read 12 volts, unless a load is applied.

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
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    Erie Mako
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    Re: Trickle charger or Battery maintainer 2017/11/26 21:47:59 (permalink)
    I always pull all batteries out of the boat, no matter how much of a pain it is...
    I've seen too many wet cell batteries freeze and crack over the years.
     
    I keep them in storage in an area that stays above freezing and put an automatic charger on them for a day about every two or three months.

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    anzomcik
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    Re: Trickle charger or Battery maintainer 2017/11/26 22:22:56 (permalink)
    If the boat is stored in a heated space get an onboard charger. They will charge and maintain a battery. I run a three bank charger. It will maintain my cranking and two trolling motor battery. When I put the boat away I just plug the boat in and walk away



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    ZelieSam
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    Re: Trickle charger or Battery maintainer 2017/11/27 09:52:36 (permalink)
    Erie MakoI always pull all batteries out of the boat, no matter how much of a pain it is...  I keep them in storage in an area that stays above freezing and put an automatic charger on them for a day about every two or three months.



    ^ this.  I just pulled mine Friday when I got home from work.  They stay in the garage over the winter and go back in the boat springtime.  I'll throw a charge on them once or twice over the winter and then once before I install them.  
     
    My front battery is pretty simple to get to but the rear battery takes two hernias and a chain hoist to get out of there.  I recall my dad saying "you need to make sure it won't move while you haul the boat!" when we built the spot for it, but I think he might have gone a bit too far with that.  I could flip that boat on the highway and have a semi flatten it but that battery won't budge!
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