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#1
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
This past summer I replaced the battery in my 18ft ski boat and went to a dual battery system with a selector switch. I had probably shortened the life of my old battey by letting it sit discharged for too long over the winter. This year I'm being more carefull. Here are my thoughts on keeping batteries charged: Please feel free to add comments or suggestions. 1) Very important: Do not let your batteries get very low or you will greatly reduce battery life. I have heard that regular batteries will be affected by letting then sit below 75% charge and deep cycle should not be left below 50% charged. Keeping them close to fully charged is best for prolonged life. 2) Be sure wet cell batteries are full using only distilled water. You can tell the water level is correct when you look into the cell and the reflection of the water has a "fish eye" look to it and is not a flat surface. (If you are curious, it is caused by the surface tension effect when the water level touches to fill level guide) 3) Check the existing charge level You can do this using a hydrometer. (under $5) The higher the charge the more dense the liquid and more balls will float. 4 balls floating = full charge Question: How reliable are they? I can’t seam to get more that 3 balls to float (75% charge) You can also measure the charge state using a voltmeter. Let the battery sit for approx 3 hrs after charging before you take a reading. You will get an inaccurate, and high, reading if you measure the voltage at the battery right after charging it. Question; I've seen different numbers used for full charge: 14V 13.8V 12.9V What is the best voltage to use for fully charged and where did the number come from? 5) The max rate to charge a battery is 20% of it’s amp-Hour rating. Example a 100 amp –hour rated battery should be charged at 20 amps max. Some chargers automatically adjust the current and length of charge according to the battery's state of charge and then shut off when the battery is fully charged. If the charger requires manual adjustment for current or shut-off, check the charger's instructions to determine the proper current and length of charge based on your battery's rating. 6) An automatic charger that reduces current as the battery becomes charged is best and will give the fastest charging without damaging the battery. 7) Do not leave a battey connected for over 24 hours to a charger that does not automaticly shutoff even if it is a "trickle" charger. Some trickle chargers will raise the voltage as the current drops to levels that can damage a battery if left for extended periods. Sources: Charging Batteries http://www.ibsa.com/www/faqs/tech_ta...e/charging.htm Battery Tender http://batterytender.com/ Kip |
#2
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
On Jan 1, 9:03*pm, kipmc4 wrote:
This past summer I replaced the battery in my 18ft ski boat and went to a dual battery system with a selector switch. I had probably shortened the life of my old battey by letting it sit discharged for too long over the winter. This year I'm being more carefull. Here are my thoughts on keeping batteries charged: Please feel free to add comments or suggestions. 1) Very important: Do not let your batteries get very low or you will greatly reduce battery life. I have heard that regular batteries will be affected by letting then sit below 75% charge and deep cycle should not be left below 50% charged. Keeping them close to fully charged is best for prolonged life. 2) Be sure wet cell batteries are full using only distilled water. You can tell the water level is correct when you look into the cell and the reflection of the water has a "fish eye" look to it and is not a flat surface. (If you are curious, it is caused by the surface tension effect when the water level touches to fill level guide) 3) Check the existing charge level You can do this using a hydrometer. (under $5) The higher the charge the more dense the liquid and more balls will float. 4 balls floating = full charge * Question: How reliable are they? I can’t seam to get more that 3 balls to float (75% charge) You can also measure the charge state using a voltmeter. Let the battery sit for approx 3 hrs after charging before you take a reading. You will get an inaccurate, and high, reading if you measure the voltage at the battery right after charging it. Question; I've seen different numbers used for full charge: 14V 13.8V *12.9V *What is the best voltage to use for fully charged and where did the number come from? 5) The max rate to charge a battery is 20% of it’s amp-Hour rating. Example a 100 amp –hour rated battery should be charged at 20 amps max. *Some chargers automatically adjust the current and length of charge according to the battery's state of charge and then shut off when the battery is fully charged. If the charger requires manual adjustment for current or shut-off, check the charger's instructions to determine the proper current and length of charge based on your battery's rating. 6) An automatic charger that reduces current as the battery becomes charged is best and will give the fastest charging without damaging the battery. 7) Do not leave a battey connected for over 24 hours to a charger that does not automaticly shutoff even if it is a "trickle" charger. Some trickle chargers will raise the voltage as the current drops to levels that can damage a battery if left for extended periods. Sources: Charging Batteries * * * *http://www.ibsa.com/www/faqs/tech_ta...e/charging.htm Battery Tender http://batterytender.com/ Kip Do NOT store ANY battery on cement. It has a bad effect on them. A piece of plywood works ok to store them on. |
#3
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
wrote in message ... Do NOT store ANY battery on cement. It has a bad effect on them. A piece of plywood works ok to store them on. ---------------------------------------------------- (this should be fun) What, pray tell, is the "bad effect"? Eisboch |
#5
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
"Boater" wrote in message ... I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I sold that boat. I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good shape regardless of how well they were cared for. Don't like surprises. Eisboch |
#6
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
"Eisboch" wrote in message ... "Boater" wrote in message ... I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I sold that boat. I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good shape regardless of how well they were cared for. Don't like surprises. Eisboch Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts easy now. |
#7
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
"Calif Bill" wrote in message ... "Eisboch" wrote in message ... "Boater" wrote in message ... I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I sold that boat. I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good shape regardless of how well they were cared for. Don't like surprises. Eisboch Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts easy now. My vehicle batteries usually last 5-7 years ... even with our 4 months of winter |
#8
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
On Jan 2, 2:21*pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message ... "Boater" wrote in message ... I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I sold that boat. I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good shape regardless of how well they were cared for. *Don't like surprises. Eisboch Agree completely. *Wife's car was slow starting. *Was going to get the battery tested and when *I looked at the battery was 6 years old. *Surprized me that it lasted that long. *Got a replacement battery and engine starts easy now.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I don't know what has changed, but used to be, a battery would slowly go bad. My recent experiences were that the battery would go bad all of a sudden. Three times, two in my Jeep, and one in my boat. Jeep started perfect, drove to the office, went to leave, and nothing. Interior light wouldn't even come on. Happened a few years later, same vehicle. Boat battery, went out, battery dead. Charged overnight, still dead. |
#9
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
On Fri, 2 Jan 2009 11:21:30 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote: "Eisboch" wrote in message m... "Boater" wrote in message ... I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I sold that boat. I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good shape regardless of how well they were cared for. Don't like surprises. Eisboch Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts easy now. Too late for that one, but I think wiping my batteries down has made them last years longer. Do it when I change oil. You'll notice a thin sheen of acid/oil on the battery top. Think that's bad due to allowing some current discharge across cells. But I'm not much on electrics. Use a clean rag and watch the acid. Read it many years ago and it seems to do some good. --Vic |
#10
posted to rec.boats
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Testing and Charging Batteries
Calif Bill wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message ... "Boater" wrote in message ... I keep my Parker batteries on the lower shelf of my garage workbench in the winter. Every month, I hook them up to my auto shut-off charger on its low amp setting and top them up. I got five years out of a pair of batteries on the first Yo Ho that way, and they were still good when I sold that boat. I don't think I'd consider 5 year old batteries in a boat to be in good shape regardless of how well they were cared for. Don't like surprises. Eisboch Agree completely. Wife's car was slow starting. Was going to get the battery tested and when I looked at the battery was 6 years old. Surprized me that it lasted that long. Got a replacement battery and engine starts easy now. If you don't use your boat often, or never go far from the dock, you really don't need to worry about having a 5 yr old battery. If the battery fails, you just paddle back to the dock. As Harry stated, in 5 yrs he put on less than 125 hrs on the engine because he would always fish less than 15 min. from shore. I automatically replace my auto battery after 5 yrs, and that is used daily. |
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