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Charging Cranking Battery?
So I am wondering whether I should worry about charging my cranking battery? I have my electronics, pumps, and pro air running off it. I have had no problems starting the boat since I have had it, but I am thinking about getting a separate single bank 10amp onboard charger to use during the off season to make sure it's charged before I go out and try to crank it after it sits for say 3 weeks in the cold. I do not leave anything running when the boat is parked in order to avoid draw. I remove all the electronics, unplug the trolling motor, and make sure all the pumps and pro air are off. I currently have a MK220 2 bank to charge my trolling motor batteries and that works great. I know quite a few guys have had problems with the cranking batteries running dead because of the electronics... but I have not seemed to have that problem. I just think the sitting may cause me some issues when I am too busy with school and work to take the boat out regularly. Is a 10amp charger appropriate for a conventional battery if it's not used very often? It does not take a ton of juice to start my little 75hp 2 stroke, but I just want to ensure every time I drop it in the water I can turn the key and fire it up.
THANKS
Views: 66
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Matkowski on
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PJ,
The guys with electronics drawing down their batteries may have Lowrance GPS antennaes hooked directly to their starting battery, the antennae will slowly drain the battery. I would recommend putting an occasional charge on any battery that sits three weeks in the winter. A good quality onboard charger can likely be plugged in all winter and not harm batteries, although I usually only plug mine in once a week for a recharge, but it is garaged. Economically, it may make sense to get a separate one for the starter or change out the two for a three bank, if room is an issue, or just use the portable kind, if you can keep it dry. -
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Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on
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Always juice up your battery especially if your boat will be sitting.
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Permalink Reply by Don Hogue on
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A 10 amp charger (onboard/automatic) is the way to go. The worst thing that you can have happen is have the battery sit with no or partial charge. That battery will not last long at all if it ever reaches that state for more than a couple of days.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on
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P.J. take a look at this article. I have posted it before. I think it will reinforce how critical keeping a full charge on batteries is. Getting them out of the really cold/hot weather if possible helps, but most important is keeping them charged to avoid sulfation is the key piece.
http://www.progressivedyn.com/battery_basics.html
Steve -
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Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on
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Thanks Steve that was informative! I did pick up a MinnKota single bank to install to keep my cranker topped off and in good shape.
Steve Hastings said:P.J. take a look at this article. I have posted it before. I think it will reinforce how critical keeping a full charge on batteries is. Getting them out of the really cold/hot weather if possible helps, but most important is keeping them charged to avoid sulfation is the key piece.
http://www.progressivedyn.com/battery_basics.html
Steve -
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Permalink Reply by NickBarrFishing.com on
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I wish I could take my boat out now, everything water is hard over here at EWU now.
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