Marine Battery

[SPR]

hi All,

I an fed up! another marine battery bits the dust...it seems I need to replace it every year... I kept the battery charged during the winter, kept it inside out of boat charging it every month...

Advice please? or is the nesserary evil! @55 -65 , any brands recommend...

This years battery was a unipart marine traction battery.

regards

[jambo]

Originally Posted by SPR

hi All,

I an fed up! another marine battery bits the dust...it seems I need to replace it every year... I kept the battery charged during the winter, kept it inside out of boat charging it every month...

Advice please? or is the nesserary evil! @55 -65 , any brands recommend...

This years battery was a unipart marine traction battery.

regards

Hi
I have used Squadron marine batteries 2 x 120 for the last 6 years no hassle. Take them out in winter and keep them topped up with a thre phase charger and charge from the ob during the season I never need to top up with a mains charge.
Hope this helps

J

[SPR]

3 phase charger- I been using normal charger so really should buy intelligent one...

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by SPR

3 phase charger- I been using normal charger so really should buy intelligent one...

Leaving it hooked up the whole time? That'll overcharge it over a winter, I'd bet.

If you don't want to spend money for a 3-stage charger, put it in the garage (or wherever), charge it up for say, 6 hours, then disconnect and let it sit for a month or so. Recharge for 6 hours, and repeat. Recharge fully before use in the spring.

Deep cycle batteries should handle severe discharge with ease, meaning a longer idle time is OK.

If it's a starting battery, you might want to measure the voltage every week or so, and recharge at about 12.0 to 12.2 volts (you could do the same with the deep cycle.) You may very well find that you don't need to recharge over the winter at all.

jky

[Stoo]

I finally gave up on the concept of a battery that will actually last in the marine environment and resorted to fraud to solve the problem. It is my understanding the the fundamental problem with marine battery life is that they simply don't get used enough.

In Canada, we have an auto parts store that sells their own brand of batteries. The marine batteries typically lasted about 2 - 3 seasons tops, and the so-called warranty perhaps contributed $10 towards a new one when it was pro-rated.

With the help of one of their sales people, I discovered that if I bought their top of the line automotive battery, I could pay a measly $9.00 extra for full replacement warranty for up to 10 years, regardless of the number of times I replace it! The only wrinkle is that the warranty isn't valid if the battery is used in a boat.

So, my warranty is registered as a truck battery (the old Chev pick-up that lives at my cottage and is used for for runs to the dump... and which is totally non-existent). Since this is an automotive battery, I needed to add marine terminals to it, and I need to remember to remove these before I return the faulty battery.

I am pleased to say that I have returned these batteries on two separate occasions now and received shiny new ones, free of charge, each time.

These are starting batteries, but I am not concerned about the deep cycle aspect as I don't tend to sit still long and when I do, I'm generally only powering a VHF. (And I have two batteries, so always keep them isolated when "parked"...)

So even the best batteries are still shyte when it comes to boats, but this little "work-around" seems to work wonders.

[jambo]

I don't charge all winter I charge then leave. I charge at least on e a month. J

[martini]

I find 2-3 years maybe a bit more is about the average life span for a battery, marine or otherwise so wouldn't waste money on marine batteries.

If it's kept indoors warm and dry then a just a charge before it goes back in the boat should suffice

[kerny]

I think charging your battery every month is a bit ott. A trickle charger is best for 24 or 48 hrs if very low. Anything stronger used frequently just bends and damages the plates imo.

[jambo]

kerny thats all I do with the auto three phase charger it auto goes to a slow charge to top up
J

[SPR]

any thoughts on battery conditioners?

for example:

CTEK MXS 5.0 Car Battery Charger - the smartest battery chargers in the world!

Scott