Battery Care

[Neil]

With this being my first winter for which preparations extend beyond just covering over with ploythene - I'm concerned how to ensure my new marine battery (used mainly to start the outboard) is fit and ready for the spring.

Some people wreckon I should make a habit of discharging it completely, and then trickle charging it fully again perhaps a couple of times over the winter months. Is this correct ?

The only thing I've done so far (in complete ignorance) is remove the battery to keep it warm in the garage ;-)

Any advice gratefully received - Thanks in advance.

 

[sjohn_gibson]

Batteries should be stored fully charged.

Batteries loose charge even when they are not being used.

I have my battery charger wired through a 7 day timer and give them (4 X 120 amp hour + engine battery) a 2 hour top up every week.

PBO has run some good articles on battery care - check their index.

 

[brianrunyard]

Keep them fully charged.
Store fully charged and check regularly with a hydrometer and topup the charge if required. I was always told that battery life is reduced by discharging below about half charge.

Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard

 

[andy_wilson]

Clean the terminals until shiny, then clean the casing thouroughly with a damp cloth and dry it. do not place on a concrete floor, place on a bench in a cool dry place. Top it up if required and put it on a controlled charge for a day or few.

Check it is clean and charge for a couple of days each month.

Dirty casings and damp concrete floors will accelerate self discharge by allowing increased leakage of current between terminals.

Run it flat and you might as well throw it away and start again in the spring.

 

[tome]

I believe that you can now buy a really cheap 3 stage trickle charger (Halfords etc <£10?) which you can leave permanently connected throughout the winter. Don't polish terminals unless you need an excuse to escape to the garage.

Battery will be fine come spring.