battries at winter time

[Guest]

hi folks time to pick your brains again if thats ok?
boat is out for the winter, so do i
a/ leave the batteries in place then give them a trickle charge in the spring?
b/ take them home to the garage, then trickle charge in spring?
c/ buy an optimate (seen them for motorbike batteries) which will give them TLC
all winter?
d/ wait for your advice and do something totally differant?

P.S. will keep an eye out for any new green hulled powerboats in the inverness area, though unlikely to come up here. not many of us are mad enough to own something with an open cockpit, except me of course!(as it rains occasionally!)

 

[colinwcolclough]

If you want to be really kind to your batteries, take them home (not some damp garage), connect them to a load to allow them to discharge, then recharge them. Repeat as often as possible. This is because batteries like to work and be recharged and leaving them in a state of discharge will shorten their life. However... This is far too much effort most regular (me included) people so a comfortable compromise to leave them in the boat, open the engine hatch to allow good ventilation, allow batteries to completely discharge, ie leave everything on, disconnect the battery leads, clean the terminals, then smear them lightly with petroleum jelly to prevent moisture affecting them, and connect to a good quality battery charger. Once fully recharged, connect up a battery conditioner (assuming you have permanent access to a shore supply). Various makes are available, from motorfactors fom between £15 and £40. Conditioners are basically battery chargers designed to give a low currrent top up charge under specific circumstances. Look for one with a programmed charging cycle (ie charging for 5mins whether needs it or not then decides whether or not to charge again and at what rate). To save money buy an auto battery conditioner as seen in classic car magazines (also handy for product tests of battery conditioners). Remember to make sure your batteries are topped up to the correct level with electrolyte (distilled water) and that your batteries are totally dry (dampness on the batteries can cause them to discharge by making a circuit through the conductive impurities in the surface moisture).
Hope all this helps.
Colin

 

[martin]

Questions

Am also wondering what to do...so read your post and sounds good. Have the following questions.

"leave them in the boat, open the engine hatch to allow good ventilation, allow batteries to completely discharge, ie leave everything on, disconnect the battery leads, clean the terminals, then smear them lightly with petroleum jelly to prevent moisture affecting them, and connect to a good quality battery charger."

i read this as drain battery, clean and protect leave thru winter.....then in summer connect to battery charger? or have i got it wrong. Can I use the boat recharger?

Finally, I don't have constant supply on boat on hard standing what's best to do in these circumstances?

 

[jfm]

Re: Questions

no he means discharge them then IMMEDIATELY recharge them. Do not leave discharged over winter. I think

 

[Guest]

Re: Batteries

If you fully discharge your batteries and leave them discharged for long periods,you WILL wreck them. It is advisable to partially discharge them when they are not being used for long periods, a fully charged 12v battery at rest will have a voltage of about 12.7 volts, discharge them to about 12.2 and then recharge immediatley.
If you are tempted to buy an automotive type charger be aware that they do not float batteries and if you leave it on for extended periods then you risk overcharging and damaging the batteries. Check that your boat charger is a three stage type which will float your batteries at about 13.2 to 13.4 volts, if it is then this type can be permanently connected.It is still a good idea to partially discharge them.

 

[Guest]

Re: Questions

martin, don't drain the batteries.

If no lecky onshore, think carefully bout taking boat out for long periods: moisture may spoil internal fittings unless you are nearby to totally ventilate and dry out boat on fine days. With no power, lots of bits went tarnished/bit rusty or mildewy. If no option, take out as much linen/textile stuff as poss such as mattresses, curtains etc and store in nice c heated house.

 

[DavidJ]

Everything Colin says is true but I wonder really what the increased life is by 'doing things right'
I leave the battery in the boat give it a charge up before winter and there is usually enough in it for the first start up in the Spring. My battery life has been typically 5-6 years.
David

 

[martin]

yeah..I must admit thats what I did last year. But that was third year of nasty old sealine (equivalent of Ex Wife). This year is first year of luverly Princess (Think nubile young bit of fluff!) and fed up wiv paying local engineers for doin nuffink..will probably leave them then!

 

[brianrunyard]

Somebody suggested completely discharging the battery, I always understood this to be detremental to battery life. I was tought that, each time the battery drops below a certain state of charge, it shortens the life.

It might not be best practice, but this is what I do:-
1. I take my batteries home.
2. Top up the electrolyte as necessary.
3. Fully charge.
4. Then check the Specific Gravity on a regular basis, approx monthly, and top up the charge if necessary.

Brian

 

[boatone]

KISS

Just make sure they're well charged at end of season then leave 'em alone. As davidj says there should be plenty of power for first start up in spring. Could disconnect the leads and grease the terminals if you want to feel you've done something! I usually check them with a meter occassionaly but they seem to hold up pretty well. Last year I left them from early November thru to Easter and started diesel first time after usual glowplugs warm up


boatone@boatsonthethames.co.uk