Winter Battery Charging

[boatingworld2004]

Hi

I was wondering what the best thing to do with charging my batteries over the winter. The boat is on the hard with a mains hook up. I have 2 x 85ah house batteries and 1 x Odyssey Start Battery. The System has a BEP panel with VSR and a mobiltronic 25amp smart mains charger. Is it best to leave them on trickle charge 24/7 or ne day per week? Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[Plevier]

Modern low loss batteries in good condition do not need continuous charging or even a day a week.
If you make sure they are completely isolated - beware radio memories, clocks etc bypassing your isolator switch - and fully charged they will be happy for at least 3 months before a refresh charge.
I'm sure the Odyssey manual has info on storage.

 

[NB Willawaw]

Personally I like mine on float charge. Stops my charger getting damp as well and keeps a little warmth in the electrical locker.

You can leave them isolated though and they will stay charged for a couple of months. Beware Just a small drain like 20-30mA from a connected alarm or radio will drag them down though. Alternatively put a small solar panel on to overcome the self discharge.

 

[sailorman]

Hi

I was wondering what the best thing to do with charging my batteries over the winter. The boat is on the hard with a mains hook up. I have 2 x 85ah house batteries and 1 x Odyssey Start Battery. The System has a BEP panel with VSR and a mobiltronic 25amp smart mains charger. Is it best to leave them on trickle charge 24/7 or ne day per week? Any thoughts much appreciated.

put the charger on a timer

 

[boatingworld2004]

I do have a 20watt solar panel in the system and was wondering how good this might be during the winter

I will give it a try without the mains charger now they have been on float for a week

Cheers for the advice

 

[sailorman]

I do have a 20watt solar panel in the system and was wondering how good this might be during the winter

I will give it a try without the mains charger now they have been on float for a week

Cheers for the advice

It will work just fine & much safer

 

[jwilson]

Hi

I was wondering what the best thing to do with charging my batteries over the winter. The boat is on the hard with a mains hook up. I have 2 x 85ah house batteries and 1 x Odyssey Start Battery. The System has a BEP panel with VSR and a mobiltronic 25amp smart mains charger. Is it best to leave them on trickle charge 24/7 or ne day per week? Any thoughts much appreciated.

Very similar setup on my boat: I leave the charger on for about 24 hours roughly once a month from Nov to Jan/Feb, then once I am getting the boat ready again in March just turn it on when on board.