Weave
New Member
:huh:What are your thoughts on these? Worth the investment or is it better to throw a trickle charge on the batteries a couple times over the winter?
Battery Tender?
- Thread starter Weave
- Start date
- Nov 12, 2006
- 5,334
- Boat Info
- 1999 Sea Ray 330DA
Twin 7.4 MPI (310 propshaft HP) V-drives
- Engines
- Twin Mercury Marine marinized 7.4L L-29 V8s
Cast iron block w 4-bolt mains
Battery tenders are fine. I have some of them on my "collector cars." I also have fully automatic chargers which I also use. The fully automatic chargers measure voltage and current draw to turn themselves on and off. Either solution works, but the fully automatic chargers are more flexible since they can also charge at 2, 10, or 50 amps. (I have a few different ones.)
Best regards,
Frank
Best regards,
Frank
Idle batteries loose about 10% charge per month, more in warmer temperatures.
As batteries reach about 50% state of charge then sulfation increases. Sulfation degrades the plates which decreases capacity.
The best way to minimize sulfation is to float the batteries at 13.8 VDC continuously. Ensure the electrolyte remains topped off w/ distilled.
The charger needs enough current output to maintain all the batteries at the float voltage.
As batteries reach about 50% state of charge then sulfation increases. Sulfation degrades the plates which decreases capacity.
The best way to minimize sulfation is to float the batteries at 13.8 VDC continuously. Ensure the electrolyte remains topped off w/ distilled.
The charger needs enough current output to maintain all the batteries at the float voltage.
MySR8u
New Member
If you fully charge a battery in sound condition, it will easily hold its charge through the winter by simply unhooking the negative cable.
