Trolling motor batteries

[lroberts]

One other thing guys...its hard on batteries to charge them when they are not close to dead. It gives them memory and can make the charge last less and less.....I agree about charging them right away though. If you store it over the winter make sure to charge them once a month or so!

[CatFan96]

One other thing guys...its hard on batteries to charge them when they are not close to dead. It gives them memory and can make the charge last less and less

Not true. Lead-Acid batteries do not have memory and allowing them to remain in an even slightly discharged state is about the worst thing you can do to them. Charge them as soon as possible whenever they aren't at full charge with a 3 or 4 stage charger that can supply at least 5A, preferably 10-15A for maximum battery life. The life of the battery is badly affected by time spent below full charge.

Trickle chargers will overcharge a battery since they typically provide 2A at all times which can boil the water out. Use a 3 or 4 stage that has a float mode to maintain full charge at all times.

[lroberts]

Not true. Lead-Acid batteries do not have memory and allowing them to remain in an even slightly discharged state is about the worst thing you can do to them. Charge them as soon as possible whenever they aren't at full charge with a 3 or 4 stage charger that can supply at least 5A, preferably 10-15A for maximum battery life. The life of the battery is badly affected by time spent below full charge.

Trickle chargers will overcharge a battery since they typically provide 2A at all times which can boil the water out. Use a 3 or 4 stage that has a float mode to maintain full charge at all times.

You are correct sir! I did some research with Interstate batteries......and....what I said only applies with batteries such as ones in cell phones. They did say that automatic chargers...ones that shut off when the battery is full...are the way to go. Overcharging them is the worst thing that you can do, next to leaving them uncharged fully. Thanks for correcting me! I guess I learned you can't believe everything you hear!

[ironhead70]

One other thing guys...its hard on batteries to charge them when they are not close to dead. It gives them memory and can make the charge last less and less.....I agree about charging them right away though. If you store it over the winter make sure to charge them once a month or so!

the so called memory is when the plates sulfate due to battery getting hot when in use and then it cooling down will cause the plates to sulfate this is were the memory of lasting 10 hours to 8 to 6