battery question

[AndyG]

I have the same charger. If something happens and the battery gets unhooked or if the power goes out in the middle of charging, it will say 100% when I hook it back up. I actually have to run some of the charge down to get it back where it left off. Caring for marine batteries is confusing to me anyway, even after reading all the internet says about it.

However, the pair of walmart batteries Ive had have been doing fine since spring of 09. Thats with killing them about 3 times a week. So Im satisfied.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Much better on the batteries to keep them charged to full capacity even when not taking the boat out. Not saying they must stay on a charger all the time but periodically charging them will help. Every so often, I will even click my trolling motor on "Continuous" mode and let the batteries drain over the night with the trolling motor running, then plug up the on board charger the next morning to re charge from time to time.

[Raydaver]

Much better on the batteries to keep them charged to full capacity even when not taking the boat out. Not saying they must stay on a charger all the time but periodically charging them will help. Every so often, I will even click my trolling motor on "Continuous" mode and let the batteries drain over the night with the trolling motor running, then plug up the on board charger the next morning to re charge from time to time.

Aren't you afraid of burning your seals out? My motorguide manual says not to be running it out of the water because it could damage the seals and added wear to the armature/ brushes.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Aren't you afraid of burning your seals out? My motorguide manual says not to be running it out of the water because it could damage the seals and added wear to the armature/ brushes.

I don't do it that often but if my boat is out of the water for more than a couple of months I will do it. I have a Minn Kota with variable speed and put it on the slowest speed as possible as to not build up much heat. Been doing it for several years and never had a problem. Maybe I should investigate it further before doing it next time but it has worked well. I also hook up a black light from time to time and leave it on for a couple of days and they discharge as well. Works the same but takes a lot longer to discharge the batteries. I guess it is better to change a blacklight bulb than seals in the motor.

[Raydaver]

I don't do it that often but if my boat is out of the water for more than a couple of months I will do it. I have a Minn Kota with variable speed and put it on the slowest speed as possible as to not build up much heat. Been doing it for several years and never had a problem. Maybe I should investigate it further before doing it next time but it has worked well. I also hook up a black light from time to time and leave it on for a couple of days and they discharge as well. Works the same but takes a lot longer to discharge the batteries. I guess it is better to change a blacklight bulb than seals in the motor.

I just bought a new one for $700 and they're not getting any cheaper. So anything that can be done to extend the life is a good thing. It's even tougher trying to explain to the wife WHY we need it. HA! HA!

[elnutsmalljaws]

I just bought a new one for $700 and they're not getting any cheaper. So anything that can be done to extend the life is a good thing. It's even tougher trying to explain to the wife WHY we need it. HA! HA!

My wife knows I am SICK. I am a confessed Smallaholic. The first step is admitting that you have a problem.

[creeker]

I had a battery I bought new in the spring do that to me all summer long. After about the 3rd time, I took it to an auto parts store to have tested and they said it was fine. Then I thought it was something on my boat causing it. I fought it like that all summer but I never did actually have a dead battery. A few weeks ago, I pulled my battery and brought it in the basement to charge and got the same error message. I took it back to walmart where I purchased it and they tested it and it came up bad. The guy at walmart said that walmart just switched to batteries made by Johnson Controls instead of Exide and that wasn't an uncommon problem with Exide made batteries.