Reply With QuoteAre you saying a trickle charger ruined it, or just that you forgot to check the water? I've got a trickle charger on mine as well right now, so let me know. Thanks for the tip.
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Crappie Wall Hanger II
Don't make this costley mistake!!!
Launched my boat Tuesday morning got in and it wouldn't start. So I loaded it
on the trailer and went to the battery dealer. No water in battery's I use a trickle
charger and it is plugged in all the time. so that was an EXPENSIVE MISTAKE.
Crappie.com 2K Star General
Are you saying a trickle charger ruined it, or just that you forgot to check the water? I've got a trickle charger on mine as well right now, so let me know. Thanks for the tip.
Crappie.com Legend
A good charger will sense voltage and cut off when appropriate level is reached. However, if you let the water level drop below the grids you will burn up your battery when you try to charge it. Mine are not easy to check, but I force myself to check them every couple of trips.
Mark 1:17 ...I will make you fishers of men
Crappie.com Legend
I had wondered the same thing since my new boat has an onboard charger. The guys here convinced me not to leave it plugged in all the time even though the dealer said it was okay. That's a bummer mikeg, sorry to hear about that.
Randy Andres
Crappie Wall Hanger II
No I am not blaming it on the trickle charger, I should have checked the water.Fish Nut I don't think I can blame the charger. Bet your cotton socks I will be checking the water now.
Crappie.com Legend
Well I have a post up about which batteries to use if that helps you any. Sorry to hear that and thanks for the head's up on the trickle charger and checking the water.
Dwyane
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary!
SMILE- A curve that can set a lot of things straight!
Crappie.com 2K Star General
I cooked a set of trolling motor batteries a few years ago because I didn't check the fluid level. I've become a believer in unplugging the charger when it reaches full charge, and I check fluid level often. Don't know if unplugging the charger after it does it's job is the best thing to do, but it has worked out for me.
Crappie Wall Hanger
I leave my on board charger connected all the time but I also have to add water from time to time.especially in the summer time and as long as I keep water levels where they should be my batteries have lasted a long time!my charger also cuts off when the batteries are fully charged and trickle on when they drop to a certain level!
Crappie.com 1K Star General
Kinda what I was thinking.Originally Posted by Tracker123
A man never stands so tall as when he stoops down to help a boy.
David Freeman
318-805-6270
Farmerville LA
Slabmaster II
Trickle chargers are usually automatic. 1-1/2 - 2 amps at max charging. It will only maintain your battery if its within a couple of volts +/- 12. If your batery is 10 VDC or less they usually will not turn on at all. If you have a battery that is being maintained, yes you do need to check the water levels. New batteries you are good for about the first 6 months to a year. After that, you should be dilligent in checking them every 4 - 6 months. If the levels drop where the battery can't take a full charge you can burn up the charger as it won't shut off.
If you don't want to check the water levels, there are gel cel batteries available that are sealed. Quite a jump in cost though, usually double.
Here is a suggestion; Most of you guys have calendars on your phones. Set a reminder so it will alert you to check that. Of course you then actually need to check ;-).
DF
P.S. Don't forget, Marine starting batteries for the engine. Deep cycle batteries for the trolling motor. The large draw down by the trolling motors and constant recharging will kill a starting battery.
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