Battery Charging

[kuchengj]

A friend of mine gave me an older model Dual Pro Charger 10x2. I've connected it to my 2 onboard batteries and it appears to work fine(charges each battery and the led turns green when they are fully charged). My questions are;
1) Is it OK to leave the "trickle charge" on all winter or should I disconnect?
Any precautions?
2) Sometimes one battery will recharge(red led on). Is this normal?

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Battery Charging

Whether or not to keep a maintainer on your batteries is a matter of opinion. I live up in Wisconsin so I remove my batteries and store them in my heated shop all winter. I put my little 2 amp trickle charger on them for a few hours every month and my batteries seem to last a long time.

I think some people might also ask just how long you plan on laying up your boat??

Best of luck!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Battery Charging

You can leave your batteries on the charger all winter as long as the charger stops charging when they reach their potential. Batteries that continue to be charged after being "topped off" by a trickle charger will eventually get too hot and can split the case or kill cells.

Another option is to trickle charge them until full then remove the charger and reapply once a month for a few hours for maintenance charging/cycling.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Battery Charging

I would plug it in every month for a day or two to keep the batteries topped off.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery Charging

Actually, it depends on the age, design, and quality of the charger. If it is indeed a "smart" charger, then it does not mattery if it is left on as it will cycle on and off only when needed. My preference however, is to leave it connected, but plug it into a timer that runs for one hour per day. If the battery needs topping off it will take a charge and if not, it won't. It also eliminates the possibility of over charging should the charger not be "that smart".

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Battery Charging

A quick Google of that model shows the current ones available are indeed smart chargers. You may have to contact someone with your model # to be sure.

 

[mike343]

Re: Battery Charging

As long as the charger doesn't fail you can leave it powered. But why take the risk?