trickle battery charger question

[pugbro]

My boat is equipted with 2 batteries..1 for start, 1 for trolling motor. Its time to store the boat and I have removed both batteries since she will be stored outside (covered, of course). Sometimes its gets below freezing here in the sunny South...My question is: CAN YOU HOOK BOTH THE BATTERIES TOGETHER AND USE ONLY 1 TRICKLE CHARGER. I am not too cheap to invest in another charger, my problem is having an outlet close enough without running and extension cord across my garage. Moving the Battery closer to the outlet is not an option.

 

[lprizman]

Re: trickle battery charger question

yes,,buy a cross over,,on battery hook the + and on the other hook the negative,,the juice will flow thru both,,however if one battery is weaker the stronger will suffer,,but not the best method,,I would alternate the charge for each instead.
store inside if possible,,the water freezes and your buying 2 new ones, and not on a concrete floor

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trickle battery charger question

Sitting on a concrete floor is old school and no longer an issue with batteries. That thinking came about with the old wood and hard rubber battery cases that did have an issue when left on concrete. New batteries with plastic cases don't care where they sit. Paralleling two batteries while charging is not an issue and both will equalize. However, a battery maintainer is only 1.5 amps to start with and may not keep the batteries topped off. Alternating the charging process is a good suggestion.

 

[180shabah]

Re: trickle battery charger question

Alternating the charge is the best suggestion.

FWIW - before I purchased my battery tender, I just hooked up a regular charger for a couple of hours every month while I was outside working. A fully charged battery is not much of a freeze risk. With my battery tender, I don't even remove the battery from ther boat any more. The extension cord is much lighter, and doesn't require the cover to come off....

 

[mooregecko]

Re: trickle battery charger question

Do they make trickle chargers for charging two batteries when one is a cranking battery and one is a deep cell? Is it better just to buy two chargers?

 

[rcl700]

Re: trickle battery charger question

Get two. I got mine at harbor freight under $10 each

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

 

[180shabah]

Re: trickle battery charger question

Gecko - do need to charge or maintain your batteries? To charge, you can get a 2 bank charger, basically 2 seperate chargers in a single case.