On board chargers?

[lineman49]

On board chargers?

  Once the batteries are up to full charge do you leave the charger plugged in all the time or not?  Also would you leave it on & plugged in all winter?  I have been told both, unplug when fully charged &/or leave it on that's the purpose of it , to charge & maintain when not in use.

[rolmops]

I charge them to full capacity and then have a trickle charger on them to maintain the charge. In winter, they go out of the boat , into the basement on a wooden board, and stay on the trickle charger all winter.


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[MikeNY]

In the boat plugged in all winter long. Never had any issues over 10 years.

[phil2]

I pull mine and keep in basement. Ill put charger on them a couple times during the winter. 

[Prof T]

I've got a Pro mariner dual bank that is supposed to drop down to "float" once the batteries are fully charged. If my boat's at the dock, it's plugged in and I've had no issues. Just finished third season on group 31 trolling motor battery and 24 cranking(dual purpose) and they still seem to perform as new.

 

In winter I fully charge, disconnect everything and leave them in the boat. They never come close to fully discharging and jump right back up in the spring after a short charge.

[lineman49]

   Thanks for the info. guys!

[Roughrider IV]

If they are refillable batteries that need water checked periodically, remove them to the garage, I’ve suffered dry cells over winter with the charger on maintain.


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[jimski2]

24/365 for 5 years now on charge, maybe I will check my water.


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[lineman49]

[jimski2]

Trickle chargers will boil the water out if left on continuously. you should use the "maintenance" charger system which gives a tiny pulse charge at short intervals to keep your battery charged.