Charging a Gel Deepcyle battery?

[Erv Metoxen]

I just purchased 2 new Gel Deepcyle batteries for my Bassboat, and

was wondering if I can just leave the onboard charger connected to

the outlet when I am not using boat?

It is a BassPro 15 amp 3 bank charger with 5 amps going to each battery.

I purchased the boat used 3 years ago, never could find out how old the

original deepcyle liquid batteries were. But I was told it was ok to

leave them on charge all the time.

Any suggestions are welcome

Erv 01 ST 4x4 Toreadore Red:unsure:

 

[Aaron Yarbough]

If it constantly charges the batteries then that can't be good for them. I would recommend the Battery Tender which charges the battery fully and then checks the battery level every few days, weeks or whatever. If it needs a charge it turns on, if not it goes back into hibernate mode.



Edit: A battery that is constantly charged will eventually dry up inside and go bad. Check out hte Battery Tender, it will be well worth the investment for your new batteries.

 

[Jeff C]

Lil Red is right. It's not good to leave them on the charger. I know the product he's talking about, and it is what you should use to keep from overcharging the batteries and ruining them.

 

[EddieS'04]

You can get a 12vdc float charger at harbor freight for $5..

 

[Aaron Yarbough]

Eddie, how does the float charger work? I'm assuming it's similar to the one I am referring to.

 

[Mark G]

I have one of the float chargers from Harbor freight and a Battery Tender. The Battery Tender is much more sophisticated, it has a computer chip that keeps track of the battery voltage and charges only when needed. I have been very pleased with the battery Tender "waterproof 800" I have. We use it on boats and vehicles when they sit for long periods of time to keep the batteries up. The 800 is a small charger intended to keep batteries topped up, it works great for maintaining a charge. I have left it on for weeks at a time with no problems.

 

[EddieS'04]

The harbor frieght float charger also tracks the batterry voltage. I have hooked my digital vom to it on the battery and watched it cycle the the charge rate from 12 to 14 volts at around .25 amps...never boiled the battery dry.

After I bought the Trac in '04 I used it on the mustang that I recently sold. The mustang became a toy instead of a daily driver and sleppt in the garage alot.

My dad uses one on his lawn tractor. His battery is always ready to go. Even in the off season...

 

[Mark G]

I'll have to drag the HF charger out and use it. Thanks for the info Eddie!

 

[EJ Bock]

The care and feeding of your pet battery (link a little technical). Most important thing is to charge a new battery at one-third of its rated capacity in amp/hours for four to five hours to get it to full charge. New batteries are not at full capacity. They have only about 80% charge and go down hill fast. I average over 5yrs on my riding mower battery and it sits outside all winter. I may have to jump it after winter for the first start. Keep fluid level up if not sealed second most important.