I just bought a Battery tender and I was wondering if I should keep the battery on the Tender all winter long or just wait untill spring and charge it a few days before I use it? The battery is a gel battery and I have heard that you shouldn't leave a gel battery on charge for an extended period of time.
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charging Battery
- Thread starter srlfish
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Forgive me, as I am not familiar with GEL batteries, but if that is what you heard, then your best bet is to keep the battery topped up, but not necessarily on all the time.
Check the percentage and trickle-charge it up every couple of weeks or so. That's what I am doing, as I don't want to leave mine all the time either.
Waiting until the Spring defeats the purpose.
Check the percentage and trickle-charge it up every couple of weeks or so. That's what I am doing, as I don't want to leave mine all the time either.
Waiting until the Spring defeats the purpose.
Trickle or Tender?.......
The answer to this question actually is all determined around the charger you have.
If you've bought a specific battery tender, it's just what the name says it is, a "tender". This is meant to be left on 24/7, 365 days a year. A true tender uses smart technology to know when the battery is dropping in amps, turns itself on, then when the battery is at capacity, it turns itself off.
A trickle charger or any other type charger is just that, a charger. It will not turn itself off no matter if you've got it on a 3 amp trickle or a 45 amp start. Left un-attended, the battery will begin to gas and evaporate the water inside the battery, creating explosive conditions if kept indoors (like a garage).
So, according to what you actually have, you can decide on what type of maintenance you need to apply to your battery.
Oh, BTW, a tender can be used with the battery connected to the watercraft. If at all possible, remove the battery when charging. If it's in a hard to get to place, removing the ground strap will work. Although, you may not damage the electrical system with the battery connected while charging, there stands a chance that you'll at minimum, blow a fuse.:cheers:
The answer to this question actually is all determined around the charger you have.
If you've bought a specific battery tender, it's just what the name says it is, a "tender". This is meant to be left on 24/7, 365 days a year. A true tender uses smart technology to know when the battery is dropping in amps, turns itself on, then when the battery is at capacity, it turns itself off.
A trickle charger or any other type charger is just that, a charger. It will not turn itself off no matter if you've got it on a 3 amp trickle or a 45 amp start. Left un-attended, the battery will begin to gas and evaporate the water inside the battery, creating explosive conditions if kept indoors (like a garage).
So, according to what you actually have, you can decide on what type of maintenance you need to apply to your battery.
Oh, BTW, a tender can be used with the battery connected to the watercraft. If at all possible, remove the battery when charging. If it's in a hard to get to place, removing the ground strap will work. Although, you may not damage the electrical system with the battery connected while charging, there stands a chance that you'll at minimum, blow a fuse.:cheers:
A must?
With Mirage's post, I agree to an extent. If at all possible, remove the battery. But if the battery is super hard to get to, then you can re-charge it in the ski. Again, if you can, disconnect the batteries grounding strap.
Make sure you leave the cover where the battery is exposed to open air. Never charge the battery in a closed ski.
You can charge the battery with it still connected but never try to start it will connected.
Play it safe, do like Mirage said, "take it out!"....:cheers:
With Mirage's post, I agree to an extent. If at all possible, remove the battery. But if the battery is super hard to get to, then you can re-charge it in the ski. Again, if you can, disconnect the batteries grounding strap.
Make sure you leave the cover where the battery is exposed to open air. Never charge the battery in a closed ski.
You can charge the battery with it still connected but never try to start it will connected.
Play it safe, do like Mirage said, "take it out!"....:cheers:
Maintainer?....
In most forms of chargers that use the word "maintainer", it's simply a trickle charger. If it's a tender, it will most likely have some type why to tell you it's off. Like a LED light that turns from red to green when it's off cycle.
Maintainer is often used in the "2 amp" mode because it's a really light charge. But, none the less, will cause gassing of the battery once it reaches a peak charge. So, be careful.
With the price you paid, I'd say it's a charger because "tenders" usually cost a bit more than that.
In most forms of chargers that use the word "maintainer", it's simply a trickle charger. If it's a tender, it will most likely have some type why to tell you it's off. Like a LED light that turns from red to green when it's off cycle.
Maintainer is often used in the "2 amp" mode because it's a really light charge. But, none the less, will cause gassing of the battery once it reaches a peak charge. So, be careful.
With the price you paid, I'd say it's a charger because "tenders" usually cost a bit more than that.
timmyboy76
New Member
wat gives...
alright, I got this one.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93258
I keep it perm. mounted w/ hooked up, and put charge night before roll'n out. Have yet/nothing, no probs with it/battery/componants...have I got'n lucky?
Also, new boat i got, has deep cycle/marine Interstate, inwhich darn battery now, has/goin on 72hrs of charge with same charger. Is battery dead/bad cell..because its still show'n "power" but has yet to label "charged".
alright, I got this one.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93258
I keep it perm. mounted w/ hooked up, and put charge night before roll'n out. Have yet/nothing, no probs with it/battery/componants...have I got'n lucky?
Also, new boat i got, has deep cycle/marine Interstate, inwhich darn battery now, has/goin on 72hrs of charge with same charger. Is battery dead/bad cell..because its still show'n "power" but has yet to label "charged".
Great deal!......
Now that's a great deal on a tender!........but, after paying shipping charges, you may have found one locally for a price equal to it. But, it is a nice one!
Timmyboy, most marine deep cycle batteries (all that I know of) have caps on them for checking the water level in the cells. If you got one low, put "distilled" water in it. You really don't want to put water in it that has minerals in it. But, most of us just use tap water. Now and then, I boil a pot of water and put it in the fridge. This really only eleminates the bacteria and chlorine...........but, check the cells with a hydrometer for charge efficiency. You may have one or more bad cells..........:cheers:
Now that's a great deal on a tender!........but, after paying shipping charges, you may have found one locally for a price equal to it. But, it is a nice one!
Timmyboy, most marine deep cycle batteries (all that I know of) have caps on them for checking the water level in the cells. If you got one low, put "distilled" water in it. You really don't want to put water in it that has minerals in it. But, most of us just use tap water. Now and then, I boil a pot of water and put it in the fridge. This really only eleminates the bacteria and chlorine...........but, check the cells with a hydrometer for charge efficiency. You may have one or more bad cells..........:cheers:
timmyboy76
New Member
Get them all day long out this way. I roll that store up, all the time, I get'm for 10buks....
Ya, darn battery, gonna give a few more hrs, see if she labels to "charge", if not, hit up Autozone, for test, if bad,...have receipt, hopefully under warranty/prorate..something.
just looked up, for up to 15 buks, charge is 7 buks for shipping, so..still good deal for 22 buks?
Ya, darn battery, gonna give a few more hrs, see if she labels to "charge", if not, hit up Autozone, for test, if bad,...have receipt, hopefully under warranty/prorate..something.
just looked up, for up to 15 buks, charge is 7 buks for shipping, so..still good deal for 22 buks?
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Deal!.....
Yeah, still a good deal when I think the cheapest one I've seen out my way is no lower than about $35 bucks.....:cheers:
Yeah, still a good deal when I think the cheapest one I've seen out my way is no lower than about $35 bucks.....:cheers:
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