Charging a battery

[Ray Champ]

I purchased another boat just to use on the Detroit River. I will put an electric motor on this boat and I will be storing it at a big storage lot with no electricity available. I cannot charge the trolling battery where I live because I live in a condo and boats are not allowed. How can I charge the battery without taking the battery out every time?

Thanks,

[ESOX]

The alternators on most smaller outboards are woefully inadequate to recharge trolling motor batteries, besides deep cycle batteries need a different charging cycle to optimize saturation and battery life. I think you are stuck removing the batteries. Get a good battery charger with a setting for both starting batteries and deep cycles. I use a Minn Kota charger.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Esox. how about a solar panel. Seen them in bass pro and cabelas catologs. I know they would be slow to charge but should be good after a few days I would think.

[ESOX]

Mike, I have no expierience with them, but I was under the impression that they are simply trickle chargers for battery maintenance, I'll do a little research.

[ESOX]

Clay, I can see isolating the battery and giving it a charge off the tow vehicle, but what about the soak phase of the charging cycle?

[ESOX]

http://www.marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm#6
I believe they call it "equalization in this article, but it cover the requirements to properly charge a deep cycle battery.

[ESOX]

Thank Clay. I found it easy to buy a "smart" charger to make up for my deficiencies.:)

[jpollman]

I've never heard of a Deep Cycle battery being able to develop a "memory". I thought that was for Nicads. I've got a deep-cycle that I use for my trolling motor. I always bring it home and "top it off" after EVERY use. I have yet to have a problem with it. I'm NOT an electrical engineer but this is just my experience. I want to make sure that I've ALWAYS got a FULLY charged battery whenever I want to go out fishing and I don't want to have to buy TWO batteries so that I can always "draw one down completely" before I charge it. Again, I know that is what you're supposed to do with cell phones, camcorders, etc. but those units run on NICADS - not Lead-Acid batteries.

[ESOX]

At the above link, refer to sections 7.5 and 10.10

[Sparky]

JPOLLMAN - All rechargable batteries develop some type of a memory to them. I have found that if you do a deep discharge atleast once a year it will extend the life of the battery greatly. I have been doing this on my truck for the past 7 years and I have 196K miles on the same battery. Just my 2 cents

[jpollman]

Sparky,

Whatever works for you is fine. I choose to believe the data on the link provided above by Esox. Like he said, refer to section 7.5 on that link.