Drained the starting battery

[johnr]

Well I apparently left the main power switch on when I left my boat parked for 3 weeks.
I put the charger on it for close to 24 hours, it started, and I when out that day, the next morning switch off, nothing running, however dead as can be again.

Is the battery toast? It is only 2 seasons old, so I was hoping to not have to replace, but seems with the short season I don't want to be messing around with it.

Can the battery dealer test it somehow to see if it will hold a charge, or am I just straight up buying a battery.

 

[jdinny]

Well I apparently left the main power switch on when I left my boat parked for 3 weeks.
I put the charger on it for close to 24 hours, it started, and I when out that day, the next morning switch off, nothing running, however dead as can be again.

Is the battery toast? It is only 2 seasons old, so I was hoping to not have to replace, but seems with the short season I don't want to be messing around with it.Can the battery dealer test it somehow to see if it will hold a charge, or am I just straight up buying a battery.

yeah i know O'reileys in bismarck tests batterys, but like any battery dealer, im sure there "all bad"
i have a charger that tests batterys and alternators ( it is accurate as far as alternators go because ive replaced one) i just hook that up and test it when i have a question in regards to my batteries. i think its a black and decker brand

 

[Allen]

It may very well be toast. Best way to kill a battery is to shoot it, second best way is to let it sit without a charge for an extended period of time. Messes with the electrolyte used and the lead plates.

But to answer your question, yes. You can put the battery on a charger and run it down to your local mechanic shop, interstate battery, wherever and they should be able to put it under a load and see if it's within an acceptable range for the battery.

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In my experience, every time I have wondered if the battery was bad...it was.

 

[martinslanding]

I did the same thing...left master power on then charged it overnight then next time out dead...I didn't think the master was on again but may have been...but now that I think about it I think it was off... was so pissed at myself for doing it twice didn't pay attention.

However this makes sense...think I'll pick up an extra starting battery for next weekend...just in case

 

[Up Y'oars]

What usually happens, John, is the batter cannot accept a smaller load of 2-10amps to get it back above the hump. If you don't have a 25amp charger, or larger, then take it into a shop and they will put a large load charge on it. Once the battery gets back above 50% the smaller chargers can take over to top it off.

My motorcycle batter just did the same thing. I put a 25-amp charge on it for 30min and finally got the bike started. Then, I switched to 10amp and it was topped off by morning.

I believe you'll have good luck with a high load charge on your battery.

 

[DirtyMike]

My trolling batteries seemed to have taken a dump as well. They were brand new this spring. Sub_elect showed me a trick using my vexilar charger. Tried that and can get it to 12.4v. As soon as the charger is off and voltmeter still attached, I can watch the numbers tick away.

 

[Captain Ahab]

If you are using a smart charger, they often will not charge a stone dead battery. You need the ones that push a charge irregardless. The best way to tell if you have a charger that will push a charge is by tapping the positive and negative leads to each other. If they spark, the charger will push a charge. Another way of getting a battery up to the level a smart charger will charge it is to boost the battery with your pickup and leave it connected for about 10-15 minutes to push a good charge into it. Then let the charger take over.

 

[johnr]

Ran over to walmart and they only had one size of marine cranking battery. It was a 24MS, with 650 cca. Seems like I would want more than that, or is that as much as you put on a boat motor?

 

[martinslanding]

Ran over to walmart and they only had one size of marine cranking battery. It was a 24MS, with 650 cca. Seems like I would want more than that, or is that as much as you put on a boat motor?

did you check Runnings?

 

[deleted member]

Some electronics pull even when they are turned off as well.

 

[johnr]

did you check Runnings?

Yup, and that was the same. They only had the 24.

I didn't look at what the Interstate one is that I have in it now. But it seems you pay 20% more for that name

 

[svnmag]

Did you try Ahab's advice? I've started the truck with my mower and vise versa.

 

[wildeyes]

when a battery is total discharged like upyoars said it doesn't charge. I've had this happen and I hooked another battery to it in ei two batterys pos to pos 12volt and started to charge both once the discharged battery starts to get some power back I disconnect the other battery and the discharged battery will charge up. only two years old should still be good.

 

[Captain Ahab]

BTW, the worst thing about having stuff is batteries. More stuff=more stupid batteries to keep maintained.

 

[MuskyManiac]

Ran over to walmart and they only had one size of marine cranking battery. It was a 24MS, with 650 cca. Seems like I would want more than that, or is that as much as you put on a boat motor?

For that Optimax you need 800 mca's. Interstate XHD 800 mca and 1000 cca.

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Another way of getting a battery up to the level a smart charger will charge it is to boost the battery with your pickup and leave it connected for about 10-15 minutes to push a good charge into it. Then let the charger take over.

Never thought of that. Awesome tip!

 

[5575]

Amazon prime is your friend here, get a big ass kicker and be done with it. I hate crappy ordinary batteries in a boat, walmart used to have a good battery about 10 years ago but they've went the cheap route along with interstate as well.

For a starting dual purpose battery I'd probably go with at least a big optima.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00075OSCO/?tag=nodakangler10-20

They'll have it to you in two days.

This ones a beast.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FFVI8A/?tag=nodakangler10-20