Trolling motor batteries

[espringers]

I am just gonna put this out there...

Battery tech isn't patented and it's not rocket surgery. Those things are all made the same regardless of where, when, why or how. If it's LA, none of them are superior in such a way as to justify any price difference other that the name on the outside. Now if you wanna debate LA, AGM and lithium, have at it.

 

[johnr]

So as it turns out I am thinking my batteries are screwed. I left them on the 3 bank charger over the winter in a cold storage building. Plugged them in this weekend, and the charger shows full charge needed on the light gauges. They should not need charging really at all but wanted to plug them in since they hadn't been plugged in since pulling them from storage a month ago.
They sit in this state for about 2 hours, then the final time I check them, the center batter shows green and full charge, the two outer batteries have red blinking lights. I didn't pull the batteries, as I was not in the mood, and somewhat PO'd.
My question is do you guys think its the charger, or my only 4 year old batteries didn't make the winter?
Fuck I am starting to hate owning shit.

 

[701FishSlayer]

Better chances it's the batteries than anything else. Sounds like 2 banks would have to have went bad right? Magic 8 ball says not likely.

 

[johnr]

Better chances it's the batteries than anything else. Sounds like 2 banks would have to have went bad right? Magic 8 ball says not likely.

Shouldnt batteries give more life than 4 years. Or was it that they were constantly on the charger have a cause in this situation. I typically store the boat at home and plug it in periodically, rather than leave the charge on constant.
In this biden economy, I cannot be buying batteries every 4 years...

 

[Retired-Guy]

So as it turns out I am thinking my batteries are screwed. I left them on the 3 bank charger over the winter in a cold storage building. Plugged them in this weekend, and the charger shows full charge needed on the light gauges. They should not need charging really at all but wanted to plug them in since they hadn't been plugged in since pulling them from storage a month ago.
They sit in this state for about 2 hours, then the final time I check them, the center batter shows green and full charge, the two outer batteries have red blinking lights. I didn't pull the batteries, as I was not in the mood, and somewhat PO'd.
My question is do you guys think its the charger, or my only 4 year old batteries didn't make the winter?
Fuck I am starting to hate owning shit.

Fuck I am starting to hate owning shit.

I am with you on that Johnr!

 

[Retired-Guy]

Shouldnt batteries give more life than 4 years. Or was it that they were constantly on the charger have a cause in this situation. I typically store the boat at home and plug it in periodically, rather than leave the charge on constant.
In this biden economy, I cannot be buying batteries every 4 years...

Check the water levels. I leave mine plugged in 24/7 while Snow Birding for 5 months during the winter and I do find that doing so can eat water. Hell, the only time mine isn't plugged in is when I am using the boat.

 

[johnr]

Check the water levels. I leave mine plugged in 24/7 while Snow Birding for 5 months during the winter and I do find that doing so can eat water. Hell, the only time mine isn't plugged in is when I am using the boat.

So you think these batteries can be saved if I top of the batteries?

 

[guywhofishes]

If it’s an old school charger it might have “boiled off” the water due to excessive voltage. Newfangled chargers avoid that. A modern 3 bank shouldn’t eat water though. Unless it got set to the wrong battery type (wet, gel, lithium,blah blah)

 

[johnr]

If it’s an old school charger it might have “boiled off” the water due to excessive voltage. Newfangled chargers avoid that. A modern 3 bank shouldn’t eat water though. Unless it got set to the wrong battery type (wet, gel, lithium,blah blah)

Batteries are bad, as this charger should slowly lessen its charge, then stop charging altogether once the batteries are full.
Standard deep cycle

 

[Retired-Guy]

Batteries are bad, as this charger should slowly lessen its charge, then stop charging altogether once the batteries are full.
Standard deep cycle

Nothing cheaper than checking water levels.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Batteries and I don't seem to get along.

 

[701FishSlayer]

Winter here can kill a brand new battery let alone 4 year old batteries.

 

[guywhofishes]

I blame the livewell pump juanr should have replaced when we last chided him about it.

 

[buckhunter24_7]

Buy cheap batteries, replace one every year. Must unhook and pull the batteries every winter. Keep in a warm place. Clean terminals and connections every spring and make sure all the charging banks are charging. Best cheapest way I have found so far

 

[701FishSlayer]

I blame the livewell pump juanr should have replaced when we last chided him about it.

Yep, he's having twice the fun now.

 

[Fester]

So you think these batteries can be saved if I top of the batteries?

Top off with deionized Water..could also try the welder type repair...I have to add a public service announcement to that statement for the...well not gonna say it people on this site....but yeah be careful with hooking a welder to them..has worked before..also a number of videos on you tube on emptying and refilling led acid batteries that works..that's also assuming you want to put that much effort into trying to reclaim a led acid battery.

 

[wslayer]

Top batteries off with water. If you have a charger at home with "boost" function, unhook on board charger and hit them with boost for about 10 seconds. This can loosen up shit on the plates. Charge overnight with that charger on 10 amp, and other batteries as well. When fully charged , check with voltmeter. Let them sit over night and get a reading on each battery the next day with volt meter. Will pretty much tell ya good or bad.

 

[5575]

Yea not a big fan of leaving them on a charger all winter. I like to charge them fully and unhook them. Maybe throw the charger on the once or twice a winter.The trolling motor will leach power if left hooked up, I believe the GPS does it. But like retired said definitely check the water, guaranteed your way down on it if you left them plugged in all winter.

 

[Bfishn]

Break Out Another Thousand

 

[Davey Crockett]

Every since battery chargers came out with battery recondition feature Iv'e been using it on old batteries. Not sure if it's working or if I'm getting lucky but I don't have to buy as many batteries as I used to.