Deep Cycle Batteries

[bill m]

I am getting ready for a Memorial Day Fishing/Camping trip. I got my deep cycle batteries out and am charging them up.
Now I have been told that the batteries should be charged once a month during down-time. I'm not very good at that. OK, I don't do that. I should. I was also told that, to assure that the charge will last as long as it should, discharge the battery completely and then charge fully, you will retain the length of charge.
I guess if you charge them before they are depleted, they retain a memory of how long you use it before you charge. this shortens the life span of the charge. To deplete before you charge keeps the full length of charge. Does that make sense?
Has anyone else heard this? Or do you do something different?

[LeeInSC]

Are you talking about wet cell 12-volt batteries for a trolling motor, or small lithium batteries for a digital camera?

Different batteries need to be recharged and stored differently.

[ncboman]

I'm almost sure he's talking about the trolling motor variety.

I surmise all this info can be googled. I don't know the details as I'm a battery abuser also.

I can post from experience, the deep cycle batteries from walmart are very abuser friendly. Mine is on it's third year of abuse and still works.

[Bill Gunn]

I am getting ready for a Memorial Day Fishing/Camping trip. I got my deep cycle batteries out and am charging them up.
Now I have been told that the batteries should be charged once a month during down-time. I'm not very good at that. OK, I don't do that. I should. I was also told that, to assure that the charge will last as long as it should, discharge the battery completely and then charge fully, you will retain the length of charge.
I guess if you charge them before they are depleted, they retain a memory of how long you use it before you charge. this shortens the life span of the charge. To deplete before you charge keeps the full length of charge. Does that make sense?
Has anyone else heard this? Or do you do something different?

No, that is wrong, a Ni-Cad battery suffers from "Memory Effect", not a deep Cycle battery. The best thing for a deep cycle, or a starting battery, is to keep it fully charged at all times, and keep it cool. The "Old Wives Tale" that setting them on cold cement will hurt them is BS.
I have 4 of these...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat600057&id=0005944520320a&navCount=3&podId=0005944&parentId=cat600057&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

one on my boat, home generator, atv, and an old tractor to keep the batteries fully charged, and get an easy 8 to 10 years out of a battery (the cold weather in the north also helps batteries last a while longer). I just changed the truck battery on my 2002 truck, and it was still working fine when I traded it in.

[bill m]

I use a tender on my motorcycle.
I have been told this for years that they have memory. Going on what you said and the suggestion by ncboman to google it, I did. The web agrees fully with your statement.
I'm not going to say for how long I have been discharging deep cycle batteries. But I do feel relatively stupid. I was told this by an auto parts dude years ago and our battery shop in town. Man, you have to check everything!
From what I understand, my discharging and charging was more harmful than leaving it sit all winter long. Sheesh!
Thanks.

[bill m]

So I have been using my battery tender on my batteries since Bill Gunn posted on that. I am going to buy a couple more since I have quite a few batteries.
Live and learn and don't believe the perceived professionals just because you think of them as professionals. Even the battery on the cement is something that I have always heard yet never verified. I verified it, Bill. You're spot on.
Thanks to all.

[Bill Gunn]

I went to the school of hard knocks...

There's a trail of dead batteries behind me... :ahhhhh:

[ncboman]

I pretty much keep mine on a trickle charger all the time during summer. Off season is when I get slack.

I took the boat out yesterday and just to see, I let grandson run the trolling motor until it was going down. Back and forth under the bridge, I think he feels more like he's driving going between the pilings. :wink:

Anyway, guess I need a new battery. It doesn't run nearly as good or long as it did new. :tongue: