battery charge question

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
ROLAND
Posts: 4248
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:29 am

battery charge question

#1 Post by ROLAND » Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:31 pm

Hey guys... as many of you probably know, this city boy is not very mechanically inclined.. in fact not at all.. so I have a question about charging my boat battery. Took the boat to the lake Saturday and got ready to launch.. turned the key and there was just a "hint" of the motor trying to start... tried it again, nothing... So I'm thinking it's got to be the battery right? Bring the battery back home, hook it up to a little Schumacher battery charger I have and let her run... Checked it about 10 pm saturday night and the display said the battery was 100% charged.. charging light shut off... so just on a whim I go back out tonight and plug it back in and the display says battery is at 70%. Really, lost 30% overnight just sitting on a work bench.... is this normal? I wouldn't think so but then again, I don't really know.. is it time for me to go buy another battery.. this one was only going on it's third season.... I can tell you the battery was not charged or left on a tender during the winter.. just sat on the boat... however the mechanic that serviced my boat last week said it fired right up... wondering also if maybe he didn't leave the key on accessory for a long time.. but no way to know for sure... anyway.. your thoughts please. thanks in advance for your input.
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana

ralph
Posts: 315
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:02 pm
Location: Elyria, Ohio

Re: battery charge question

#2 Post by ralph » Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:02 am

I'd take it back to the mechanic and tell him your story or just go out and buy a new battery.
2015 Sweetwater 2086 Coastal Edition - All Toon'd Up
2015 90 HP Yamaha
Mid American Dual Wheel Bunk Trailer
2017 4WD GMC Canyon

User avatar
joe20toon
Posts: 867
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:59 am
Location: Central Florida

Re: battery charge question

#3 Post by joe20toon » Mon Apr 18, 2016 3:55 am

I've had and heard of others having batteries fail after only three years. Some auto parts stores will perform a free "load test" on the battery. You can buy a hydrometer to test the battery and, find out if you have a bad cell or multiple bad cells which means time it's to break out the wallet and go battery shopping. Hydrometers sell for around $10 and are worth adding to 'useful' tools you may have.

http://all-about-lead-acid-batteries.ca ... ydrometer/

For me, NAPA batteries made by Deka in PA. are excellent quality. I'm staying away from big box store and wholesale warehouse stores. I've tried batteries from them over the years and they don't seem to last long, even with maintenance of checking and filling with distilled to the proper level. Some people have good luck with buying batteries at these stores, I don't.
2016 20 foot Sylvan RPT (V Pontoons)
Yamaha Vmax SHO 115HP
80 Pound Thrust RipTide Trolling Motor
Humminbird Helix 7 Side Imaging

Pontoon Pirate
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2016 4:12 pm

Re: battery charge question

#4 Post by Pontoon Pirate » Mon Apr 18, 2016 5:40 am

You need a load test. I had a battery in my truck for a while that was fine 90% of the time but if I cut the engine of and turned the switch to accessory the battery would fail to Stuart the truck within five minutes. A stranded boat is no fun and possibly dangerous. Get a new battery if this one doesn't load test and keep a battery tender on it over the winter.

User avatar
ROLAND
Posts: 4248
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:29 am

Re: battery charge question

#5 Post by ROLAND » Tue Apr 19, 2016 1:37 am

thanks guys... damdest thing... after I saw that the battery had lost 30% charge overnight I checked the fluid levels in all of the battery cells and all were full... then I put the battery charger back on it and set it on a "slow charge"... when the charge started the display said the battery was at 70%..... went out and checked it about 4 or 5 hours later and the display said 75%.... then I let it continue to charge over night but the display only went up 1 % to 76%. Thats only a 1 percent increase in over 8 hours of charging... frustrated, I just unplugged the damn thing at 76%.... then tonight after I got home from work I checked it just for grins... damn thing said it was at 100% in the display, but the " fully charged" light was not on... think I'm just going to play it safe and buy another battery this weekend..... and next fall I'm investing in a battery tender.
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana

User avatar
justrfb
Posts: 177
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:46 am
Location: North Jersey

Re: battery charge question

#6 Post by justrfb » Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:45 am

Hi Roland.
If you are conveniently located near a Pep Boys, Auto Zone, (I would imagine) O'Riellys... Take it there and have it load tested as already suggested... That is the only "sure fire" way of knowing if the battery is good. Batterys are expensive... I had a faulty electronic horn on my boat last year and it would ever so slightly drain the battery enough that after a week, we would go to the boat and it would crank a few times then nothing... Even though I found the "culprit" (the horn), my wife Annemarie says we are not leaving the dock for the rest of ever, without one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-JNC6 ... +jump+pack

I agree (peace of mind...) with her. :bowdown Good luck.

Sincerely,
Rich
Rich and Annemarie Bias
2007 20' Princecraft Vantage 20L
2007 Merc 75 4 Stroke
2006 Honda Pilot

User avatar
joe20toon
Posts: 867
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 3:59 am
Location: Central Florida

Re: battery charge question

#7 Post by joe20toon » Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:08 am

justrfb,
Thanks... I need to get another one of those 'jump packs.' The blue color will match up with my Sylvan.
2016 20 foot Sylvan RPT (V Pontoons)
Yamaha Vmax SHO 115HP
80 Pound Thrust RipTide Trolling Motor
Humminbird Helix 7 Side Imaging

Post Reply