Charging Deep Cycle Marine Battery?

[CC268]

I have a charger for my Super Start Class 27 Deep Cycle Marine battery and it has three options...2 amp, 5 amp, and 10 amp. I know to use the 2 amp trickle charge if I have about a day and a half to charge it. However, if I go out and drain the battery down to 50%-75% and want to fish the next day, should I use the 5 amp or 10 amp?

[tnriverluver]

First make sure your charger has the proper setting for Deep cycle and maintenance free batteries.  If it has that setting charge with the highest amperage available at all times.  It will cycle on and off when the battery is full and that on and off is used to help with getting rid of sulfacation that forms on the plates.  Never use a low trickle charge on these batteries.  Chargers built for automotive batteries only should not be used for deep cycle.  Deep cycle chargers hold the voltage at a higher and constant level until the battery is topped off whereas regular chargers raise and lower the voltage (not talking amperage) during the process.

[BKeith]

When you hear all this stuff about how you should slow charge a deep cycle battery, remember the manufacturers considers 10% of the battery capacity a SLOW charge.  So, a 100 Ah battery would be charged at 10 amps.  The two amp setting is for your lawn mower size batteries, not a TM battery. 

 

A flooded cell battery has to be charged at a high enough rate to case a small amount of gassing, (bubbles forming in the cells) to keep the electrolyte mixed.  Charged a too slow of a rate so it does not generate gas bubbles, the electrolyte will stratify, creating a heavy concentration of acid in the lower part and almost pure water in the upper part, again, causing damage to the battery.

 

As mentioned above, to fully charge a deep cycle battery, it requires being over charged by 6%,  Your standard "hot box" as I call them automatic chargers will not do this.  Most of them will actually cut off before it's reaches 100% much less over charge it the necessary 6%.  Basically causing the battery to die a slow death.  Those chargers were designed for the farmer or person to on occasion charge a run down battery, not to repeatedly charge the same battery.

 

Another thing those Automatic hot boxes do is charge at way too high of a voltage, damaging the battery more every time you charge it.  A battery should never be charged at more than 14.6 volts, most of those things are well over 15 volts and even to 16 volts. 

 

A good logic controlled charger that will go into a 13.2 volt maintenance charge when the battery is fully charged is your best choice.

 

Also, never run a battery down below about 30% capacity.  Running almost any battery down completely will damage the battery.  From time to time you will hear some idiot say you should run them all the way down so they don't develop a memory.  Lead acid batteries DO NOT develop memory and running one down too far cause the plates start separating and flaking.

[Jig Man]

Forget the settings and use the 10 amp.

[South FLA]

Get one of these:

 

http://www.dualpro.com/

 

and never look back

[CC268]

Hmm well I got the charger from bass pro in the boating section...I guess I will charge at 10amp from now on. It does have settings for Standard, AGM, and Gel batteries...I just used the Standard. If this is not a good charger for it then is there something I can pick up at walmart or oreilly that is better? I just bought this charger...and I am a few hours away from Bass Pro so I can't necessarily return this thing anytime soon.

 

I guess I will recharge at 10A next time...I already charged it at 2A...

[BKeith]

If it was this one, you are in good shape.  http://www.basspro.com/Schumacher-SC1000A-10/6/2-Amp-Charger/Maintainer/Tester/product/10205469/ You should be able to leave it connected 24/7. 

 

If you have a digital volt meter, just to double check the maintenance charge voltage, the next day after connecting the charger to it, check the voltage (with the charger still on) and make sure it's not more than 13.2 VDC (13.17 is the ideal for most flooded cell, deep cycle).   Most have a tendency to be a little lower but if it's more than 13.2 or 13.4 for an AGM then I would not leave it on 24/7, 

[CC268]

If it was this one, you are in good shape.  http://www.basspro.com/Schumacher-SC1000A-10/6/2-Amp-Charger/Maintainer/Tester/product/10205469/ You should be able to leave it connected 24/7. 

 

If you have a digital volt meter, just to double check the maintenance charge voltage, the next day after connecting the charger to it, check the voltage (with the charger still on) and make sure it's not more than 13.2 VDC (13.17 is the ideal for most flooded cell, deep cycle).   Most have a tendency to be a little lower but if it's more than 13.2 or 13.4 for an AGM then I would not leave it on 24/7, 

 

That is exactly the one I have! So I should leave the charger on it all the time (it shuts off automatically when charged)?? Is it a Standard or AGM? I called Oreilly and they said to just put it on Standard.

 

If I keep it connected all the time what amp setting do I set it on?

[BKeith]

That charger has a logic control board that takes care of everything for you. Leave it on 10 amps and if it a flooded cell battery, (one that has caps you can take off and check the electrolyte in, which you should do every couple of months)then just leave in on the Standard setting. When the battery is fully charged, the charger goes into a maintenance mode that keeps the battery at the proper voltage. While they are a pretty good charger for the price, they are not the of the highest quality, so as with any charger's float mode (maintenance mode) I recommend double checking the voltage to make sure it's not too high. 13.17 volts is the recommended float (maintenance) voltage for most deep cycle batteries. Even at 13.4 volts (which is what AGM batteries should be) you are still ok but you have to keep a closer check on the electrolyte level because it will make the battery loose level quicker.

That charger is designed to be able to set it on 10 amps and connect it and leave it until the next time you go to use it. It does not actually shut off, it just goes into the maintenance mode.

I looked at O'Riley's web site and it looks like that's just a maintenance free, flooded cell battery so just use the regular setting.  Also, forget what I said about checking the electrolyte, since that looks like a maintenance free, you don't open it.

[CC268]

That charger has a logic control board that takes care of everything for you. Leave it on 10 amps and if it a flooded cell battery, (one that has caps you can take off and check the electrolyte in, which you should do every couple of months)then just leave in on the Standard setting. When the battery is fully charged, the charger goes into a maintenance mode that keeps the battery at the proper voltage. While they are a pretty good charger for the price, they are not the of the highest quality, so as with any charger's float mode (maintenance mode) I recommend double checking the voltage to make sure it's not too high. 13.17 volts is the recommended float (maintenance) voltage for most deep cycle batteries. Even at 13.4 volts (which is what AGM batteries should be) you are still ok but you have to keep a closer check on the electrolyte level because it will make the battery loose level quicker.

That charger is designed to be able to set it on 10 amps and connect it and leave it until the next time you go to use it. It does not actually shut off, it just goes into the maintenance mode.

I looked at O'Riley's web site and it looks like that's just a maintenance free, flooded cell battery so just use the regular setting.  Also, forget what I said about checking the electrolyte, since that looks like a maintenance free, you don't open it.

 

Awesome thanks for the help! I will reconnect it at 10A and leave it on till I go fishing tomorrow!