Battery Maintenance

[YeahSure]

I've read a few times about adding water to your marine batteries every month or so? I have yet to do this though and would like some more information on how and when to do this. Please feel free to add in other tips for keeping batteries in good shape,thank you.

[GTrombly]

You can take the caps off of the battery cells and see if it needs water. You should use distilled water which you can buy at wal-mart or the grocery store.

[sacnho]

One thing I added to my boat was a quick fill battery system. It is a little pricey I think but it sure does make things easier on me. I keep my batteries fully charged and ready to go at all times. I use a little device called a battery minder I picked up from northern tool (advice I picked up from this board) to keep them maintained.

battery minder link

'>http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332201_200332201

flow rite link

http://www.flow-rite.com/battery-watering/qwik-fill

[Way2slow]

Do not add water until after the battery is fully charged.  Before charging, if the cells are exposed, only add enough water to cover them, fully charge the battery and then finish adding water.  Only add enough water to bring it up to the fill mark, normally about and inch down from the top.

[flyboy]

Way2slow seems to know his stuff about batteries.  A while back I had some questions and he gave me some great info that was right on and I have been charging batteries for about fifty years.

[Jig Man]

Do not add water until after the battery is fully charged. Before charging, if the cells are exposed, only add enough water to cover them, fully charge the battery and then finish adding water. Only add enough water to bring it up to the fill mark, normally about and inch down from the top.

This is good advice.  I'd add; charge them within 24 hours after each use and check the water level once a month.  I have to add water 3-4 times each year as I fish close to 100 days and that much charging will make water go away.