On Board Charger

[00 mod]

Do you leave your onboard charger plugged up all of the time? What about over winter to maintain batteries?

Jeff

[Way2slow]

That's one of the main reason for using them, keeping your batteries properly charge while in storage.

If the boats is not in use, the charger should be pluged in.

Just don't forget the cranking battery, if your onboard is not connected to it, you still need to keep a maintenance charge on it.

[Jig Man]

When I called Dual Pro about that very thing as I was planning a long winter vacation. I was told that it was not a good idea to leave it on for an extended time without someone checking the batteries every few weeks to be sure that they weren't low on fluid.

[00 mod]

hmmm....ive just been using it kind of like a battery charger and plugging it in about 12-14 hours before I leave to make sure everything was charged. It is now plugged in for the winter. My batteries are maint. free so I should be good OR, they will all explode and cause nasty acid to ruin my boat! I hope its the first of the two!

jeff

[Way2slow]

Well, I guess that's another reason I wouldn't have a Dual Pro.

Granted the batteries water level needs to be checked periodically but with a charger that maintains them with a proper float voltage of 13.17 - 13.2 they will loose very little water. I haven't messed with a DP for many years but the last I knew of, they do not use a float mode. They let the battery self discharge to a set voltage and then comes back on and charges if back to full charge. Doing this, has a tendency boil more water out than a proper float voltage will, which boils almost no water out. But even at that, every month would be extreme. The faster they loose water means the more they are being overcharged or they are near the end of their life cycle.

My ProMariner Pro Tourny 300 stays on 24/7 when the boat is not in use and I might have to add water twice a year, three times during long periods of heavy use.

Oh, and one other note, the only difference between a flooded cell, maintenance free and one with caps you add water to is the maintenance free has smaller plate sets so they can add more water, hopefully enough to last the warrenty period of the battery. That's why maintenance free don't have the Ah capacity of a same size you have caps on. Now, it's also recommended you remove those caps on the maintenance free a check the water level periodically. Just be sure you check the warrenty. Also realize, even with a warrenty, after the battery is about 1/2 through it, they are usually useless the way they prorate them so I wouldn't give it a second though to open them and add water then, if needed.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE; THIS ONLY APPLIES TO FLOODED CELL BATTERIES, NOT AGM'S AND GEL'S

[South FLA]

I have a Dual Pro Sportsman series (3 Bank x 10 AMP/Bank) and I leave it on all the time, one of my batteries is a AGM and the other two are flooded cells, I check them twice a year and have only had to replace a little water in one going on 3 years now with this set of batteries. So if you do your part and maintain the batteries I don't think you'll have a problem with Dual Pro. Although, I have never left my boat unused for more than 3 weeks at a time.

[Way2slow]

I went to DP web site and they seem to advertise one thing and said just the opposite. This is off their web site:

•TROUBLE FREE - Just Plug It In and Forget It!

[South FLA]

Way2Slow,

Sometimes when you call a company its a crap shoot on who you reach on the other end. Basically, that representative may not echo what the engineers that designed the Delta Volt system say. With that said I don't think you can go wrong with Quest, Dual Pro, Battery Tender, etc. As you know its all about proper maintenance. Another factor may be liability if Dual Pro says yeah go ahead and leave them plugged in X amount of time without having knowledge of actual battery condition their lawyers may have advised them to say exactly what Jig Man stated.

[3dees]

my boat is stored outside with two covers so it's a pain to check the water. I plug my charger in for a day or two about once a month. never had any problems. come spring, my water level is still at the top.

[scrutch]

I have a Minn Kota 460D charger and it's plugged in all the time. It goes into a maintenance mode after a full charge. I love this charger. Very hassle-free.

[grampa1114]

I have a Minn Kota 460D charger and it's plugged in all the time. It goes into a maintenance mode after a full charge. I love this charger. Very hassle-free.

My Dual Pro reacts the same way...after full charge it goes into maintenance mode...only needed water once in 3 years on these batteries. I leave it plugged in as soon as it gets home and unplug just before I leave...Over the winter, I turn it on for 1 day, once a month. I just plug in the extension cord that hangs out from under the cover. Works fine.

[scbassin]

X-2 on the Minn Kota 460D

[Glenn]

I plug mine in once every 2-3 weeks of non-use until charged, then unplug. Seems work without any issues. I have maintenance free batteries.