I don't own a bait boat but I'm interested in how people test the condition of lead acid batteries before they charge them.
Do you just wait for them to be obviously flat or do you test the actual voltage of the battery?
If you do the later what do you use and do you know if it puts a small load on the battery. You get a better reading if there's a small load rather than test it open circuit.
Do you just wait for them to be obviously flat or do you test the actual voltage of the battery?
If you do the later what do you use and do you know if it puts a small load on the battery. You get a better reading if there's a small load rather than test it open circuit.
In reply to Post #1
I put the batteries in the boat have the boat running and plug a digital volt meter display into the bait charging socket and it gives me the voltage . But if I go periods of around 8 weeks and have not used the boat I put the batteries in the boat and run the boat keep stopping and starting it for a hour or 2 then give them a full recharge
I put the batteries in the boat have the boat running and plug a digital volt meter display into the bait charging socket and it gives me the voltage . But if I go periods of around 8 weeks and have not used the boat I put the batteries in the boat and run the boat keep stopping and starting it for a hour or 2 then give them a full recharge
In reply to Post #2
So running the boat while it's running
Have you bought a purpose built voltmeter for that job and did it come with instructions to do that.
A what voltage do you decide to recharge the batteries?
Thanks
So running the boat while it's running
Have you bought a purpose built voltmeter for that job and did it come with instructions to do that.
A what voltage do you decide to recharge the batteries?
Thanks
In reply to Post #3
No it's cheap digital volt meter of ebay not sure what voltage they charge at I just use the waverunner mains charger I got with the boat to charge the batteries
No it's cheap digital volt meter of ebay not sure what voltage they charge at I just use the waverunner mains charger I got with the boat to charge the batteries
In reply to Post #1
I use an Optimate 4 which conditions the battery as well. You can leave the battery on permanent charge with these chargers but I tend to give the battery a charge once a month. I also bring the batteries in from the garage during the colder winter months.
I use an Optimate 4 which conditions the battery as well. You can leave the battery on permanent charge with these chargers but I tend to give the battery a charge once a month. I also bring the batteries in from the garage during the colder winter months.
Thanks chaps, I'm more interested in testing the batteries than charging them.
Just read somewhere when reading the battery with a voltmeter...........
Reading above 6.3v or 12.3v indicates battery is fully charged.
Reading below 5.4v or 11.4v battery needs charging.
Just trying to work out whether that sounds right and whether that's tested under load as that's the best way when using a voltmeter.
Just read somewhere when reading the battery with a voltmeter...........
Reading above 6.3v or 12.3v indicates battery is fully charged.
Reading below 5.4v or 11.4v battery needs charging.
Just trying to work out whether that sounds right and whether that's tested under load as that's the best way when using a voltmeter.
In reply to Post #6
Those readings would be under load.
Fully charged should be 12.7 to 12.85 depending on type.
50% capacity 12.2 to 12.35
Reading taken after battery is allowed to rest for several hours minimum.
Those readings would be under load.
Fully charged should be 12.7 to 12.85 depending on type.
50% capacity 12.2 to 12.35
Reading taken after battery is allowed to rest for several hours minimum.
In reply to Post #5
I don't think you will be doing your battery any favours unless your charger is an intelligent one.
Just using your optimate should be fine.
If you can keep a battery in a good state of charge then it shouldn't freeze in the uk.
Fully discharged and it certainly will.
I don't think you will be doing your battery any favours unless your charger is an intelligent one.
Just using your optimate should be fine.
If you can keep a battery in a good state of charge then it shouldn't freeze in the uk.
Fully discharged and it certainly will.
In reply to Post #7
Any ideas of a suggested load, run the boat or put some sort of high wattage resistor across the terminals?
Any ideas of a suggested load, run the boat or put some sort of high wattage resistor across the terminals?
In reply to Post #9
Too many variables to even guess.
Why not test it in its resting condition?
Too many variables to even guess.
Why not test it in its resting condition?
In reply to Post #10
When you say resting is that without a load, I was reading that batteries can give a false high reading without a load and the voltage plummet once it is under load. You need to get rid of the surface charge?
When you say resting is that without a load, I was reading that batteries can give a false high reading without a load and the voltage plummet once it is under load. You need to get rid of the surface charge?
In reply to Post #11
You'll only get surface chrge from a battery that's just come off of a charger. In themotor trade anything below 12.5v needs to be recharged
You'll only get surface chrge from a battery that's just come off of a charger. In themotor trade anything below 12.5v needs to be recharged
In reply to Post #1
I don't own a bait boat (yet) so i cannot give you specifics.
But a lot of the new boats i've seen either have a voltmeter on the handset or boat, and/or they use a traffic light type system to show the battery state.
If the boat didn't have any of those then i would just use a multi meter across the terminals as has already been discussed.
I don't own a bait boat (yet) so i cannot give you specifics.
But a lot of the new boats i've seen either have a voltmeter on the handset or boat, and/or they use a traffic light type system to show the battery state.
If the boat didn't have any of those then i would just use a multi meter across the terminals as has already been discussed.
In reply to Post #11
The surface charge is gone after resting the battery without load for a day.
I've two batteries in my garage, both fully charged. The one on a float charge will be about 13.2 ish and an almost new one sitting on the shelf which will be at 12.7.
As Budice says the surface charge is only present after coming off charge. If you want a quick reading, load it for a short while.
The surface charge is gone after resting the battery without load for a day.
I've two batteries in my garage, both fully charged. The one on a float charge will be about 13.2 ish and an almost new one sitting on the shelf which will be at 12.7.
As Budice says the surface charge is only present after coming off charge. If you want a quick reading, load it for a short while.
In reply to Post #8
Cheers, i only use the optimate charger. It was recommended to me by bikers. The only reason I bring the batteries in during the cold months is I don't believe it does the batteries any good leaving them in the cold. I could be wrong on that point but it doesn't hurt and my batteries bar one have been going strong since 2007.
Cheers, i only use the optimate charger. It was recommended to me by bikers. The only reason I bring the batteries in during the cold months is I don't believe it does the batteries any good leaving them in the cold. I could be wrong on that point but it doesn't hurt and my batteries bar one have been going strong since 2007.