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Battery Question?
#12520619
11/29/17 11:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 237
djones03
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 237 |
I have been running through cranking batteries and trolling motor batteries since I bought my boat 3 years ago. I have an 07 Basscat Pantera II with a 200 optimax. It has the same on board 3 bank charger that came on it when it was manufactured. Cranking batteries and trolling motor batteries only seem last about a year plus or minus a few months. Last cranking battery issue, last October I went and bought a big interstate marine cranking battery (one that was coming in the new tritons at the time, I asked a friend who had one for the model number). I have been buying cheaper trolling motor batteries, I bought the academy exide 31 series deep cycle for a while, but have had so much bad luck, i am going to change the the everstartt through Walmart just for the 2 year warranty.
So to my question, does anybody else have to replace batteries once a year or do I have an issue somewhere?
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520623
11/29/17 11:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 320
Taylored
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 320 |
Batteries usually last me 3-5 years. Just replaced some that are over 5 years old and were still good. They were weaker than new batteries but would still get it done. I buy Deka but have run Interstate. I would look into the charger. Overcharging will cause them to go bad fairly quickly.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520637
11/29/17 11:52 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,347
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,347 |
I use the Walmart brand and have had 1 go bad under warranty. The boat I have now has Interstate. They've been going strong for a couple of years now. If you consistently have short life spans on them then it is something on your end. Do you charge right away after use and do you keep them maintained between uses?
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520643
11/30/17 12:02 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,560
SteezMacQueen
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,560 |
Batteries last me SEVERAL years.
You must not be charging them as soon as you get home. And you also need to leave the charger plugged in anytime you are not using the boat. It goes into maintenance mode. Also, check water levels monthly on the batteries after charging.
Eat. Sleep. Fish.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520652
11/30/17 12:15 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 237
djones03
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 237 |
I do charge them when I get home, sometimes not right away, sometimes it make a couple days before I remember to plug them in, I also do not check water levels until I have an issue normally. Could be some of my problems. Im going to get 3 new ones, Ill probably go with interstate for the cranking battery again and probably ever starts for trolling batteries and take better care of them. Then if I'm in the same situation a year from now, Ill look into replacing the charger. I appreciate all the suggestions.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520664
11/30/17 12:30 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 317
Big Lunker
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 317 |
I do charge them when I get home, sometimes not right away, sometimes it make a couple days before I remember to plug them in, I also do not check water levels until I have an issue normally. Could be some of my problems. Im going to get 3 new ones, Ill probably go with interstate for the cranking battery again and probably ever starts for trolling batteries and take better care of them. Then if I'm in the same situation a year from now, Ill look into replacing the charger. I appreciate all the suggestions. Sounds to me your charger is not working properly or doesn't shut off when batteries is completely charged. My charger will shut down completely and when it comes back on, just maintains a trickle charge to the batteries. I leave my charger plug in all the time.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520698
11/30/17 12:53 AM
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 563
texasAUtiger
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 563 |
Waiting a few days before you put them on the charger is shortening their life span. Just start plugging in the multi charger right when you get home. Make it part of your routine like chocking the trailer.
How many days are you out on the water? I fish twice a week and am in my trolling motor the majority of the 6-12 hours Im out there per week This would be different for someone who only goes out once a month.
Last edited by texasAUtiger; 11/30/17 12:55 AM.
Ranger z21 Mercury 250 ProXS
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520710
11/30/17 01:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,166
Shallow Waters
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,166 |
I have a reminder in my phone calendar to check my water levels every month at the first of the month. Without that reminder I would never think about them.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520731
11/30/17 01:21 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606
ChuChu1
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606 |
I got tired of replacing the on board chargers years ago and bought chargers for the troll motor batteries and a battery maintainer for the cranking battery. I just replaced the charging battery after 7 years and my troll motor batteries are 4 years old now. I check water level every other month.
Snowflakes and entitled brats will be the doom of America!
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520780
11/30/17 02:04 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 424
jcwebb70
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 424 |
If the charger is not going into maintain once its fully charged it could be boiling the water out of them pretty quick. If you get new batteries, might be a good investment to get a new charger as well, especially if its the charger that was installed in '07. I always replaced my "water" with battery acid, same stuff it comes with. Distilled water in a pinch.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520830
11/30/17 02:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 237
djones03
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 237 |
I will start charging as soon as I get home, I normally fish every weekend. I pulled the battery out to take to the store, water levels were fine. It is 1 yr and 1 month old, hopefully they can give me a discount since I just missed the free replacement.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12520843
11/30/17 02:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,126
Cass Caldwell
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,126 |
I have a 2011 P2. I was having the same problem with my trolling batteries...not cranking.
The little square plastic breakers going to the battery was the problem on mine. I busted them open and the metal inside them was almost totally corroded. You might check those.
Last edited by Cass Caldwell; 11/30/17 02:49 AM.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: SteezMacQueen]
#12520847
11/30/17 02:50 AM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,737
GIG'EM AGGIES
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,737 |
Batteries last me SEVERAL years.
You must not be charging them as soon as you get home. And you also need to leave the charger plugged in anytime you are not using the boat. It goes into maintenance mode. Also, check water levels monthly on the batteries after charging. This here. If you do this and still have issues then it's the charger. I'm using all Walmart batteries and get a minimum 2 years on the TM battery's and 3-4 on the cranking battery that's with lots of use.
I am a Senager. (Senior teenager) I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 50 years later. I get an allowance every month. I have PU truck and a bass boat, I am blessed. Conscience never acquits, it either accuses or excuses.
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Re: Battery Question?
[Re: djones03]
#12521059
11/30/17 10:48 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 231
FlatBack4
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 231 |
Although deep cycle batteries are designed to be used for things like running trolling motors, etc, there is a limit to the number of "cycles". That limit is usually between 30-150. Yep, that's a big range. I recommend you find out about your particular battery. That leads to the next question. What's a cycle?
Generally speaking, a cycle is how many times you allowed your battery to fall below 50% charge before you recharged it. If you want long battery life, don't let it drop below 50%. Sure, your battery can last all day long. But, you'll find that a battery that is regularly discharged 80% lasts about half as long as battery that is discharged 50%.
Batteries are NOT as "forgive and forget" as most people think. Deep cycle batteries are designed to provide consistent power much longer than the cranking batteries; however, it's not without limits. These batteries can be abused by, simply, thinking all you have to do is recharge them, and they'll last as long as the manufacturer says they will.
So, make a effort to not discharge your batteries below 50%. A discharge of over 50%, every once in a while is OK. Remember, you have 30-150, or so, of those before you battery will no longer recharge.
That leads to the next question, for a twelve-volt battery, 50% must be 6v, right? WRONG! 50% is 10.5 volts. If you get to 10.5v, or below, that's a "cycle".
I hope this helps.
Last edited by FlatBack4; 11/30/17 01:02 PM.
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