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Topic Options
#1758848 - 11/24/07 04:31 PM Portable Charger
FIREmedicFISHER Offline
Outdoorsman

Registered: 09/18/07
Posts: 89
Loc: Kyle, TX
I bought a deep cycle battery and a Maintenance free starting battery today at Cabelas. I could not afford an on-board charger so I had to settle for a Schumacher charger from Autozone. It has a 2amp and a 10 amp setting. Also it has a Deep cycle and maintenance free automatic setting and an auto. setting for a conventional battery. They guy at Cabelas told me that I needed to charge them when I brought them home because they were not fully charged in the store. Which setting should I charge the batteries at? Thanks.
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#1758897 - 11/24/07 05:07 PM Re: Portable Charger [Re: FIREmedicFISHER]
Hank Armstrong Offline
Extreme Angler

Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 2498
Loc: Hurst
10 amp.
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US NAVY Engineman Third Class "Army" Assault Boat Engineer

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#1758899 - 11/24/07 05:08 PM Re: Portable Charger [Re: Hank Armstrong]
FIREmedicFISHER Offline
Outdoorsman

Registered: 09/18/07
Posts: 89
Loc: Kyle, TX
Thanks for the reply
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#1758928 - 11/24/07 05:25 PM Re: Portable Charger [Re: FIREmedicFISHER]
Hank Armstrong Offline
Extreme Angler

Registered: 12/23/04
Posts: 2498
Loc: Hurst
Not really necessary to do 2 amp unless the battery sits idle for a long time. Like through the winter. Disconnect the negative side in that case and leave on maintenance setting.
It's better to use the energy in a battery than to try to store it.
It has a useful life. 2 years and they are about spent. Check specific gravity and you can tell.
_________________________

US NAVY Engineman Third Class "Army" Assault Boat Engineer

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#1764825 - 11/27/07 09:13 AM Re: Portable Charger [Re: Hank Armstrong]
jtexas Offline
Extreme Angler

Registered: 12/15/03
Posts: 2615
Loc: Arlington, TX
agree, charge 'em at 10 amps - keep a close eye if it's not automatic shut-off.

you want to recharge your trolling battery soon as you get home after every trip, and recharge both batteries every couple-three weeks between uses...a battery will self-discharge, and any time spent at less than 100% charge will shorten its useful life.

if your "maintenance-free" battery isn't "sealed", you still have to check the water, use only distilled water and only add enough to cover the plates. Check 'em more often in hot weather. Low water and storing in a discharged state are two biggest causes of premature failure.

When you buy a battery get the freshest one on the shelf - no telling how long yours were on the shelf building up sulfation.

overnight 2-amp trickle charge probably won't kill your battery but unless your charger has a "maintain mode" (automatically turns on & off as needed) don't leave it on 24/7, it will overcharge - really bad news if the water boils out.

No reason you shouldn't get 4 or 5 years out of a cranking batt if ya take care of it. Trolling batteries is another story, 2 years maybe 2 1/2, depending on useage.
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"The metric system never really caught on in the states. Unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine millimeter bullet." -- d. barry

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#1769334 - 11/28/07 09:00 PM Re: Portable Charger [Re: jtexas]
Big Red 12 Offline
TFF Guru

Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 17655
Loc: Crandall, TX
Deep cycle marine first. It should be automatic.
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