www.iFourWinns.com

For those of you who pull and keep your batteries stored during the winter somewhere, do you or do you not trickle charge the batteries over the winter? What is the cheapest but most reliable trickle charger that I could use?

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Alexj



1995 Four Winns Horizon 190
OMC 5.0 RL

I use the Shcumaker (sp) brand from Walmart. It's a 1.5A for about $20. I wire all 3 batts (2 for boat, 1 for riding lawn mower). I load test each of them with a battery tester (also about $20 through Harbor Frieght) so I can address any bad ones over the winter. After an initial charge with a separate rapid charger, I put them on the trickle for a week or two (stored in the garage ~60F), then shut it off. A few weeks before I plan on digging them out, turn it back on.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I have and been using Battery Tender Jr. on my tractor ATV Motorcycle & boat. Never had a problem & I think I paid $39.00 It came W/ a lead that I attacked to the cycle & an extra lead W/clips.Ao I don't have to take the batt out of the bike But still can use it on all the otehrs. In fact I'm gonna buy a 2nd one.

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2008 H190 Blue W/Red accents 4.3L Merc
2015 Tacoma Access Cab Super White 4x4 TRD Sport
2014 HD FXDC Black Stage 1 Mods V&H Bolt Ons,Naked VO2 AC & FP3.
2011 Polaris 500HO RED]
Life Long Boston Bruin Fan 2011 Stanley Cup Champs!!
#736

I use a smart charger from Interstate. Just plug it in for the winter and forget about it until spring. Only charges when needed and shuts it self off when not needed. And it was only $24.00 as I have an account with Interstate through work.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I use the same one as Walt. Good charger, cheap.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

If you'd like to get just a bit more elaborate, and better for your batteries, consider a pulse-type de-sulphation charger. These chargers actually rebuild the lead-sulphate crystal structure on the cell plates, as they charge and maintain the batteries. A proper pusle technology charger can greatly extend the long-term life of your batteries.

CTek is a leader in this technology. Here's a link to the one we sell (I'm not suggesting that you buy it from us, but of course you can). It's the base model.

http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp?HC1=0&Htarget=search.asp&HCY=1991&HCM=m5&SearchStr=ctek



I use the 7000 model to keep a bank of batteries (from all of our seasonally stored vehicles/toys and ones out of parts cars that I pick up) in top shape at all times. I use the 3300 for the boat (without removing the batteries).

Here's a link to CTek's site:

http://www.ctek.com/EN-US/Charger-Academy.aspx

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Sorry .... deleted due to wrong thread......

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I have a charger similar to Mike & Walt, except I bought it at Farm & Fleet. It's inexpensive and does the trick. I'll charge it in January, then again in late March when I start getting anxious.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

I leave them alone (disconnected) while in winter storage.. I will charge up full when I take her out in April with a typical battery charger. (use slow mode)

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Two things:
1. I have my boat close enough to run an electrical cord out to my boat. I bought a converter plug to plug into my shore power outlet. Is there anything wrong with keeping the battery charged this way? Just use the battery charger in the boat...

2. I have an extra set of batteries (Deep Cycle - Interstate), is there any reason to take the tops off the battery when I charge them?

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Just make sure you have plenty of ventilation to disipate any built up H2 gas. could be explosive. Make sure the battery is full (liquid), and in an enclosed area in event the water/acid starts to boil. I imagine battery acid could make a mess of gelcoat.

For those of you with complicated, multi-mode battery chargers.... a little battery theory as I worked on many for a few years. Start with a rapid discharge/re-charge cycle. This will help break up some of the sulphur on the lead, exposing fresh plates to the electrolyte. follow up with a continuous (trickle) charge. this should keep from boiling over, and evaporating all the electrolyte. A cook-off is bad, in that the plate gets heated, warps, and shorts to another plate. Hence I check at the beginning and end of season.... I also buy my batt's at Walmat.... the quality may be, uh... questionable to begin with, but has been working well for about 15 years of boating.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Those of you that use the Walmart chargers, does yours make a clicking sound when using it?

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Uh, No!

Clicking like a count-down or other timer? Electrical "clicking"? Noise from the battery that could be release of H2 gas.... yes.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I have one of these


and it makes a very fast clicking sound (about 120 bpm).

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

No. My guess is that yours is defective. A properly functioning battery charger should never make any sound other than possibly a hum during high current usage; these little trickle chargers should be silent.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic