battery drain question

[wish2fish]

if the battery switch is set to off, will the radio still drain the battery because of the memory power?

I didn't disconnect the battery cable, I just turned the switch off. Wondering if my battery is dead?

 

[Lazy Daze]

If the switch is wired properly, certain things will stay on when the switch is set to off: Radio memory, bilge pump and the ECM.

If it's going to be a while between outings, the best thing is to buy a battery maintainer and keep it charged up. It will make the battery last longer.

For example: a product called Battery Minder.

 

[Dave S]

Your battery may be very low in the spring. I used to remove mine from my 240SD for winter storage and bring it home to and hook it up to a battery maintainer. When our dealer winterizes boats that are kept in storage they remove the negative battery cable so there is no parasitic drain from the battery caused by the things Dennis mentioned.

Dave

 

[Rono007]

That's what I do - remove the Negative and leave the batteries in the boat.

 

[wish2fish]

My boat is in heated winter storage. I assume the battery is dead. I will see if the guy will let me charge it while its there and then disconnect the negative.

thanks guys

 

[LetsRock]

Anyone have a particular brand or specs on a trickle charger/maintainer they use?

Also silly question I am sure but what do you do for 2 batteries? Do you rotate what is bein charged or do they sell ones with multiple connections?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Battery Tender is one. I use the Battery Minder as it has a de-sulphation mode (like the onboard chargers for cruisers).

Yes, you can get ones that charge multiple batteries at once.

Yes, you can rotate.

Or, if you fully charge each one individually, you can then charge them together. I had asked the tech's at Battery Minder that specific question a few years ago and that was their response.

 

[avguy]

Dennis.....when you charge them together do you just hook to the common negative & either one of the positive posts? I've always disconnected them & charged them individually.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Dennis.....when you charge them together do you just hook to the common negative & either one of the positive posts? I've always disconnected them & charged them individually.

Scott,

Personally, I "feel" better doing them individually. But the guys at Battery Minder said it's absolutely fine if they are the same size battery and each charged fully by themselves, first.

All you need to do is hook the charger to one of the batteries, then use a jumper to connect + to + and - to - (wired in parallel). You should use wire that is the same gauge or larger than your battery charger's wire. In the case of maintainers, something like an old lamp cord should suffice.

 

[SeaRay]

I use a battery combiner for my boat. It is made by a company called Yandina.

I have 2 batteries, one is strictly for my stereo and the other is for starting and all the other boat functions. When the boat is running it gives the starting battery priority and once it reaches full charge it then diverts the alternator charging current to the stereo battery. It does this automatically, without switches to remember to turn or anything else.

BUT, the really cool thing is when the boat is in storage it does the same thing with my Battery Tender trickle charger. I just connect it to the starting battery and it will cycle back and forth by itself. And the charger cycles itself off when both are fully charged.

It is one of the best things I have added to my boat and they have GREAT customer service.

http://www.yandina.com/c100InfoR3.htm