How do you protect against a dead battery? 2024
clemsondds reply :
I went out to my boat the other day, to find that I had accidentally forgot to turn the main power switch off. So my battery was dead. Long story short, I had to bring the battery home and put it on a trickle charger. It got me thinking though, what’s the best way to prevent this and what can I do to create a backup plan if it does happen? So can you share with me how you protect against a dead battery? Also, do you carry a portable charger or something with you as a backup plan? Thanks for the help!
A-Jay reply :
I developed a set routine I use to both pull out & rig my boat trailer to the truck,
as well as a set routine when I put it up and secure the rig after use.
Part of that routine is ensuring that the on board battery charger power is secured and cord removed before I hook up to the truck and then the unit gets plugged in & and energized when I return.
I perform this routine the same way every time I do it
and have a check list hanging in plain site to ensure that I do.
The 'system' works perfectly and the only variable is Me.
As long as I exercise the self-discipline to follow it - I'm good to go.
If & when I chose to 'free-lance' the deal -
that's when things get missed and can cost me time & $$$.
As for a portable charger - I carry the NOCO GB70 in my boat all open water season and I put it in my truck box for the winter. This unit is amazingly powerful and will easily start both my V8 4.6L outboard as well as the V8 6.2L motor in my truck. Additionally can charge or run other small devices (cell phone, Go Pro) and it holds a charge for a ridiculously long time, so it's always ready when needed.
I highly recommend it.
https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB70-UltraSafe-Lithium-Gasoline/dp/B016UG6PWE/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=LGsFWwsSnoGQx4yqn-SK7w&hsa_cr_id=7008608300801&ref_=sb_s_sparkle_slot
I fish big water, usually by myself, and do a good bit of very early season, very late season and night fishing, when there are not a lot of other boaters on the water (OK usually None). No one's coming right away to offer assistance.
While nothing fool proof this unit does offer peace of mind.
A-Jay
Bluebasser86 reply :
First thing I do after I unhook the boat in the garage is plug it in, every time. If I stray from that, that's the only way the boat doesn't get plugged in.
So another vote for following a routine.
clemsondds reply :
On 1/26/2020 at 4:32 PM, A-Jay said:I developed a set routine I use to both pull out & rig my boat trailer to the truck,
as well as a set routine when I put it up and secure the rig after use.
Part of that routine is ensuring that the on board battery charger power is secured and cord removed before I hook up to the truck and then the unit gets plugged in & and energized when I return.
I perform this routine the same way every time I do it
and have a check list hanging in plain site to ensure that I do.
The 'system' works perfectly and the only variable is Me.
As long as I exercise the self-discipline to follow it - I'm good to go.
If & when I chose to 'free-lance' the deal -
that's when things get missed and can cost me time & $$$.
As for a portable charger - I carry the NOCO GB70 in my boat all open water season and I put it in my truck box for the winter. This unit is amazingly powerful and will easily start both my V8 4.6L outboard as well as the V8 6.2L motor in my truck. Additionally can charge or run other small devices (cell phone, Go Pro) and it holds a charge for a ridiculously long time, so it's always ready when needed.
I highly recommend it.
https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB70-UltraSafe-Lithium-Gasoline/dp/B016UG6PWE/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=LGsFWwsSnoGQx4yqn-SK7w&hsa_cr_id=7008608300801&ref_=sb_s_sparkle_slot
I fish big water, usually by myself, and do a good bit of very early season, very late season and night fishing, when there are not a lot of other boaters on the water (OK usually None). No one's coming right away to offer assistance.
While nothing fool proof this unit does offer peace of mind.
A-Jay
Thanks!! Great advice! Unfortunately I have to keep my boat at a storage unit so I can’t keep it plugged in. But I’ll definitely pick that charger up. Which unit did you go with? 2000amps?
Dirtyeggroll reply :
Routine. Make it the first AND last thing you check.
Put the master switch somewhere painfully obvious so it’s harder to miss.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/26/2020 at 10:19 PM, clemsondds said:Thanks!! Great advice! Unfortunately I have to keep my boat at a storage unit so I can’t keep it plugged in. But I’ll definitely pick that charger up. Which unit did you go with? 2000amps?
You're Welcome.
I have the GB70 which is in fact 2000 Amps.
I prefer to have more than I expect to need, rather than not enough.
Perhaps consider the unit that's right for you & your gear.
btw - regardless of where or how you stow your rig,
you can still benefit from a routine.
A-Jay
813basstard reply :
I’ve included a fail safe way to prevent a dead battery;
Step 1: Charge it
This technique works for me and others I’ve heard.
clemsondds reply :
Would love to do that if I kept my boat at home, but I don’t and they (storage unit) don’t allow connecting your battery to an outlet without being present.
that being said, is it possible to use a charger like the one A-jay recommended to connect a trickle charger and my trolling motor batteries to, to top them off and leave it sitting in the boat while in storage? Does that make any sense?
A-Jay reply :
On 1/27/2020 at 3:02 AM, clemsondds said:Would love to do that if I kept my boat at home, but I don’t and they (storage unit) don’t allow connecting your battery to an outlet without being present.
that being said, is it possible to use a charger like the one A-jay recommended to connect a trickle charger and my trolling motor batteries to, to top them off and leave it sitting in the boat while in storage? Does that make any sense?
No.
These units can not provide that type of feature.
The only real solution to your deal I can see, and this may require some rearranging or set up in advance, but it's to remove your batteries at the end of every trip.
Fully Recharge them properly at home and reinstall them right before the next one.
Otherwise you'll be chasing dead batteries for ever and their 'life span' will most likely decrease quite a bit as well.
A-Jay
Way2slow reply :
Couple words of caution jumping off a boat motor. First let me say this applies to most two stroke motors. Since I have never run or even placed my hands on a four stroke, I can't speak about those.
1. When connecting jumper cables to a cranking battery, the arc created connecting and disconnecting them can cause damage to the ECU or Voltage regulator. Both make for a very expensive repair.
2. The charging system are not robust, heavy duty like a vehicles and using the charging system to charge a fully dead battery or running a bad battery that will not accept a full charge can fry the charging system. Again, very expensive repair.
Now, you might say you have the key switch turned off when you connect the jumper cables so the spark won't get to the electronics, which may be true. However, the bulk of the time after jumping it off, you take the cables off with the engine running so the switch is on and the hundreds of volts that can be created by the arc, goes through the whole system.
Just something to think about if you ever feel you need to jump one off.
Actually, you can blow a lot of automobile charging system jumping them off.
As mentioned, develop a routine and stick to it. Altering from it can leave room for all kinds of bad things to happen.
You can install a power disconnect on the battery, but if you don't have a mental or written checklist, you can still forget that like you did the power switch on the dash.
WRB reply :
Install a 40-50 amp battery switch and switch power off to the OB whenever charging the cranking battery or jumping it. I have rocker switches with LED lights to warm me if anything is on. The common switch to hit accidentally is bow running light/anchor light switch so my routine is check all switch lights, switch off the cranking battery to the OB when I get home and plug in the onboard charger.
Tom
clemsondds reply :
Ok thank you. Anyone know if there has been any improvements in solar power to use to charge my trolling motors while in storage? I found a few threads a few years old about it but sounded like at that time there weren’t simple panels strong enough to do the job. Any thoughts? Just looking for ideas to power my batteries while in storage.
gimruis reply :
A voltmeter to test the remaining life of your battery might help too. They tend to lose their charging capacity over time...
WRB reply :
You need between 10 to 12 amps when charging a marine deep cycle battery or cranking battery. Trickle or 3 amp charging only maintains the charge and can create a false surface charge on the plates in lieu of fully charging batteries.
Tom
clemsondds reply :
Here is what I have: two 27 deep cycle batteries for the trolling motor with a 12 amp battery charger.
what’s a way to charge it? Thanks!
clemsondds reply :
On 1/26/2020 at 11:24 PM, A-Jay said:You're Welcome.
I have the GB70 which is in fact 2000 Amps.
I prefer to have more than I expect to need, rather than not enough.
Perhaps consider the unit that's right for you & your gear.
btw - regardless of where or how you stow your rig,
you can still benefit from a routine.
A-Jay
Yes, I definitely am getting a routine/checklist setup...great idea!
So do you have a charger on your trolling motor batteries as well as your crank battery? I have a dual bank charger for my TM batteries but nothing on my crank battery. It looks like everyone is recommending getting a charger on my crank battery as well, correct? So if I got a charger, I need to figure out a way to charge it since I don't have access to a regular 120vac plug. Is there any way, other than a generator, to charge these without a 120vac plugin? (ie solar, battery backup...) . Sorry if these are dumb questions...this is all new to me and electrical issues are not my forte. I can have a crank charger installed (might even install another crank battery and a dual charger) but I still have the issue of no electricity at my storage unit. Any thoughts? Could I use something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Battery-Rechargeable-Starter-Outdoors/dp/B01MA4YVNP/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1511056175&sr=8-3&keywords=chafon&dpID=41wbW6ELDyL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&linkCode=sl1&tag=l08722-20&linkId=5140f54040bc975d6c0f64b4a5978d24
A-Jay reply :
On 1/27/2020 at 2:08 PM, clemsondds said:Yes, I definitely am getting a routine/checklist setup...great idea!
So do you have a charger on your trolling motor batteries as well as your crank battery? I have a dual bank charger for my TM batteries but nothing on my crank battery. It looks like everyone is recommending getting a charger on my crank battery as well, correct? So if I got a charger, I need to figure out a way to charge it since I don't have access to a regular 120vac plug. Is there any way, other than a generator, to charge these without a 120vac plugin? (ie solar, battery backup...) . Sorry if these are dumb questions...this is all new to me and electrical issues are not my forte. I can have a crank charger installed (might even install another crank battery and a dual charger) but I still have the issue of no electricity at my storage unit. Any thoughts? Could I use something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Battery-Rechargeable-Starter-Outdoors/dp/B01MA4YVNP/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1511056175&sr=8-3&keywords=chafon&dpID=41wbW6ELDyL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&linkCode=sl1&tag=l08722-20&linkId=5140f54040bc975d6c0f64b4a5978d24
Yes ~
I have a 4 bank on board charger installed in my rig.
It charges my three 12v trolling motor batteries as well as my 12 volt cranking battery.
I am unfamiliar with the product you linked above.
Do not know what it's features are nor it's capabilities.
As for a 'solution' - you need juice my man.
If you cannot bring your batteries to the juice - you'll need to bring the juice to your batteries.
And the sooner and fast we can get depleted batteries back to fully charged - the better it is for the life of the batteries. When run down batteries sit for long periods of time before being recharged - they tend to offer less than peak performance.
I'd be working hard to find a more suitable storage situation, rather than looking to make this one work,
because IMO - It's not going to.
A-Jay
clemsondds reply :
Unfortunately that’s the only storage unit in the area. I’m working on getting some access to electricity but in the meantime I’ll have to try to find a charger that will work. I did speak with zero goal and they said that their 1000 or 3000 unit would charge the batteries. But unfortunately that’s the cost of those as well ($1000-3000).
A-Jay reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 4:28 AM, clemsondds said:Unfortunately that’s the only storage unit in the area. I’m working on getting some access to electricity but in the meantime I’ll have to try to find a charger that will work. I did speak with zero goal and they said that their 1000 or 3000 unit would charge the batteries. But unfortunately that’s the cost of those as well ($1000-3000).
Once that storage didn't offer electrical power - you were essentially out of reasonable options.
Perhaps put an add or something out into the local social media, that says you're looking to store your rig and will pay - but need electrical power. Never know - someone may have an out building, a barn or something you could use.
Worth a shot.
A-Jay
clemsondds reply :
Well they do have electrical...I just have to be present for it to be plugged in. It just isn’t feasible for me to be there the entire time though. I might give one of these portable chargers a try and see how it does. Also buying that noco you recommended! Thanks for the advice!
NHBull reply :
Got one in each car and one in the boat.
Gave one to each kid for Christmas.
https://www.batterymart.com/p-gb70-boost-hd-lithium-jump-start.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsbrxBRDpARIsAAnnz_N9B62B5ibv7l3FaC6iBWUqYSRgSnPVCRSowcR_7CDcZ1sAfWyuJwkaAi1cEALw_wcB
clemsondds reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 5:21 AM, NHBull said:Got one in each car and one in the boat.
Gave one to each kid for Christmas.
https://www.batterymart.com/p-gb70-boost-hd-lithium-jump-start.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsbrxBRDpARIsAAnnz_N9B62B5ibv7l3FaC6iBWUqYSRgSnPVCRSowcR_7CDcZ1sAfWyuJwkaAi1cEALw_wcB
Yeh I am looking at getting one now. Do you really need the 2000? I see where the 1000 ($99) will start a v8...just wondering if it would be overkill to have the 2000. Thanks
NHBull reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 5:23 AM, clemsondds said:Yeh I am looking at getting one now. Do you really need the 2000? I see where the 1000 ($99) will start a v8...just wondering if it would be overkill to have the 2000. Thanks
1000 is fine and actually what I use....and the one in my boat holds a charge all Summer
clemsondds reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 5:34 AM, NHBull said:1000 is fine and actually what I use....and the one in my boat holds a charge all Summer
awesome thanks
gnappi reply :
If you have a pre float plan checklist, follow it in reverse order when you stow the boat.
Failing that if your storage area is outdoors and secure, a decent solar battery charger will for sure keep your battery topped off even if some small stuff is left on.
I made mine out of two 40 watt panels with an inexpensive charge controller (do not use a solar panel connected directly to a battery) mounted to 1" aluminum material from home depot.
I bought used panels on Craig's list from a guy upgrading his sailboat to 200 watt panels, I think I have less than $80 or so in making it. It's totally bullet proof, well unless it has several days of cloud cover, or gets covered with snow :-)
clemsondds reply :
On 1/30/2020 at 11:19 AM, gnappi said:If you have a pre float plan checklist, follow it in reverse order when you stow the boat.
Failing that if your storage area is outdoors and secure, a decent solar battery charger will for sure keep your battery topped off even if some small stuff is left on.
I made mine out of two 40 watt panels with an inexpensive charge controller (do not use a solar panel connected directly to a battery) mounted to 1" aluminum material from home depot.
I bought used panels on Craig's list from a guy upgrading his sailboat to 200 watt panels, I think I have less than $80 or so in making it. It's totally bullet proof, well unless it has several days of cloud cover, or gets covered with snow ????
Do you connect straight to your battery or go through a battery charger? I have a 12amp battery charger connected to two 27group deep cycle batteries. trying to figure out how to wire it up. The batteries are connected in series I believe since the tm is 24v. I'm looking to get this setup https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PWK9Z7Q/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza thoughts?
gnappi reply :
On 2/7/2020 at 6:34 AM, clemsondds said:Do you connect straight to your battery or go through a battery charger? I have a 12amp battery charger connected to two 27group deep cycle batteries. trying to figure out how to wire it up. The batteries are connected in series I believe since the tm is 24v. I'm looking to get this setup https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PWK9Z7Q/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza thoughts?
In your initial post you wrote "battery" not batteries and did not specify 24 volts. That's a horse of a different color, and a more expensive one. The link you provided states 12v @ 10 amps. You CANNOT get 10 amps from a 50 watt panel (math doesn't lie), well not in my universe anyway. Even for a 12v system with two batteries what you're looking at is Waayyy too small, plus you're looking at needing a 24 volt system unless you want to charge the batteries individually with a 12 volt setup.
Craig's list has many little 12v solar setups for sale from boaters and "off grid" dreamers who realized this too late and blamed the panels for dead (expensive) batteries, not their lack of planning and research.
To answer your question... with a solar panel and "charge controller" you go straight to the battery. Going through a battery charger would be a waste of power, size, money and be overly complicated. So you know, a solar controller IS a battery charger. Your main concern I think will be theft of a solar charger, but only you can answer that.
At any rate, my charger very portable and is 80 watts (panels bought from a cheap yachtsman upgrading after killing his batteries) for a little 35Ah U1 sized battery and it works fine for that.
See the solar panel below. I think it would make a suitable bare bones start and it could be rigged to go portable like mine rather easily. Renogy (@ 12v I use another brand) has lots of larger panels you may want to reach out to them with your location, and battery Ah specs (both very important to know) to see what they can gen up for you.
Panel specs and distributor (note optimum operating current):
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VLcAAOSwPn1eL2XF/s-l500.jpg
Panel price:
www.ebay.com/itm/Renogy-270-Watt-24-Volt-Polycrystalline-Solar-Panel/124062981583
clemsondds reply :
So I had brought my battery home and charged it on my charger. I used a multimeter to check and it read 12.1 after it said full charge. So took the boat out and went on a trolling motor only lake. fished for about an hour with just running my radio and humminbird h7 (on deck) both are on crank battery. went to start motor and wouldn't turn over. Used battery jumper and that did the trick after waiting for a few seconds. Later I started the motor up and let it run for quite awhile. Anyway, what do you all think? Should I just replace this battery??
gnappi reply :
On 2/9/2020 at 2:18 AM, clemsondds said:So I had brought my battery home and charged it on my charger. I used a multimeter to check and it read 12.1 after it said full charge. So took the boat out and went on a trolling motor only lake. fished for about an hour with just running my radio and humminbird h7 (on deck) both are on crank battery. went to start motor and wouldn't turn over. Used battery jumper and that did the trick after waiting for a few seconds. Later I started the motor up and let it run for quite awhile. Anyway, what do you all think? Should I just replace this battery??
Either your charger or battery is having a problem. A charge of 12.1 volts is barely over half charged. Is it a wet or AGM type? If wet did you check the SG in the individual cells?
First maybe try charging your other battery and read the voltages before, during and after charging.
After that if the battery comes up to near 12.7 volts (see chart) you know the charger is good. Then take the suspect battery to a local auto parts store and they'll check it for you.
Michigander reply :
If you cant or won't pull your batteries after each trip, you could just install an inline led that would be on if the battery power is on. This would be minimal drain and would tell you if you forgot.
DanielG reply :
All of these effective solutions are free or nearly free and they will work as good as anything else. I had to think all day but this is what I came up with.
Post it note near your starter key/button. It should say something like "turn off the battery!"
If this works for you, make a more permanent sign....
Another alternative is put a post it note on the center of the steering wheel in your vehicle upon launch. Of course you've got to remember to do that... so... keep on on your backup mirror. You've got to look into that to back up the boat. Then it will be there when you take it out.
Last alternative if those don't work. Place the centerfold from a magazine on your vehicle seat or dash as a reminder. If that doesn't do it for ya then I'm afraid there's no hope and you'll must perpetually have a dead battery.... in more ways than one.
I hope this helps.
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