I guess this means they are still in great shape?

[Mr.J.]

Yesterday I threw the trickle charger on my batteries, one a starter and one for the trolling motor.

I don't know how long it took to top up the trolling motor but it was definitly less than an hour (the time between hooking it up and going back to check on the progress) and then I hooked up the starting battery and it topped up before I could finish my smoke.

Can I assume this means there is still a lot of life left in these batteries? I last charged them in October. Figured they could use a mid wimter wake up call.

[Mikey]

You interpreted right Mr. J....

[pikeonthe fly]

My own battery guy suggests that every month during storage, give them, both cranking and deep cycle batteries a trickle charge for a few hours to keep them fully charged over the lay-up period. Have been doing that so from what we have both found, our batteries are in pretty good shape..

[mikemicropterus]

Your batteries should last on average use 5 years, but what happens to limit that life is improper charging. Always check your electrolyte level BEFORE charging. If you burn the plates because they are exposed to air they can distort and short out. This will not show up until a load is asked for ie, starting or trolling motor in the water. The only way to tell if your deepcycle batteries are good is to see how they re-act a constant load. I used to take a high wattage lamp and after figuring out is consumption rate would figure out how long the deep cycles should last. Your starting battery can be checked with a load tester, don't do deep cycles with a load tester designed for starting batteriesas it can warp the plates can and short out the cell. One way to check each cell is to take a multi-meter and attach the red lead to positive and take the caps off and put the negative probe in the elecrolyte, each cell should test at least 2 volts or more, 6 cells at 2 volts each equals 12 volts. BE VERY CAREFUL NO SMOKING NO SPARKS AND WIPE UP ANYTHING THAT SPILLS HAVE SOME BAKING SODA AND WATER HANDY JUST IN CASE. A GOOD fully charged deep cycle should read 14 volts at least while most starting batteries should hit 13.5. Always use distilled water, the chemicals in all other water WILL lessen the life of the battery. It's no fun being out there at 3am only to find out your batteries were not charged properly. If the wind was stronger and the current swifter and I would have gone down the rapids, luckily my anchor held and I used that to get to shore. It must have been funny to hear. By checking each cell you can tell the condtion of it and get a better idea how good or bad your batteries. A current amp on the battery charger lead will tell you whehter that battery is drawing current. A fully charged battery should be able to take -40 weather however a half charged battery may not and may show full charge when it isn't. I would check them once the weather gets a little warmer and make sure there is enough electrolyte.