Battery Charger Always Plugged In?

This topic has 8 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 10 months ago by jignpig.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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August 19, 2008 at 1:26 am #300679

Bama96
Participant

Got a Pro Pak and the web site says they cycle on every 24hrs to “Top Off” the charge. My question is do you guys leave yours plugged up 24/7? If so do you use a extension cord? I have mine plugged in with a Heavy Duty contractors cord. After reading the site I am thinking of leaving mine plugged up. Any opinions?

August 19, 2008 at 2:05 am #300680

SAMRUSH
Participant

NEVER-friend of mine did same , charger shorted out and caused fire- lost everything… I do the same as MIKE W.Last edited by SAMRUSH on August 19th, 2008, 2:16 am, edited 1 time in total.BAYOU BANDIT

August 19, 2008 at 2:07 am #300681

Mike Whitten
Participant

Bama, You will get lots of opinoins on this one, but my practice has always been to plug up a charger as soon as I come off the water and get to spot where I can do it. I charge batteries until they are charged fully, and then unplug the charger. With my boat at home in the carport, I plug up one day during the week, to keep things topped off. I charge the night before fishing, and thats it. I do NOT think you need to leave a charge plugged up 24/7–even if the mfg. says it will handle it. Batteries will take so much charge and no more. Plus, if you are constantly plugged up, you run the risk of damage from a lightning spike or other surge issues.Just my thoughts, but Ive always done it this way, and have had zero issues with batteries in 40 years of fishing.Mike Whitten

August 19, 2008 at 2:17 am #300682

Bama96
Participant

Thanks guys. What I have always done is when I get off the water plug them in. Next morning they are green and I unplug. Plug back in before I go out again to be sure they are good to go. Just curious what others did. The 24/7 thing bothered me.

August 19, 2008 at 2:31 am #300683

basschaser
Participant

Well said Mike… The lightning strike alone scares me enough not to have it plugged in. Judd Lasiter

August 19, 2008 at 3:31 am #300684

PhilAddison
Participant

I never leave mine plugged in! Get home, charge the batteries and disconnect the next morning!

August 19, 2008 at 3:34 am #300685

1stinLA
Participant

The way I work, sometimes I am gone for a month or more at a time so I have a heavy duty timer with an internal breaker for Christmas lights that I have setup to run for .5 hours a day when away. so that when I do get home I can go at a minutes notice. when I get back from fishing I plug it in and put it on manual and when the set time passes again it goes back to .5 hrs a day. I have had it so long that I dont remember where I bought it, but have seen similar at Target at Christmas time.

August 19, 2008 at 6:28 am #300686

conan1.basscatowners
Participant

Bama96 wrote: Thanks guys. What I have always done is when I get off the water plug them in. Next morning they are green and I unplug. Plug back in before I go out again to be sure they are good to go. Just curious what others did. The 24/7 thing bothered me. Thats the ticket Ive been doing this since I got my boat. Too many chances of spikes, transient voltages, and other things such as shorted battery cells that can cause excessive battery gases, corrosion, and or explosions that would tend to destroy a perfectly good boat. LOVE MY CAT, Ed”Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by an unscrupulous main- stream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”

August 19, 2008 at 1:04 pm #300687

jignpig
Participant

I am running the Optimas with a Minn Kota 330 charger. Plug up after a day of fishing, especially at home, charge and then disconnect. At home, I usually charge every 2 wks. And ventilate the bilge area. Even though these are the gel cell, things can happen, I never rule that out…96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
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