Charging your battery in your boat before a trip

[thriller]

Charging your battery in your boat before a trip.

Do you isolate the battery or leave it connected?

[big al]

i always disconnect the negative side of the battery and charge overnight just to make sure. al

[ellicat]

Leave it connected in my case. All items on the circuit are switched off though. No problems for the last 20 years.

[bootyinblue]

Leave it connected but there is an isolator switch 30cm up the leads which stays off and kills power to everything including the motor.

Had same battery for 7 years now and still cranks hard.

[muzz]

I isolate all 3 of 4 batteries by using a resettable fuse. You could also do this by putting two Anderson plugs inline so when it comes to charging you can disconnect the battery from the boat wiring and then attach to your charger completely isolating the battery from the boat wiring.

I have Anderson plugs off the house battery, cranking battery and the Minn Kota Batteries (2 x 120amp stay in parallel with one plug) and have attached a Anderson Plug to both of my chargers, I then do a full charge, once they are charged they then stay attached to power and are trickle charged which I've been told prolongs battery life. The only battery that misses out on trickle is the cranking battery which gets a boost before I go out.

/>http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=anderson+plug&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[Gregpen]

Connected with an isolator switch in line (off). Ctek M300 charging my (2 x 100Ah in parallel) Minn Kota batteries connected as soon as I get back from a trip out and left on until I take it out again and a Ctek M300 starter charger for my cranking battery again on as soon as I return until I take it out again.

[wallyfly]

I always disconnect mine cos years ago I had a Humingbird that caused my battery to go flat when switched off. No risks these days, just the habit I've developed. Tight lines and b****r rowing. :evil:

[thriller]

As I thought, some do some don't.

I asked because my stator was leaking black stuff. (apparently NOT good)

I was told this was from either charging the battery with it still connected,

Or disconnecting the battery with the motor running was another cause.

(other electrical Gremlins not discussed)

Either way at $250 + for a replacement, plus labour I thought I would put it out there.

maybe save you some cash.

or cost you some when you realise your stator is u/s.

kind regards/sorry about that

Michael