You might want to check yours ---- $$$$

I had 2 Big deep Cycle batteries that had been on trickle charge that we pulled from Bros boat to put back into my Boat ... One battery was 3 years old ,, the other 8 years old .... The 3 year old battery was just a little low on voltage and the 8 year old had only 6 volts .. Having 2 battery chargers I charged both overnight. I had it somewhere in my Pea Brain that they were Maintenance free... They are not ---- When I pulled the cover from the cells on the older battery I could see the plates exposed in all 6 cells ---- I used a 16 oz water bottle and a funnel to hit the holes... To just barely cover the plates it took 60 OZ of distilled water ----- this battery is TOAST ---- The second battery that is just 3 years old also had the tops of the plates exposed and took almost 30 oz to fill the cells to the correct level. My Battery charger has a feature to recondition a battery by sending pulses through the battery to knock the Sulphide from the Plates.. Hopefully I caught this one in time.. These batteries had a solar collector keeping 1/16 of an amp trickle running through which is way less than those used to Maintain your battery ... I had 5 old batteries from stuff like lawn mowers , auto batteries, and deep Cycles ... Every single battery I looked in had the Plates Exposed. When a Battery charges from the Alternator the current flow will make the water/ Sulphuric acid boil, over time leaving the Plates exposed to Kill the Battery before its time --- Go check yours you may be Surprised

I am changing boats and the under seat spot I wanted my start battery was not tall enough for a battery to sit upright. I bit the bullet and bought an AGM from Sports Academy and laid it on it's side under the seat. Hope they telling the truth about that not being an issue. Hope to get it in the water soon and try it out.
On a side note, I asked about warranty info at the store and they read me the on line info from Exide. Then the guy looked at me and asked if I was familiar with their policy. I said I wasn't, it is a new store and I haven't been in much. He said if it doesn't work to your satisfaction bring it back. We'll replace it or give your money back. I asked for what period of time, he said at least the 2 years that the Mfg states we don't prorate, if it doesn't work like it is supposed too we'll make it right.
They are about 12 miles away in another town, but I might have just become a convert.

Very good post Larry, and very true. Do not keep a "trickle charge/battery maintainer" plugged in on a 24 hour basis regardless of what the manufacturers propaganda says. Minnkota, NOCO, BMK, Bass Pro, ProMariner, Dual Pro, Cabela's, etc. units are put together by components made by another company (diodes, relays, regulators, transformers, resisters, etc.). They put their label on top. I charge when I'm done, then recharge before I go out. Zero power enters the boat otherwise.

Larry you are so right. Wet cell batteries are not "set it and forget it" items. I plug mine in on returning from a fishing trip and leave them connected at least the rest of the day or overnight. I unplug each one as it shows fully charged. The evening before going fishing again I hook them up to check them and to make sure they are topped off. Since I fish two or three days a week they are charged often and I check the water levels often. Also some people use cheaper starter batteries to run the troll motor. A battery used as such will not last long or give you the best performance.
"gene"

Hey FoL,

3 years is the average life of a wet cell battery. That being said, you can take the preventive maintenance road and replace battery before they fail. Or do as most and replace after they do fail.

A fully charged battery has positive plates, made of lead peroxide. Negative plates are made of sponge lead. As the battery discharges, oxygen (O2) molecules in the lead peroxide, are displaced by the sulfur (SO4) from the sulfuric acid. Sulfur converts the plates to lead sulfate (PbSO4) and the oxygen combines with the acid to form water (H20). When this occurs the battery is discharged and no longer produces the needed electricity.

Recharging the battery immediately after discharge reverses the process. Allowing a battery to remain discharged, even for a short period will shorten the life considerably. Sulfates on the lead plates become extremely difficult to remove if allowed to remain in place. If not removed, they insulate the lead from the acid and the battery loses capacity.

A similar situation occurs if the electrolyte becomes low. Most often this is the result of overcharging, as with a bad alternator or exposure to extreme heat.
If your having to add water to one it is leaking or it is been overcharged. Batteries also need to be cleaned.

The term "maintenance free" is a misnomer. Plenty of false advertising in the world we live. Your local auto parts store shelves are full of "snake oil" products. Fuel additives are at the top of the list IMO.
Cell covers typically have gas diffusers built into them that allow safe dispersal of any excess hydrogen that may be formed during overcharge. They are not permanently sealed, but are designated to be "maintenance free".

HTH

I guess I have been spoiled by getting 4 to 5 years from the batteries, even though the warranty is one year free replacement. the second year Pro-Rated. I would like to add to what you said of the tops of the battery that is wet --- It is usually Sulphuric Acid on top. JR,I Think the way Batteries are Constructed and work would be on the Main Forum... I learned a lot the way you Explained the Construction.. I was taught the plates are Lead with insulators between the Plates, and only a chemical reaction with the lead.. Thinking about it it has to be wrong as the reaction theory --- the thing would recharge itself...

The best decision I ever made about boat batteries was switching to the AGM type battery. I bit the bullet several years ago and invested in the extra cost. You are usually looking at almost double the cost of a lead-acid battery but I have always gotten more than double the service life with none of the maintenance or worry with my selection of the DEKA brand. Several manufacturers have slightly different warranties. Cabelas has several AGM type batteries that feature different components of the lead plates and the price varies accordingly. On occasion they run sales which give free shipping and a reduced price....the one AGM that I have heard so many complaints about is the brand (OPTIMA)that looks like a 6-pack. I have shared this info with many of my fishing friends and have almost every one of them thanked me at a later date for steering them in this direction.:highfive

Cell covers typically have gas diffusers built into them that allow safe dispersal of any excess hydrogen that may be formed during overcharge. They are not permanently sealed, but are designated to be "maintenance free".

HTH[/QUOTE]

Just a word of caution regarding the hydrogen. My wife had a battery explode in her car when she turned the ignition to start it. We assumed the hydrogen was ignited by a spark, possibly from a loose terminal arc, but we don't know for sure. It blew the top off the battery, sprayed acid all over the engine and hood and buckled the hood out to the extent they had to replace the hood. If anyone has been standing around the battery with the hood open they would have been seriously injured.
Always be extremely careful taking cables and chargers off battery post.
It is a miniature bomb in the making.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fish on Line

I guess I have been spoiled by getting 4 to 5 years from the batteries, even though the warranty is one year free replacement. the second year Pro-Rated.

Your probably doing it right to get 4-5 years IMO.

I would like to add to what you said of the tops of the battery that is wet --- It is usually Sulphuric Acid on top.

and it will conduct electricity and drain your battery. That is why you need to clean the battery. Quick shot of brake clean and wipe with a paper towel or rag.You can take a multimeter and place one lead on the battery case and on on a post and read any drain.

JR,I Think the way Batteries are Constructed and work would be on the Main Forum... I learned a lot the way you Explained the Construction.. I was taught the plates are Lead with insulators between the Plates, and only a chemical reaction with the lead.. Thinking about it it has to be wrong as the reaction theory --- the thing would recharge itself...

---

If it could recharge itself, That would be A perpetual motion machine.;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by B&M BOBM

The best decision I ever made about boat batteries was switching to the AGM type battery. I bit the bullet several years ago and invested in the extra cost. You are usually looking at almost double the cost of a lead-acid battery but I have always gotten more than double the service life with none of the maintenance or worry with my selection of the DEKA brand. Several manufacturers have slightly different warranties. Cabelas has several AGM type batteries that feature different components of the lead plates and the price varies accordingly. On occasion they run sales which give free shipping and a reduced price....the one AGM that I have heard so many complaints about is the brand (OPTIMA)that looks like a 6-pack. I have shared this info with many of my fishing friends and have almost every one of them thanked me at a later date for steering them in this direction.:highfive

---

Just remember to make sure your charger is proper for a AGM battery. AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jig rig

If it could recharge itself, That would be A perpetual motion machine.;)

---

Very good JR.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by B&M BOBM

The best decision I ever made about boat batteries was switching to the AGM type battery. I bit the bullet several years ago and invested in the extra cost. You are usually looking at almost double the cost of a lead-acid battery but I have always gotten more than double the service life with none of the maintenance or worry with my selection of the DEKA brand. Several manufacturers have slightly different warranties. Cabelas has several AGM type batteries that feature different components of the lead plates and the price varies accordingly. On occasion they run sales which give free shipping and a reduced price....the one AGM that I have heard so many complaints about is the brand (OPTIMA)that looks like a 6-pack. I have shared this info with many of my fishing friends and have almost every one of them thanked me at a later date for steering them in this direction.:highfive

---

I have had great luck with my OPTIMA battery so far. Hopefully, it will continue to do right for me.

I have agm's. Going back to interstates. The 27 group in the interstates pulled better than the 27 agm's. This is just my opinion. Plus the interstates cost a lot less. 2 sets should last longer than one set of agm's an cost less total. Also, I charge when I get back and before I go. Used to check the water level every few charges, esp. in warm months.