Battery maintenance

T

The Ancient Mariner

New member
Hi all!

As a 'binnelander',I only get to go to the coast 3-4 times a year to enjoy some jetski fishing.My question is:what is the best way to keep my batteries(dual battery system)in peak condition.Currently I put a 5A C-tek charger on them every couple of days.They seem to go down quite a bit in this time.I was thinking that maybe it is better to put on a lower amp maintenance charger,say 2A,also of the intelligent type,that just trickle charges,and just leave this on all the time.I am sure that I speak for all us when I say that the state of our batteries is always on our minds when planning a trip,or out on the water.My ski stood in Richards bay for 4 months after having tubbies installed.After this time,batteries would not take nor hold a charge,and had to be replaced(at no charge by Fast Powersports).I would like to hear how some of you take care of your batteries.

Best regards,
TAM
 
S

supercab

New member
Hi TAM
Iv removed my skis battrey and charged it and check it once a week with a tester if i see it going down i put it on charge again. I also want to get the c-tek charger and leave it connected.

We need to get the jhb guys together for some tips & tactics !!!!
 
T

The Ancient Mariner

New member
Hi Supercab,

The thing is,I don't want to take my batteries out,as its a mission.I have quite a few things running off them and not so easy to line up all the lugs again.Also,the threads on those little square nuts are rather delicate,so don't want to be loosening and tightening there too much.They are just correctly tightened and want to keep them that way.When I last got my ski back from the dealers having some work done,and 2 batteries replaced,I asked the workers if they had tightened the terminals correctly,to which they replied 'yes'.When I got to my destination I decided to not go fishing the very next day.I decided to take a day out and just go through a few things first.Just as well I did as all four battery terminals were loose,so much so,that they surely would have come loose on my main battery,which is upfront in the bow on the Seadoo,where there is quite a bit of jarring.Had it come off at sea,there would have been no way for me to reconnect it.If you want it done properly,do it yourself!
 
L

Limpopoking

Sealiner
You can leave the C-Tek on permanently. Being an "intelligent" charger, it knows exactly what the battery needs and when. An alternative is to get a small trickle charger from one of the auto dealers and put it onto a fully charged battery. I have one of these on my genset and it has proven to work very well over the last few years.
 
P

plugger

Senior Member
If I'm not going to be using a vehicle,boat or jetski for a length of time I always disconnect the earth lead to prevent any unnecessary current drainage.
 
T

The Ancient Mariner

New member
Thanks guys for your input!I think a trickle charger which is permanently on,will do the trick,just enough to keep some activity inside the battaries.The thought of having a battery die out at sea due to lack of maintenance is not a very appealing one.Tight lines!

Best regards,
TAM
:)
 
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