maintaining batteries over winter

  • rydberg1020
    Rive Falls, WI
    Posts: 2
    November 21, 2013 at 1:56 am #1356138

    I have a Minnkota 3 bank onboard charger (MK315D) and just wondering if it is okay to leave it plugged in and on all the time to maintain a charge to my two trolling batteries and one starting battery all winter. The boat is in the garage. Any thoughts or advice about doing this would help. Thanks. I work nights so I won’t see any response until late tomorrow

    It’s only my second post but I have followed this site for years and its the only place I go for St. Croix info

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59998
    November 21, 2013 at 2:42 am #1365408

    Make sure your water levels are good….and you’ll be fine.

    Jeff Bennett
    Lake Puckaway Wi.
    Posts: 1180
    November 21, 2013 at 4:40 am #1365409

    I have left mine plugged in all winter the last 6 years and they seem to holding a charge great.

    stuart
    Mn.
    Posts: 3682
    November 21, 2013 at 6:01 am #1365415

    It’s what I have done for years.

    pantherpop
    Kalispell, MT
    Posts: 264
    November 21, 2013 at 12:30 pm #1365525

    Quote:

    I have left mine plugged in all winter the last 6 years and they seem to holding a charge great.


    I have a 2002 and have done this every winter…changed out the batteries 2011.

    FryDog62
    Posts: 3696
    November 21, 2013 at 12:37 pm #1365529

    If you have an AGM starter battery and 2 lead/acid trolling motor batteries, can you plug all three into a 3 bank charger and leave out in a sub freezing garage all winter? Any concern the water in the lead acid batteries freezes?

    gary d
    cordova,il
    Posts: 1125
    November 21, 2013 at 12:53 pm #1365540

    Sometimes I will even hook a light up to the batteries so there is a load on them for a while. That way the charger will work the batteries also. Water level is the key!!!

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59998
    November 21, 2013 at 12:53 pm #1365541

    Quote:

    Any concern the water in the lead acid batteries freezes?

    Lead acid will not freeze if it’s charged.

    Randy Wieland
    Lebanon. WI
    Posts: 13685
    November 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm #1365545

    Almost all quality on board chargers will drop down to a milli-amp (sp?) trickle that is about equal to the natural disbursement of energy from the batteries. If my boat isn’t on the water, its plugged in 24/7/365.
    In addition, I put two OBC’s in my pole barn for the “extra” batteries that I have for around the farm. They also are plugged in year round. I’ve gotten years of use out of them with none of them expiring prematurely. As BK stated, a charged battery will not freeze unless there is existing issues.

    out_fishing
    Moorhead, MN
    Posts: 1151
    November 21, 2013 at 1:04 pm #1365548

    If it was me personally and my boat was in my garage where I walked by it every day, I would just plug it in for a day once a month. Just a peace of mind that im not going to fry my charger or batteries from leaving them pluged in for 5 months.

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