What is it?
90% of all flasher problems come from the batteries?
I know they should be charged occasionally through out the summer, but what about during the season?
Should we run them down? Do they have “memory”?
If we’re only out for a couple hours, should they go back on the charger? Lastly…how the heck do I know if they are done charging??
More then you will ever want to know.
http://projects.crustal.ucsb.edu/scec/pbic/equip/man/battery_care.html
That article seems to talk about lead acid batteries more than the type we use in flashers or cameras…or did it just go over my head?
Charge after each use on the ice regardless of % of discharge.
Quote:
Charge after each use on the ice regardless of % of discharge.
X2
I have a few batteries. All three were charged full at the end of the ice season. I charged the one on my LX-5, and one of my spares every month during the summer. They never needed much time to be at 100%. Couldn’t find my other spare until this week. When I hooked it up to the Marcum charger, it was at 90% and was fully charged in about 5 minutes. Makes me wonder if it is necessary to charge them periodically during summer.
Thou shalt not store any battery at less than full charge. In John’s case above when batteries are newer they may not discharge all that much during storage but if you don’t keep them maintained at a full charge they will die sooner. It might be the difference between 2 years or 3 years on the same battery. We all want our batteries to be at their best when we want to use them. You can also make the batteries last longer by disconnecting them from the unit after use.
I forgot to check/charge on the FL20 ultrapack, that I just bought from FF in January and used til mid-March, until June and the battery was dead as a door nail. The master switch was off the entire 3 months, but the battery completely drained and would not re-charge. I ended up buying a new 7 amphour one at the TB portable event. I didn’t need a new charger, so the Vex Sportman’s battery (9 AH) and charger combo, which is ridiculously overpriced, was not an option.
BTW, my LX5’s battery, which was not connected to the battery meter/charger thing, was at a solid 98%.
Quote:
Charge after each use on the ice regardless of % of discharge
X100
Yep, this is what I’ve done since day 1 and have had zero problems!
Ya, I store mine fully charged too and also pull one of the connections off for good measure.
OK – I must be strange. I have had the same battery on my FL-8 for going on 15 years now!! I only charge it when it gets low. I had a spare battery given to me 5 years ago that I forgot about and of course it is dead. My original I charge at the end of the season and maybe once during the summer. I just got it out last weekend and charged it up again for year 16 – yep, its still going strong. I must have gotten the “Rocky” of batteries. I normally get 4-5 afternoon trips before I have to re-charge. I don’t think it has ever stopped dead. I am keeping my fingers crossed to see how long this baby last. (just wait, now that I have bragged about it, it will die next week)
WOW. Thats a long time.
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