1. Is it ok to leave a charger on 24/7 between fishing trips (2 days-2 weeks)?
2. How often should you check water levels in batteries?
3. Could be me, but I feel my battery isn't as strong, even after a full charge, this season as it was last season. How can I test this, and is there anything I can do to correct this if that's the case. Batteries are only 2 years old.
4. What's the average life span of a deep cycle battery? Cranking battery?

Thanks,
Dough

2. I probably check the water level once a month. Use only distilled water to fill them.

3. Bring battery to Auto Zone or some auto store and have them do a load test on them. That may tell you something, I'm not sure.

4. Good, well maintained batteries should last 3 to 5 years.

Bugs
2006 Stratos 201ProXL
2006 E-Tec 225HO

your batteries might be getting low, depending upon how many hours you have used them. you should get them checked out.

i have a 3-bank battery charger installed in my boat and i have been told it is safe to keep it plugged in between trips.

--Nick

Battery life is very dependent on how often you fish and how well you care for the batteries. You can use up a battery in a year with frequent fishing or poor care, or you can get 5 years out of a set if you don't fish often and you take care of them. 3 years is about typical.

A load test won't tell you anything about the capacity of deep cycle batteries. The only practical way to judge the capacity of TM batteries is to see if they last long enough to meet your fishing needs. Use a hydrometer to test the specific gravity of each cell to determine the condition of your batteries.

can't Use a hydrometer on agm batteries and if you have more than 700 cca you can do a load test. Just had mine done and they were bad

Men's soccer coach
Faith Christian
2007-2008 State Champs

True, but this post is about a wet cell with caps.

Quote, originally posted by coachallen »

and if you have more than 700 cca you can do a load test. Just had mine done and they were bad

You can do a load test, but it won't tell you anything other than that the battery will crank a motor. It is a high current test for about 15 seconds, which doesn't tell you much at all about how the battery will perform running low current for several hours.

Men's soccer coach
Faith Christian
2007-2008 State Champs

You must be lucky then

I read a post of a guy who takes them in every couple few years just before replacement warranty is out and has not bought new ones in 6 years.

I have to agree the trolling motor batteries go first and usually last three years, but that last year you will notice the less power.

I bought a ten year old boat with original Die Hard Cranker and it started motor first charge. Then replaced anyway. I couldn't believe it still worked at all. Maybe they don't make batteries as good as they use to. Like everything else raw materials have really increased in price last few years so they may be cheapening them up some. I see my competition in the fiberglass industry really thinning parts or using all made in China crap materials and inferior backing. NOT IN MY SHOP!
Proud BBC SPONSOR - Hand Made in USA