Battery question

[davidstan]

I have a 2 battery set up with a perko switch to shut off power. Do I need to disconnect the batteries for the 4 months of winter or just turn off the perko?

[bturner2]

Don't know about what people do in GA but in MI we typically will take our batteries out and bring them either in a garage or basement. I charge or top off my batteries with a charger about every month. Seems to work as I'm going on year 5 on my Blue Tops. If you don't plan on taking them out I would disconnect them to remove any possibility of a drian which would eventually kill the battery. But that's me and I tend to have MC OCD.

[Cloaked]

Originally Posted by davidstan

I have a 2 battery set up with a perko switch to shut off power. Do I need to disconnect the batteries for the 4 months of winter or just turn off the perko?

Either option.

I have duals and leave the Perko in the on position.

What I do to take care of the batteries, regardless of a cable configuration, or sitting idle and disconnected; I use a microchip processor battery maintenance unit to monitor the batteries. Mine will sit in the boat all winter, hooked to the Battery Tender, just as they do year-round when not in use on the water.

$0.02

.

[JDC]

Originally Posted by davidstan

I have a 2 battery set up with a perko switch to shut off power. Do I need to disconnect the batteries for the 4 months of winter or just turn off the perko?

Switching off the perko is the same as disconnecting them.
Keeping them warm inside and charged is better for them. However, if they can stay on a battery tender all winter, even if outside, they'll be fine.
That's my

[davidstan]

It is inside and climatE controlled but wasn't sure if the perko was as good as full disconnect

[JimN]

Originally Posted by davidstan

I have a 2 battery set up with a perko switch to shut off power. Do I need to disconnect the batteries for the 4 months of winter or just turn off the perko?

I would. If there's any parasitic drain, you'll return to batteries that are stone dead and will have lost a good amount of their capacity, which will never return.

[jgraham37128]

Ok, great question, here's my 4 option I can choose. Which would be the best.

1. Remove both batteries and place in my heated garage. The garage will never get below 50 degrees. Most of the time garage is 60-70 degrees. No battery tender till spring.

2. Remove both batteries and place in my heated garage. The garage will never get below 50 degrees. Most of the time garage is 60-70 degrees. Leave plugged up to my battery tender all winter.

3.Leave hooked up in my boat storage unit with the battery tender all closed up unit with insulated top only. The side walls are not insulated but I'm a middle unit so there are 6+ units both left and right.

4. Disconnect the battery and leave in the boat while in the storage unit with no tender till spring.

[JDC]

Originally Posted by jgraham37128

Ok, great question, here's my 4 option I can choose. Which would be the best.

I would pick option 2.
Option 2 seems best (to me), while option 3 would be the easiest.

I'm sure you'll get other opinions.

[davidstan]

I usually do #4. Thx for the input.

[Miss Rita]

I would pick option 2.
Option 2 seems best (to me), while option 3 would be the easiest.

x2

I have to maintain four batteries from different toys over the winter. I keep them in my unheated garage that may rarely get below freezing, connect them in parallel, and hook the whole works up to a single battery tender.