Boat Battery Care: Tips
Giving proper care to your boat battery will help you increase its life span and make it run more efficiently. Here are a few tips to keep boat batteries reliable and efficient.
Charging your marine boat batteries: thing to consider
Being judicious when charging your battery is the key to maintain your battery’s performance. It is better to charge it once the discharge rate is 80% of rated capacity. The best practices for battery charging also include:
- Use compatible charger
- Do not over charge or under charge
- Avoid over discharging
- Do not disconnect your boat battery before it is completely charged
Maintaining fluid levels
Maintaining the right fluid level is import to sustain the capacity of your boat battery. It is better to add water into the battery after charging. Experts suggest that adding water to a battery before charging can cause overflow. Batteries that are used in a hot climate might need more frequent watering. Here are a few points you keep in mind when watering your boat batteries:
- Use pure and de-ionised water
- Avoid using tap water ( it contains minerals that will reduce batteries capacity and increase their self-discharge rate)
- Check electrolyte regularly and avoid overfilling
- Check water level frequently
Regular boat battery maintenance or servicing
Getting your boat battery serviced on a regular basis is another great way to enhance your battery’s life. An expert will be able to spot a problem that untrained eyes can miss. Problems that are left unrecognised may create trouble in the years to come, so it is always a good idea to get an expert to take care of your battery.
Safety
Operating batteries in a safe environment is always important. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind when dealing with your boat batteries:
- Wear protective clothing when handling boat batteries
- Don’t smoke or allow sparks near them as they produce explosive gas
- Keep metal objects away from them
- Keep vent caps and protective covers firmly in place at all times
- Keep all connections secure in order to gain optimum performance
Follow these easy boat battery tips and they should run effectively for years to come.