The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums : charging deep cycle batteries https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/ Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:51:03 +0000 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:22:09 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.01 360 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=58699 <![CDATA[The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/ <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : Same with my battery. Took...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838435&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838435 Author: Brooook
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 9:22pm

Same with my battery.
 
Took it to the autoelectrician and he measured everything and it looked good. Then he charged it up and still looked good. After a while it lost voltage and looked only fair. He said it was borderline. I decided to buy a new one.
 
Deep cycle batteries (he said) are designed to go flat and charge up repeatedly. He said if you were to leave it over winter you should charge it up on your home charger every couple of months otherwise it sulpherises or oxidises (or some such word) and will never quite be the same again.
 
As for the borderline battery, he said it wouldn't be the right battery to start the Commodore but would be OK for the Toyota (except it doesn't fit, LOL). Deep cycle doesn't have the big amps to start a big engine, rather a steady amp drain like all the eqipment on the boat, tilt, starting outboards etc.
]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:22:09 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838435&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838435 <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : Yep as Fisher says...bubbles is...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838234&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838234 Author: Catchelot
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 3:40pm

Yep as Fisher says...bubbles is all a normal part of the charging chemistry...gases...
 
And if you do need to top up the fluid levels just don't use tap water...chorinated water is no good, the best is de-mineralised or distilled...but rain water is fine.
]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:40:32 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838234&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838234 <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : take all the screw plugs out anyways...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838204&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838204 Author: tas-tackle
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 2:16pm

take all the screw plugs out anyways to allow the battery to "breath" while charging...
firstly, ensure the plates are covered with water... I use clean rainwater...
You WANT to see bubbles rising from each cell after about 2-3 hours or so..  you should be charging all of your batteries to full charge for a period of 48 hours every 3 months... then when fully charged a trickle charger applied to avoid sulphating... I just use a solar charger...cheap as chips...
]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:16:01 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838204&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838204 <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : mmm interesting thoughts guys....]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838199&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838199 Author: ripfishnbust
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 2:02pm

mmm interesting thoughts guys.  For starters, it's only 1 year old.  I've only been using it over the past 6 months so this is the first time it's been brought up to full charge.  And I've checked - it's only a 4 amp charger.  I'll whack it back on and keep an eye to see if any bubbles ARENT rising, right? (and here I was thinking bubbles rising was a problem!).  If I've still got concerns after what - 24 hours? - I'll just take it into my local auto electrician I think Catchalot as the stuff you suggest I do sounds far too tricky for me!  Thanks heaps for the advice guys, keep it coming! ]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:02:29 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838199&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838199 <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : Do all of the above (hi al)...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838149&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838149 Author: tas-tackle
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 11:42am

Do all of the above (hi al) as well as after about an hour or so on charge, visually sight down each port to see if bubbles are rising.. if one is not, then that one may be sulphated..
Was talking to a manager in a well known battery shop as I was about to change my wifes car battery.. Talked about charging batteries at home and he said... "You guys with your 4, 6, 8 amp chargers dont leave them long enough, they should be left charging for 48hours and not overnight as most folks do"  Have done that ever since

How often has this battery been brought up to full charge... ???
]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:42:20 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838149&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838149 <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : How old is it? Have you checked...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838140&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838140 Author: Catchelot
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 11:31am

How old is it?
 
Have you checked the fluid levels?
 
Can you measure the battery voltage with a multi-meter?
Rule of thumb; full charged 13.2v Half Charge 12.5v less then 11v...buggered!
 
Perhaps also get a hydrometer and measurre the specific gravity, can be a bit more accurate than voltage tests.
]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:31:29 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838140&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838140 <![CDATA[charging deep cycle batteries : Howdy gents, got a deep sycle...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838138&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838138 Author: ripfishnbust
Subject: 58699
Posted: 18 Oct 2010 at 11:26am

Howdy gents,
got a deep sycle battery that needs recharging.  I put it on my usual 12v charger.   Left it on 12 hours or so.  All seemed ok, all charging light on the charger lit up. Then I unplugged it and a little later checked the charge int he battry - only 3/4 full.  Damn, I thought, put it on for another 12 hours, maybe more.  Still the same amount of charge - but this time I could hear a bubbling noice coming from inside the top of the battery. 
 
What gives?  Did I mess it up?  There's an indicatore on the battery that shines different colours - green for charged, black for needs charging and no sign which means the battery's knackered and needs replacing.  Before charging it was black - now it's either black or there's nothing there!  Any one know what I should do?
 
Cheers.
]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:26:15 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58699&PID=838138&title=charging-deep-cycle-batteries#838138