Winter Battery Storage / Care

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Yes good point about the cost. There are also some potential corrosion problems connected to shore power. I have also seen the boat end of the shore power plug develop some corrosion and melt. No fires, but close.
Solar solves all these problems and I think it is the better solution

But in the great white North solar panels can fill with snow if left unattended and the the controllers stand-by draw can bleed down the bank. If you can keep it free and clear of snow and have an appropriate controller then they work great. I have solar, and the boat gets stored next to the house, and I still disconnect it and let them sit..

[Cotemar]

A small solar panel like these will work perfectly.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post363023

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

But in the great white North solar panels can fill with snow if left unattended and the the controllers stand-by draw can bleed down the bank. If you can keep it free and clear of snow and have an appropriate controller then they work great. I have solar, and the boat gets stored next to the house, and I still disconnect it and let them sit..

Your making me cold. Winter is almost here and overnight temperatures are dropping down to 13 deg C (55F). That’s cold enough.
As you say at temperatures where you can get snow self discharge for 2 months is not a big problem. In the Med its common for people to leave there boat unattended for 5 months with much higher temperatures so self discharge becomes a significant issue.
I have no experience with snow on solar panels (thankfully), but would have thought mounting the panel at steep angle when leaving the boat for winter, would solve the problem.
.

[sailorboy1]

Ok. I'm just going to disconnect the batteries as I've done in the past. I was just trying to determine if it was worth it to have the trickle charger since these are new batteries this year, but didn't really want to screw around with rigging up the panel outside the cover etc. I charged up the batteries and checked the water the other day.

[skipmac]

Hi Don,

Several options for caring for your new batteries.

1. Your suggestion, pull them out and put them in home intensive care. Not a viable option for the stated reasons.

2. Disconnect them and go down to the boat periodically and top them off with whatever charger you have on the boat. Cheapest option (if the boat isn't too far from home) and added benefit you get to go hang out on the boat every few weeks.

3. Buy a new charger, ideally a smart, multi-stage charger with a maintenance or trickle mode and a circuit to prevent over charging.

4. Make sure the batteries are well secured in the boat, sail boat to FL. Once there recharge the batteries from the alternator while running the engine from the dock to the channel before hoisting sails. Repeat as necessary.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Hi Don,

Several options for caring for your new batteries.


4. Make sure the batteries are well secured in the boat, sail boat to FL. Once there recharge the batteries from the alternator while running the engine from the dock to the channel before hoisting sails. Repeat as necessary.

That of course is the best answer and I knew I could get the correct answer here.