Battery Life

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Advice on charging.

One issue
during the long and cold winter hibernation (3-4 months) is how often the
batteries should be charged. Should they stay connected to shore power through
the winter off course via a smart charger or disconnected for a month and then charged.

Any views?

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seileren1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 02 May 2007 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 349	Post Options Post Reply Quote seileren1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 April 2014 at 13:56
	Advice on charging. One issue during the long and cold winter hibernation (3-4 months) is how often the batteries should be charged. Should they stay connected to shore power through the winter off course via a smart charger or disconnected for a month and then charged. Any views?

CharlesP Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 September 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1208	Post Options Post Reply Quote CharlesP Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 April 2014 at 17:01
	The battery should not suffer if it is left connected to a smart charger because the smart charger will only trickle in sufficient charge to keep the battery topped up. However, I do not like leaving chargers connected to the mains electricity while I am away for lengthy periods, so My procedure would be to use some of the battery capacity by turning on a few items when I visit and then put the charger on while I am still there, periodically checking the battery monitor, and then disconnect it when I leave after the charger has gone through its sequence of stages. Charles
	'MERIDIAN LADY' 320 Nr 536 2010 Medway

panos Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 02 March 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1939	Post Options Post Reply Quote panos Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2014 at 04:01
	Hi, Be very careful when charging batteries in sub zero temperatures. If for any reason the electrolyte is frozen charging will permanently destroy the batterie. Since the freezing point depends on the density of the electrolyte (state of charge of the battery) it is difficult to determine if the electrolyte has turned into ice, especially in a closed (AGM or GEL batterie). I advise to heat the batteries for more than 72 hours to 20C before charging and don't let them connected to an automatic charger. If possible the best practice is to remove them and store at home in a heated room. Edited by panos - 03 April 2014 at 04:02
	Panos Hanse 630e - selling her -

CharlesP Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 September 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1208	Post Options Post Reply Quote CharlesP Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2014 at 08:32
	I've never had to worry about freezing temperature. I understand that battery electrolyte will freeze at minus 90 degrees Farhenhite when fully charged. However, when only 40% charged it will freeze at minus 15 degrees Farhenhite. Charles
	'MERIDIAN LADY' 320 Nr 536 2010 Medway

seileren1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 02 May 2007 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 349	Post Options Post Reply Quote seileren1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2014 at 21:43
	Hello again, a discharged battery will freeze at about -6 degrees C and a fully charged battery will for all practical purposes never freeze. By keeping the temperature above -10 C and not having a flat battery, there are almost no chance of batteries freezing. I keep the boat in the water and with a small heater (500w) the coldest I have had is -5 degrees, with -20 outside. So very low probability of freezing. The issue I was posting was continious trickle charging vs charging once in a while. Cheers

CharlesP Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 September 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1208	Post Options Post Reply Quote CharlesP Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2014 at 22:08
	Continuous trickle charging will, in my view and experience, keep your batteries in top condition. The smart charger will reduce the charging rate to zero when the battery is fully charged. Charles
	'MERIDIAN LADY' 320 Nr 536 2010 Medway

kiwihanse Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 25 April 2011 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 49	Post Options Post Reply Quote kiwihanse Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 April 2014 at 23:37
	Hi, I have just joined this thread, I have a 2007 400 that I have just replaced the house and start batteries after 7 years which is fine. They were Varta. However, another owner with a 2010 or 2011 400 had his batteries die after 2 years. He had them checked out and the technician suggested they may be fakes ( Chinese ???) as he said the were a very good brand. Unbelievable I know, but maybe????? Cheers
	kiwihanse 400e Any two yachts heading in the same direction, then it's a race!

Nigel Fontaine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 02 September 2010 Status: Offline Points: 34	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Fontaine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 April 2014 at 13:28
	I hadn't considered 'fake batteries' but that too could be a possibility. Regardless, it seems there are too many incidents of the same type to ignor that there is a problem on some of our boats. Has anyone notified Hanse? I still haven't installed the new charger as the boat is still on the hard iced in. I probably won't have an answer for some time yet. I still think it is the charger as this was the problem the last time. The problem was resolved after a new and different type of charger was installed. As a matter of interest our other boat (2011 355) had a 30 HP Volvo while this one (2010 400) has a Yanmar 40 HP so the alternator is probably not the issue. I will keep everyone posted.

panos Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 02 March 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1939	Post Options Post Reply Quote panos Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 April 2014 at 14:00
	We have a completely separate 230V circuit for charging so there is minimal danger of fire or short circuit. We let the charger on. It will keep on a "float" voltage and every few days give a bulk charge. We have a Skylla Victron Energy smart charger.
	Panos Hanse 630e - selling her -

ersgill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 11 September 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote ersgill Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 April 2014 at 19:11
	Thank you all for a most enlightening series of posts. Now the boat is back in the water, I will check the shore owner charger. I am having a battery monitor fitted tomorrow (should have done this 2 years ago - isn't the retrospect-o-graph a wonderful device.....!) I believe the Volvo Penta D2-40 comes with an intelligent alternator, but will investigate further. Ultimately I will have to replace the house batteries, but not until I have isolated my original problem.



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