Battery care

[Rwnorton]

I know batteries have discussed endlessly, because I've read most of the posts. But as a new owner with AGM batteries and generator and not being ready to alter the system yet, what should I be doing with with what I already have?

Watch the installed battery volt meter and not let the voltage drop below 12.2v
Reset the pro marine charger to a 1 hour conditioning cycle
And ??

Ron Norton

 

[Levitation]

and, cross your fingers :mrgreen:

 

[Scuffy]

For me I shut the main switch off coming from the factory installed inverter. I never have used it as we have both a solar panel and a generator. Plus I think inverters powering larger amperage draw appliances are battery killers. I do carry a small 400 watt inverter with a six outlet type surge protector for charging phones camera batteries and for running my CPAP machine at night. I just plug the small inverter into a 12vdc outlet. I use a laptop running Coastal Explorer and that is powered by the same 400 watt inverter when we are cruising along. I will probably get our thruster battery rigged to the house battery bank. I think that could not hurt. I coat all the battery terminals with Vaseline or some other protectant. Spraying anti corrosion spray like Corrosion Block made for electronics is also recommended. I spray the fuses for the thrusters as some have said they can corrode some and cause issues. I spray anything electrical that I want to avoid corroding. Battery switches, fuse panels etc. I use that electrical jelly (Dielectric Grease) on any engine room connections especially the wiring connectors to the transmission so water cant get in them. Lastly pray the battery Gods don't come for us too soon.

 

[NorthernFocus]

You've got the most important thing figured out. Never let the batteries drop below critical threshold voltage. I've never fiddled with AGMs but sounds like you got that 12.2 from somewhere with your research. Traditional flooded cells begin to plate out sulfates at 12.3. Personally when mine drop below 12.5 I charge them. But I boat in a fairly extreme environment.

As others have said, put something on terminations to protect them. Vaseline works but is subject to wear/wash off. Silicone "tune-up" grease (aka gromore) is a pain in the butt to work with but repels water better and last longer than most anything else. Plus it is conductive.

You may want to "calibrate" the installed voltmeter before you rely too heavily on it for the purpose discussed. I'd use a quality handheld VOM testing directly at the terminals and check it against the installed meter for a season. Also never take a reading when there is a substantial load on the batteries. A few amps is noise in the data. But 20 or 30 amps could throw your readings off(on the low side).