Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I'm leaving my boat on the lift all winter this year. I'll probably use it up through December but not much in January/February. I would like to leave the charger plugged in, but I don't want to run it 24/7. Do you guys know if there are any plug in timers that will turn on my battery charger once a week for 4 hours? Thanks

I use a standard plug in timer that has hour settings. I have mine set to run 1 hour a day. I have another that can be set by day and week but as soon as a power blip happens it has to be reset

their several that will do a week

Lakerunner makes a good point about resetting the electronic one anytime the power goes out.

Why not just get a smart charger that cycles on and off as needed? Academy has one that is less than 40 bucks that's pretty good.

I have a dual bank smart charger. Because my boat is an hour and half from home I don't trust them enough to not go dumb and burn up my boat

I don't trust the darn things. A buddy had a Battery Tender brand on his motorcycle. It was in his shed for the winter. The thing shorted out and caught fire. Always pull them out and bring mine home and charge them once in a while where I can keep an eye on it.

I have a promariner dual bank charger on the boat. It has performed well, but I have never left it plugged in longer than 48 hours. I'm now 1.5 hours from the boat like lakerunner, and I don't really trust these things especially being that far away. I may just pull the batteries like was mentioned but I'm not looking forward to hauling the trolling motor battery and a starting battery in and out of the marina if I take it out in the winter.

or like i do charge it and leave it alone mine sits all winter

Your batteries last the winter doing that? Figured the cold would zap them.

[quote="C_M_25"]I have a promariner dual bank charger on the boat. It has performed well, but I have never left it plugged in longer than 48 hours. I'm now 1.5 hours from the boat like lakerunner, and I don't really trust these things especially being that far away. I may just pull the batteries like was mentioned but I'm not looking forward to hauling the trolling motor battery and a starting battery in and out of the marina if I take it out in the winter.[/quote]

This is actually a great time of year to buy a timer with Christmas stuff on sale. Just make sure you get one that can handle the amps. You can also check with a company that supplies landscape lighting as some of those transformers use digital plug in timers instead of photocells. They make digital ones with battery backup too. If you can pick up wifi at the boat you can get fancy and get ones you can turn on and off or program from anywhere in the world. Pair that with a cheap wifi camera and you could look at the boat and the voltage on the boat if your charger shows that.

Here is a wifi one if that's an option
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Woods-WiOn-Out ... /206686129

Here is a 7 day programable 15 amps
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-15-Amp ... r/50063929

I use 1 Battery Minders and 3 Battery Tenders. I leave them on all the time, winter and summer. I get great battery life and have not had any problems.

But I admit now you got worrying the barn will burn down.

[quote="Flanker"]I use 1 Battery Minders and 3 Battery Tenders. I leave them on all the time, winter and summer. I get great battery life and have not had any problems.

But I admit now you got worrying the barn will burn down.[/quote]

Me too! I have 6 now and have them on everything in the shed! Seen them on Black Friday deals for under $20. I'm gonna buy some for the kids for Christmas.

[quote="C_M_25"]Your batteries last the winter doing that? Figured the cold would zap them.[/quote]

Absolutely.... As long as they are in good shape and are fully charged as well as disconnected to prevent ANY minute drain...

While cold weather indeed freeze dead battery it will not freeze a fully charged battery. Also to clear up any misconceptions while cold does reduce a battery's capacity (think small) it actually extends their life more so than being kept in a hot location or climate...