Deep Cycle Battery question

Silvercreek Farmer · #1 07/19/10, 03:38 PM

Bought a trolling motor this weekend and the fellow threw in a deep cycle battery. I took it home and put it on the slow charge. Funny thing is the fellow said he had never used it (I don't know if he ever even charged it), but from the lables I think it is 4-5 years old. I took it figuring I could at least use it for a core some day. Think it will be any good? I don't have a tester and would hate to lug it along on a fishing trip to have it die 15 minutes in...

Harry Chickpea · #2 07/19/10, 05:27 PM

Storage batteries will self-discharge over time. Four or five years without a charge has likely damaged it. Personally? I'd take it in as a core and buy a marine battery with a two year replacement guarantee. Trolling motors can be abusive of batteries.

wy_white_wolf · #3 07/19/10, 09:17 PM

It's junk. Voltage will check OK after charging but it's lost all capacity from sitting for so long in a discharged state.

texican · #4 07/19/10, 11:56 PM

It's a 'boat anchor'.

CrashTestRanch · #5 07/20/10, 12:16 AM

Get a "Pulse Charger". It may "revive" the battery. You could also replace the battery acid and throw it on the charger also. Hopefully the plates aren't toast.

Quote:

With pulse charging, high instantaneous voltages can be applied without overheating the battery. In a Lead-acid battery, this breaks down lead-sulfate crystals, thus greatly extending the battery service life.

pancho · #6 07/20/10, 12:29 AM

Batteries stored dry should last a very long time. Adding acid to one may shorten the life.
I have bought batteries over 20 years old that were stored dry. When acid was added they were just like a new battery.

fantasymaker · #7 07/20/10, 05:38 PM

Charge it then hook it up to the moter and run it in a barrel or something full of water to see how long it lasts.

Silvercreek Farmer · #8 08/01/10, 09:49 PM

Got around 1 hour of good performance out of it before it slowed down today, I will run it through a couple more cycles and see if it gets any better before I call it. Maybe I wil hang on to it for a "get me home battery" when my good one runs out (we use the motor on a canoe...)

fantasymaker · #9 08/02/10, 10:58 AM

Im not sure is a hour bad?

ace admirer · #10 08/03/10, 11:01 PM

the sulfur in the acid in molecules will coat the lead in the form of sulfur oxide, form an insulator....insulates the lead plates from either charging or discharging....the desulfinators (SP) charger claim to break up the sulfur.....i do it but have no positive proof it works in worst cases....i maintain around 75 batteries around the farm..