FL-8 Flasher Battery Charging.

[Sinker]

How long do you guys charge your fl-8 batteries?I remember the manual didn't say specifically except to keep it charged.I thought I heard one time to charge it for 1/2 the time it was used.Then I watched a video tape that came with a friends' new fl-18 and it said charge it for "double" the time it was in use.I've had mine for 3 years now without a problem with the battery but I thought I'd ask.Maybe I'll buy one of the new chargers that has the red light on it and be done with it.

[hunt4food]

I have a "battery status" indicator that I bought as an accessory for my vex. I usually charge it for about 10-12 hours and then check the indicator. it is always fully charged according to the indicator. I just used it on Upper Red Lake for approx. 19 hours without recharging so I guess the battery is still working good. I have had mine for 4 years now. I bought a new battery last year for it and haven't even used it yet.

[Steve Foss]

Sinker:

Buy the "red-light special." It's way easier. And battery charging rates differ depending on how cold the battery is, anyway. A battery depends on chemical reactions, which are slower when it's cold. If you charge the battery in the cold garage in winter, it will take longer than and not charge as fully as if you charge it in a warm house.

Also, the battery lasts longer per charge the warmer it is. So if you can keep your Vex up off the ice a bit, your battery will give longer service.

[aquafang]

I have found that you should charge it for at least as long as it was used. The charger with the red led on it will come on to indicate a full charge, BUT, you can leave it on longer. the light comes on when it sees a full charge, but it does not have the total capacity charge. I usually let my battery sit in the house for at least an hour before I charge it. I have mine in a bucket with a 1" thick piece of styrofoam on the bottom to insulate the battery from the ice.

[Sinker]

Thanks alot guys.I will definitely have to invest in the red light charger and save the guess work.Later.

[Guest]

check out the "marcum dcs charger",has automatic monitoring system with lcd display
of charge level,great for gel cell/lead batterys about $24.00 at FF.

[Hookmaster]

If I was to get a new charger or battery monitor, I would get the Marcum system mentioned in the previous post.

What I do is use a voltmeter to measure the voltage of the battery after it has warmed up in my house. Subtract this from 12.65 (full charge voltage) to get the amount needed to charge in volts. My 0.5 amp charger charges at a rate of 0.05 volts/15 minutes. I divide the amount I need to charge (in volts) by 0.05 and multiply by 15 to give me the time in minutes I need to charge. I then put my charger on a timer and set it and forget it.

Say the battery voltage was 12.40.

12.65-12.40 = 0.25

0.25/0.05 = 5

5x15 = 75 minutes

[This message has been edited by Hookmaster (edited 03-05-2003).]

[Grabs]

If you call Vexilar, they personally will tell you that leaving the battery charger on all week will not harm it at all. I put mine on basically every other day while its not in use for a long period of time.

[IceNutt]

In my opinion, the Smart Charger is the only way to go. Plug it in and forget it. $25.00 is cheap piece of mind.

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IceNutt

[Northlander]

I get back from fishing, let it warm up for 1 hour and charge it overnight. I have forgoten to unplug it at 1 pm and it hasnt hurt it. Mine is at least 8 years old. Same battery. Knock on wood!

[hvactech]

Batteries that are charged in a cooler air temp will hold more charge than if they are charged in a warm area. When you charge a battery (like your vex. batt.) it creates heat within the battery and that builds up resistance, the auto shut-off chargers rely on the resistance that is put back to the charger to shut them of. If you charge the battery in a cooler temp the charger will stay on longer and put better charge into your battery.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have left my vex. battery on the trickle charger for a week at a time and have not had any trouble at all.
Cliff

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Cliff's Guide Service
CliffsGuideService-LakeVermilion.com
Lake Vermilion
Phone: (218) 753-2005

[cubbies11]

Yeah just wanted to give you my input I heard from vex that it is good to run your battery out of charge and then recharge it all the way the same amount of time it took you to drain it. Drained my over today and yesterday took like 30 hours to lose the signal. Recharging it right now. Tight Lines

Cubbies

[Big Dave2]

If you want one of those chargers with the red light on it just go over to lake waconia and look for mine on the bottom of the lake. It decided to take a swim on me last weekend. Oh well at least I still have the old one with no light.

Dave