How to charge cranking battery

[MJBo]

Howdy. I've got a dead cranking battery. Are there any guidelines on the right way to charge it (trickle charge versus conventional)? Thanks.

[DinkADunk]

I like using the Battery Tender trickle charger. I bought one years ago for my motorcycle and it does a nice job with the boat's starting battery when needed (say, first thing in the spring).

[MJBo]

Thanks.

[BobT]

If it's completely dead there's a good chance it has been damaged. After you've charged it, wait 24 hours and run a specific gravity test to find out. It will tell you if you've seriously damaged any cells. Cranking batteries don't like to be discharged so deep.

I'm not sure I agree fully with the trickle charge idea either but maybe from such a deep discharge it might be good. I do believe cranking batteries prefer to be recharged similar to how they are used....rapidly. Someone with more knowledge may have better information.

Bob

[MJBo]

ugh. looks like a hydrometer costs about as much as a new battery.

[Tom7227]

I've read some things about a device called a Desulphator that seem to lead to the conclusion that a dead battery may not really be dead. $50 at Northern Tool - might be worth a try.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

If ya had it for a while, you may want to get a new one...

[Whoaru99]

I'd take it out and charge it with a conventional battery charger. My bench charger is a 2/10/20 amp unit, and I normally use the 10A charge unless it's a small utility-type battery.

If your charger is an automatic type, it may not start a charge on a very low or completely dead battery. In that case, you may have to switch to manual mode if possible.

[Pherris]

You can also take it to any Battery's Plus Store and they will test it for free.