using on board charger in winter

[aquafang]

I got a new on board charger last year and did not use it over the winter. My boat is in cold storage in my garage which is not heated. should I leave it plugged in in below freezing temps?

[walleyewild]

Absolutely, that is what they were designed for. Keeps the batteries from freezing and fully charged.

[PerchJerker]

I usually leave mine plugged in all winter long too. Either that or I bring the batteries in the house and just check and charge them periodically.

Some guys don't like leaving their chargers plugged in all winter long. They leave their batteries in their boat and plug in their charger periodically. But I think most of the chargers are designed so they can be left plugged in all winter long.

[Bassman55]

I leave mine plugged in all winter too, but be careful that you don't have anything drawing power all winter. My trolling motor got switched on and even though the power was cranked down to zero and the blade never turned it still burned up the trolling motor and batteries. Anything plastic in the trolling motor foot switch or in the motor itself melting including the insulation on the wires. The trolling motor also melted a hole in the tarp we use to cover the boat. So now we make sure the tolling motor is unplugged before we store the boat. I do think that batteries last better if you leave the charger plugged in all winter.

[BoxMN]

We just plug ours in periodically over the winter, at least once a month. But ours is handy to get at.

[RuKiddingMe]

Glad I seen this, I was going to pull the bats out over the winter. But since it will be in my garage I won't have to do anything but keep it plugged in.

[minneman]

so...whats it cost to run a charger for the winter?

[aquafang]

Thanks, I figured it was ok. As far as cost, I would say pennies a day. considering that most of the time the batteries are not drawing any juice and the charger is just idling.

[Outfitter17]

I would just pull the batteries and put them in your basement, if it is a concrete floor put a 2x6 under them. Make sure you put a good charge on them before you put them down there. You will have no problems, my dad has been doing that with his batteries for years and no issues.

[katoguy]

Do a search on this. This has been hashed out before.

[Northlander]

I just have a thing about leaving mine plugged in all winter so I plug it in once a week or 2 for a few hours.