Charging 12v 7 amp battery question - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Fish · 02-21-2014, 02:18 PM

perfect , thanks ...thats exactly what i needed to know!

alanw · 02-21-2014, 03:45 PM

It's my opinion you should use a proper small battery charger, preferably a smart charger. A car battery charger puts out way too many amps and can overcharge/destroy your battery. Max charge amps for a battery is around 1/10 of it's AH rating, so a 12ah battery should be charged at 1.2-1.5 amps using a regulated charger. Also, the SLA batteries we normally use require a slightly different charging sceme than normal car batteries. Google/Bing SLA battery charging

YTHunter · 02-21-2014, 05:14 PM

Ya, I think Alan's right. Here's the one I bought from Amazon and am very happy with.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...attery+charger

alanw · 02-21-2014, 05:34 PM

Also, I would suggest that if you do decide to purchase a charger, get one capable of charging 12v and 6v batteries, so you don't have to buy another charger if you run a 6v live well. I use a Genius G1100, plenty of others around.

JeffB · 02-21-2014, 06:15 PM

You can pick up 12v chargers at wal mart that have different amp settings. I've been using my 12v on 10amp on my 12v/7amp battery for 4yrs now and it last all day. I also use it on 10amp for my 12v/12amp battery

StinkyMatt · 02-21-2014, 07:44 PM

I got an old car battery charger with selectable 2, 5 and 10 amp setting. Works just fine in a ny setting.

I did hear that I should probably use the 2 amp setting....

4 years no problems.

RockyRaab · 02-22-2014, 06:15 AM

I have a smart charger for the rare times when a vehicle battery goes down. But I bought a trickle charger ($5 at Harbor Freight) for my kayak and ice-fishing batteries. I can hook it up and leave it for overnight - or several days. Never a problem.

Over winter, I hook my kayak battery up to it once a month for a night or two just to keep it topped up.

02-21-2014, 02:18 PM	#1
Fish Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 113	perfect , thanks ...thats exactly what i needed to know! __________________

02-21-2014, 03:45 PM	#2
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	It's my opinion you should use a proper small battery charger, preferably a smart charger. A car battery charger puts out way too many amps and can overcharge/destroy your battery. Max charge amps for a battery is around 1/10 of it's AH rating, so a 12ah battery should be charged at 1.2-1.5 amps using a regulated charger. Also, the SLA batteries we normally use require a slightly different charging sceme than normal car batteries. Google/Bing SLA battery charging __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

02-21-2014, 05:34 PM	#4
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Also, I would suggest that if you do decide to purchase a charger, get one capable of charging 12v and 6v batteries, so you don't have to buy another charger if you run a 6v live well. I use a Genius G1100, plenty of others around. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

02-21-2014, 06:15 PM	#5
JeffB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: La Jolla Posts: 1,216	You can pick up 12v chargers at wal mart that have different amp settings. I've been using my 12v on 10amp on my 12v/7amp battery for 4yrs now and it last all day. I also use it on 10amp for my 12v/12amp battery __________________ If you're looking for me I'm

02-21-2014, 05:14 PM	#3
YTHunter Carlisle Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: San Diego Posts: 206	Ya, I think Alan's right. Here's the one I bought from Amazon and am very happy with. http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...attery+charger

02-21-2014, 07:44 PM	#6
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,169	I got an old car battery charger with selectable 2, 5 and 10 amp setting. Works just fine in a ny setting. I did hear that I should probably use the 2 amp setting.... 4 years no problems.

02-22-2014, 06:15 AM	#7
RockyRaab Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 138	I have a smart charger for the rare times when a vehicle battery goes down. But I bought a trickle charger ($5 at Harbor Freight) for my kayak and ice-fishing batteries. I can hook it up and leave it for overnight - or several days. Never a problem. Over winter, I hook my kayak battery up to it once a month for a night or two just to keep it topped up.