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

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.

FISH11 · 02-22-2014, 09:00 AM

Always store the battery fully charged. most small chargers will stop charging when the battery if fully charged. The small home chargers you can buy for car, motorcycle, ect. batteries have electronics that protect the battery from over charging. It's just important to adjust the setting if there are any to 2 amps or less or a trickle setting if that's what it has. I agree if not using for several months just connected once a month to keep it charged, that will make the battery last for many years.

02-21-2014, 03:45 PM	#1
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	#3
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	#4
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	#2
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	#5
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	#6
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.

02-22-2014, 09:00 AM	#7
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Always store the battery fully charged. most small chargers will stop charging when the battery if fully charged. The small home chargers you can buy for car, motorcycle, ect. batteries have electronics that protect the battery from over charging. It's just important to adjust the setting if there are any to 2 amps or less or a trickle setting if that's what it has. I agree if not using for several months just connected once a month to keep it charged, that will make the battery last for many years.