I realize that I should simply know the answer to this, being a male who works with his hands and has fished all his life, but I’ve never needed to buy either a deep cycle nor a charger for it.
I’m going to be using the charger to recharge a standard deep cycle that I’ll use for a trolling motor. I’ll use this maybe 3 times per month, 6 perhaps in the Spring.
Would one of these two off-the-shelf at Wal-Mart work? I know they’d work in a pinch but I don’t want to cook the battery if I leave it hooked up for a few days.
You need to purchase an automatic battery charger. I have a 10 amp battery charger that is automatic and I am regularly charging deep cycle batteries. This charger will recharge almost any battery overnight and when the battery is charged it will cut off. If you leave the battery hooked up to it it will not overcharge the battery. It won’t cook the battery and kill it either. You can leave the battery hooked to it and it will be ready the next time you are ready to go.
Mr Hardware
Buy the Minn Kota charger. I have used just about every charger out there and they, by far, are the best i have found. I fish 3-4 times a week and they do not cook your batteries.
I called the folks at VDC electronics and they were very helpful. Give them a call if you want to be sure that what your buying suits your needs. I like that they are a US company, and not handled out of another country like many of more well-known charger brands.
To summarize all my research, you need a “smart” charger that will charge the battery at different amps depending it’s level of discharge. Many of these “smart” chargers that you find in big-box stores have some questionable dependability, so I felt it was worth spending a couple extra dollars with someone I could call for help.
This is the battery charger I have and it is very dependable. It slows down as the battery nears full charge. It will then cut off when the battery is fully charged. If you leave the battery hooked it will cut on periodically. If the battery needs a little charge it will do so. If the battery reads fully charged it will cut back off.
SCHUMACHER
Model#: SE40MAP
Solid state automatic charger has shutoff when battery is fully charged, then reduces to a maintenance level. Special circuit for maintenance-free, deep cycle, low maintenance and conventional batteries. Recharges automobile batteries in 3 to 5 hours and recreational deep cycle batteries in 6 to 12 hours. Silicon control rectifier senses battery condition to prevent overcharging. 1 switch allows for manual or automatic use. UL Listed.