Your boat’s battery is necessary to start the engine, power the electrical system, including lights and navigation, and much more. For boats powered by a trolling motor, it i the only power source for the vessel. Without it, you would be dead in the water. With that said, here are some high-level ways to take care of your marine battery and cables. Protect and Clean the Terminals Use a solution of warm water and baking soda with a battery terminal brush or a steel wire brush to scrub them clean from time to time. Then, apply some dielectric grease to the terminals. A thin coating will help prevent water ingress and almost entirely prevent corrosion. Keep the Battery Charged Keep your battery fully charged before leaving port. When in port, you may want to hook it up to a battery maintainer with a trickle charge function. Protect It Against Extreme Temperatures Keep it somewhere that preferably won’t experience freezing temperatures, as these can damage batteries, and keep it charged throughout the winter. Use Only Approved Marine Battery Cable Marine battery cable is made with very thin copper conductors that are individually tinned. This does two things: it makes them very flexible, and it helps prevent corrosion as the tinned copper is better insulated. Use the Right Size Marine Battery Cable The use of a wire in a gauge that is inappropriate for the load of the circuit will cause the wire to overheat, can cause the insulation to break down, and can cause fires. Protect Against Chafing If the wire’s insulation chafes and wears through, you’re at a much higher risk of fire. Instead, protect your cables with conduit, electrical tape, silicone, or some other buffer at entry points. Consult a marine electrical engineer if you have questions. Where Can You Find Quality Marine Battery Cable? In addition to a wide range of other specialty electrical cables, EWCS Wire also sells marine battery cable that is highly flexible, individually tinned, and USCG, UL, and ABYC approved. Visit their website for details.
1 Comment
6/8/2023 07:59:35 pm
Thank you for noting that the easiest component of marine battery care is to keep the terminals clean. My mother purchased a yacht. I will tell her to acquire marine batteries for her boat.
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