Batteries and Battery Maintenance

We live in an age where marine electronics, whether for open water or ice fishing, are commonplace. We hear about their uses and advantages all the time. We seldom hear about the batteries that supply them with power, or how to take care of them. All batteries, regardless of type, have certain maintenance recommendations. For ice fishing electronics such as Vexilar sonar flashers, underwater cameras like the Fishphone, and other accessories that run off a 12 volt lead-acid battery, the recommendation is to recharge the batteries once per month. Most electronics run off of 12 volt lead-acid, or deep-cycle, batteries which are basically made up of plates, lead, and lead oxide surrounded by a solution of 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water called electrolyte which allows for the flow of electrons between the positive and negative terminals.

My basement charging station makes it easier to
maintenance charge batteries during the busy summer season.

"To help avoid sulfated batteries, and get the longest life out of them, you should maintenance charge your lead-acid batteries once per month when not in regular use."

When not in use, the sulfur bonds to the negative terminal inside a battery. When you recharge your battery the sulfur is broken up and returns into the solution. However, if left uncharged for too long the sulfur that accumulates on the negative terminal becomes too thick for a regular charge to break up, and you have a battery that will not charge, or a sulfated battery. There are devices on the market that claim to de-sulfate a battery, but guess when you typically find out that you have a bad battery? When you go to charge your electronics for their first use of the season. Who wants to deal with de-sulfating a battery the night before a big trip? To help avoid sulfated batteries, and get the longest life out of them, you should maintenance charge your lead-acid batteries once per month when not in regular use.

Clam Drill Plate with Dewalt drill powered by a Lithium ion battery.

"Simply put, it is best to store your lithium batteries at half charge during long term storage."

Lithium ion batteries are another story. Typical lithium ion battery consists of two electrodes. A cathode, or positive electrode usually made out of lithium-cobalt oxide, and an anode, or negative electrode usually made out of graphite. Like lead-acid batteries, there is also an electrolyte, typically a gel, which allows the flow of electrons between the cathode and anode. When you charge a lithium ion battery, an electric current forces the lithium ions to move from the cathode to the anode. When you discharge the battery the opposite occurs. To kill a common myth, lithium ion batteries do not have a memory. If you only drain them part way every time you use them the battery will not develop a memory and only allow you partial capacity, as was the case with older NiCad batteries. Lithium ion batteries are far more technical than lead-acid batteries and I could go on for days about how they work, but I won't.

Simply put, it is best to store your lithium batteries at half charge during long term storage. This keeps a relatively even amount of lithium ions on each electrode and is your best shot at preventing a battery failure. Some resources tell you to maintenance charge your lithium ion batteries every six to eight months, but remember to drain them down half-way if you do. Storing your batteries in high temperatures or at full charge can also cause damage to one or both electrodes and ruin the battery.

I have a charging station set up in my basement. I set up a power strip which I can plug all, or most, of my chargers into. Once a month I simply flip the switch on the powerstrip and the chargers do their thing. Most marine electronics such as Vexilar flashers come with automatic chargers that stop charging when a battery is full so I don't have to worry about remembering to turn off the powerstrip. My basement is relatively cool which helps prolong the life of my lithium ion batteries. Maintenance charging batteries will keep your batteries ready for when you need them most, and cause less headaches when you need them the least.