Introduction
If you are planning to buy a trolling motor battery, you should also have an idea of how to maintain it. Many people have found themselves in tough situations that ended up ruining their fishing day out. One of the issues many people encounter is having a battery that dies while trolling. This can be a frustrating experience for many considering it is a waste of time and money as well. Trolling motor batteries experience problems from time to time just like any batteries but some of the issues can be avoided. One suitable way to avoid your battery dying on your is by maintaining your trolling motor battery.
Charge your battery after use
The first important tip is to make sure that your trolling motor battery is fully charged after every use. This is very important because batteries that are kept with no charge tend to form lead sulfate in the cells. The formation of lead sulfate in cells can negatively affect the performance of the trolling motor battery. Therefore, it is very important to charge the battery fully after keeping it.
Drain the battery and recharge it
Another important tip to help your battery last for a long is by discharging it and recharging it afresh. Partial recharge and discharge are not so good for your batteries. It creates a condition also known as stratification. When that condition occurs, it simply means that the chemicals in the battery cells are not balanced. It can also mean that the acid sinks at the bottom. This can not only limit the performance of the battery but its life as well. Therefore, it is very important to drain the battery fully and then recharge it.
Let it cool
After recharging your battery, you should allow it to cool completely before using it. This is very important considering that the recharge process is a process that forces the cells to produce some amount of heat. If you put the battery to use right away, it can damage the battery and even reduce its lifespan.
Clean the battery regularly
Before putting the battery in a storage room, make an effort to clean it and its terminals. This is very important especially when you are not going to use the battery for a long time or when it’s off-season. While storing the battery, make sure to store it in a dry environment. You should not allow the battery to get too cold or too hot because the two states are not so good for your battery.
Inspect the battery
While taking your battery out of the storage room, take some time to find out whether the battery was damaged. You can check whether there is any bulging, cracking, corrosion, or even frayed cables. If the damage is beyond repair or control, you will be forced to replace the battery. It is better to replace the battery than to have a battery that dies on you when you are at the pick of your fishing adventure.
