cb76 Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 As you have seen, I posted asking about trolling motor batteries a few days ago. First off, I want to thank everyone that responded about their brands of batteries and if this does not work out then it's off to the store to plop down the cash for some new ones. To start off, the trolling motor batteries that I have now are only about 2 years old with about 8 months of use. Well they are dead as dead gets. It was my fault because last winter I forgot to plug in the on board charger during the winter to keep them up. Bad news for these batteries when you let the voltage drop and stay that way. I was talking to one of the electricians at work and he told me a couple of things that you can do to batteries. One is to put 2 or 3 asprins in it and the chemical reaction will bring it back to life. This didn't work for me. The other one was to get some epsom salt and mix it with DISTILLED WATER. Pour out the old acid in the battery and pour in the epsom salt and water mixture and let it set for a while (overnight at least). There is a process called sulfation that covers the plates in the battery and this removes it. After you let is set, pour out the mixture and refill it with battery acid and kaboom, new battery(well pretty new). The kicker is that the battery cannot be shorted out in any of the cells and if it is this won't work. Well I tried this and after I put the mixture in and let it set overnight, I poured it out and the plates looked almost like brand new. You can find this out on the internet by searching under "epsom salt and batteries". I mixed up my "brew" a little stronger than what some of the sites said. After putting the acid back in and before putting it on charge I checked it with a digital volt meter and it read 11.78 volts. It will be going on charge tomorrow and we will see how this holds up. Of course the real test will be in the real world on the lake. If this works them I am only out $18.00 for the acid, $4.00 for the epsom salt, and $3.00 for the distilled water. Will keep you updated and let you know how they hold up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker1861 Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Man that is a great tip, I didn't know about that stuff. Hope it works out for you and please keep us updated on how things go on the water. I appreciate the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2golforfish Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 sounds like a great plan if it works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbaitmaker Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Whoooo, I'm tired just reading about all the lifting and work to save old Batteries when Academy Sports has Stowaway Tournament Series Deep Cycles on sale for $59.95 right now. I bought a pair two years ago when they had them on sale and I can fish 4 or 5 times before having to recharge them. Best deep cycles I have ever owned. I went out yesterday after not charging them for almost a month and put volt meter on them and they are both reading 13.2 and 13.1 volts. I plugged up charger and the likes showed fully charged in less that 10 minutes. Great Batteries for the price in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Whoooo, I'm tired just reading about all the lifting and work to save old Batteries when Academy Sports has Stowaway Tournament Series Deep Cycles on sale for $59.95 right now. I bought a pair two years ago when they had them on sale and I can fish 4 or 5 times before having to recharge them. Best deep cycles I have ever owned. I went out yesterday after not charging them for almost a month and put volt meter on them and they are both reading 13.2 and 13.1 volts. I plugged up charger and the likes showed fully charged in less that 10 minutes. Great Batteries for the price in my book. you must just drop anchor.... oh wait you have those batteries that charge themselves... sorry i forgot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbaitmaker Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 you must just drop anchor.... oh wait you have those batteries that charge themselves... sorry i forgot Nope none of the above. When I arrive at a fishing location unless to wind is blowing 20MPH I seldom touch the trolling motor pedal except to reposition the boat. I'm not one of these guys that think they need to fish like KVD with trolling motor on wide open and foot resting on go fast all day. The more you use the trolling motor the more the fish know your in the area. I don't troll hundreds of yards at a time. I use it mostly for boat positioning. I know most folks don't have that kind of patience but I will only fish about 5 spots in 6 hours and I normally do fairly well. But I'm also mostly fishing stationary structure I have put down over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 that will work too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbaitmaker Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 that will work too Ok, something is totally wrong here. You gave up on this way to easy. You feeling ok?.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 Ok, something is totally wrong here. You gave up on this way to easy. You feeling ok?.... i wan'sgoing to say anything but if i didn't use my trolling motor no more than that i would just use a paddle...save a lot of money on batteries and a trolling motor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker1861 Posted May 13, 2010 Report Share Posted May 13, 2010 i wan'sgoing to say anything but if i didn't use my trolling motor no more than that i would just use a paddle...save a lot of money on batteries and a trolling motor Or just invest in a rudder for the ole bug boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainman Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 cb76: I dont know if they still do, but a few years back you could get little jugs of sulfuric acid to refill/recharge batteries with. I dont know if you can still get them or not. If my rattled brain remembers correctly, they ran about $25 or $30. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb76 Posted May 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 cb76: I dont know if they still do, but a few years back you could get little jugs of sulfuric acid to refill/recharge batteries with. I dont know if you can still get them or not. If my rattled brain remembers correctly, they ran about $25 or $30. Hope this helps. Mountainman, I found battery acid in plastic jugs at advance auto for $6.29 but right now I can't remember how many oz's they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbaitmaker Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 i wan'sgoing to say anything but if i didn't use my trolling motor no more than that i would just use a paddle...save a lot of money on batteries and a trolling motor At my age and with my body problems we ain't even going to discuss a paddle ole friend. I don't even have one in the boat any more. Since they changed the to read two forms of propulsion the paddle left. Besides that is what cell phones and friends are for if you need help on the lake...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 At my age and with my body problems we ain't even going to discuss a paddle ole friend. I don't even have one in the boat any more. Since they changed the to read two forms of propulsion the paddle left. Besides that is what cell phones and friends are for if you need help on the lake...... cell phones don't work everywhere here in the mountains.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbaitmaker Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 cell phones don't work everywhere here in the mountains.. Well, I don't live in the mountains so best thing I can tell you is keep a paddle handy for Momma to use to get your butt out of trouble.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountainman Posted May 14, 2010 Report Share Posted May 14, 2010 Mountainman, I found battery acid in plastic jugs at advance auto for $6.29 but right now I can't remember how many oz's they are. Ok, i didnt read thoroughly enough in your orginal post. My bad. Glad you got her fixed up, tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb76 Posted May 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 Just an update on the 1st battery that I have "reconditioned". After being off of the charger for two days, I checked the volts to see what it was showing and it read a constant 12.92v last night and the same this morning. So far that looks good. The other trolling moter battery has sat over 24hs with the epsom salt/water mix and later today I am going to put new acid in it. Wanted to check the volts before I started on it and it read a whopping 3.84 volts. Will let you know how it does. I meant to say earlier that if anyone tries this process PLEASE be careful when handling the battery and the acid. Sulfuric acid 30% doesn't go well with human skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker1861 Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 Very interesting. Please keep us posted on how it goes with the other one too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb76 Posted May 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Just an update on the reconditioning of the batteries. Both trolling motor batteries have been installed in the boat and hooked up to the on-board charger and after a short time both green lights on the charger are showing full sharge. The second trolling motor battery after about 4 days off of the charger showed 12.54 volts. The starter motor battery after 3 days off of the charger showed 12.38 volts and turned the motor over just fine. Hope to take the boat to the lake this weekend to see how the trolling motor does in the water. Will keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2golforfish Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 definately be curious to see how they hold up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 definately be curious to see how they hold up +1 Keep us posted.... Good or Bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb76 Posted June 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2010 Just an update on the batteries. Took the boat out and the cranking battery worked just fine. The trolling motor batteries kept up as long as I was out which was about 4 1/2 hours. They charged back up with no problems and the on board charger showed both sides in the full charge green light. The voltage is still in the 12.3 ato 12.5 range on all of the batteries. So far so good. If it makes it only one season it was worth it. Will let you all know if there are any changes either way. P.S. the boat hasn't been started since last august and it started right up with no problems in the driveway. I use staybill(the green stuff) on every fill up and during the winter months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb76 Posted June 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Here is an update on the batteries that I reconditioned. The trolling motor batteries are working fine but the starter battery appears to have a bad cell. It will charge up but does not keep the charge after sitting idle for a few days. Bit the bullet and went and bought a new starter battery. Oh well it was worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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