Turning off all batteries with Perko knobs

[SEVEN]

I have never done this before but so I wanted to ask the pros for advice. First my boat is bone dry and doesn’t leak anywhere. The bildge pumps are wired directly to a bus bar to the battery power. Should I turn off all breakers for the batteries one at a time or turn the perkos to the off position? Or don’t do either? The batteries all read good in each cell but I’m putting about 1/4 or more in 8 batteries each week. I want to stop the drain. They are not boiling over.

[jim rosenthal]

Is your battery charger overcharging them? Sounds like it might be. Maybe the problem is the charger.

[rsmith]

I put the charger on a timer 40 years ago comes on 1 hour a day when I’m not on the boat solved the problem of worrying about overcharging. I have a 110v emergency sump pump mounted above the DC pumps in case they would fail or batteries would go dead. It can pump way more than bilge pump ever could.

[SEVEN]

The battery charger is off. I turn it on for an hour or so when I get to the boat. Once it hits 36 volts I shut it off at the breaker.

[SEVEN]

I put the charger on a timer 40 years ago comes on 1 hour a day when I’m not on the boat solved the problem of worrying about overcharging. I have a 110v emergency sump pump mounted above the DC pumps in case they would fail or batteries would go dead. It can pump way more than bilge pump ever could.

Very smart.

[brettportzer]

I put in a Victron Skylla 70/3 Charger I got from Scott. And, it made a big difference to this issue. Just so much better.

[JD5652]

I keep my PERKO house battery switch in the ON position 100% of the time.

I keep my PERKO engine battery switch in the OFF position unless the boat is running.

I also keep my battery charger ON 100% of the time.

I have not noted any "excessive" loss of electrolyte... IMO.

I have notes on the battery panel to when I add water so I don't have a quantifiable number and associated time for you at this moment.

[Captain Ralph]

I have never done this before but so I wanted to ask the pros for advice. First my boat is bone dry and doesn’t leak anywhere. The bildge pumps are wired directly to a bus bar to the battery power. Should I turn off all breakers for the batteries one at a time or turn the perkos to the off position? Or don’t do either? The batteries all read good in each cell but I’m putting about 1/4 or more in 8 batteries each week. I want to stop the drain. They are not boiling over.

Or find and fix what is not rite.

[Scarlett]

Rusty you need a good modern 3 step charger that should be left on all the time to keep the batteries at float voltage.

[SEVEN]

I have a two-year-old battery charger three stage and it’s worked perfectly until recently. I’m gonna reach out to the manufacturer and see if we can troubleshoot over the phone.