How to maintain 4 batteries over the winter

[mraz72]

So I will have two boats over the winter, each has two batteries. Is there a way to trickle charge all 4 (one device)? I currently have a battery tender ($50) and it only works with a single battery.

Also, it is ok to leave them in the cold as long as they are trickle charging?

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

Buy a 4 bank charger like this or buy some more individual battery tenders. Cold should not bother the battery, but where I live it does not get below the teens in the winter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CIPHUI/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=43435857567&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1062609159865237664&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030328&hvtargid=kwd-14295777792&ref=pd_sl_1ym9lkblr5_b

 

[Smassey22180]

Just switch the tender to a different battery each week. I leave my batteries disconnected and I am surprised how little they drain after sitting a couple of months.

 

[mraz72]

I could do that, especially since I won't have 4 batteries all the time, just this year

so maybe I'll buy a two batter charger and move it among my 4....

 

[Ronnie]

I put a guest dual bank charger in my boat a few years ago for under $100. I use these on my PWCs. Cheap and they work fine, plus this model gives you the option to hook up to the battery with clips or permanently with a pig tail the terminates in loops.

http://t.harborfreight.com/12-volt-deluxe-battery-maintainer-and-float-charger-62813.html

I think it beats moving the charger / maintainer to different batteries every week / month or so. Just plug these in and forget about it until next season.

 

[KXCam22]

I have 7 batteries on the go each winter. I just move my charger back and forth. Cam.

 

[ncnmra]

Why not just tie the batteries in parallel? I've been doing that with two batteries with no issues. Just make sure that they are all equally charged at first. I put the positive and negative tender terminals each on a different battery, and then tie the positives and negatives together using a small jumper wire.

EDIT: See link:
http://www.batterytender.com/Connecting-Chargers/#answer9