When you’re going back on the water, check your battery
WITH the Government announcing steps to lift restrictions on outdoor activities, the Canal & River Trust has now lifted restrictions on boat owners visiting their boats and you can go on longer journeys in England. In line with the latest government advice, all boaters in England can now stay overnight on their boats. With these measures being taken, those eyeing up a return to their boat need to think about their battery. When you choose to return, it’s a good idea to check to see if your batteries have self-discharged and if any maintenance is required. Your batteries should be one of the first things that you check when you’re back on board and you need to give them enough time to recharge before you plan your next excursion. If you return to your battery or battery bank and the State of Charge (SOC) is low, then the batteries will require a thorough charge. It is strongly advised that you monitor or regularly check your batteries during this charging process. If you feel the batteries are getting hot while under charge, then stop the charging process and wait for the batteries to return to their original/room temperature (this can be up to a few hours, depending on the external temperature). Once achieved, the charging process can be resumed (again monitoring the batteries during this process). If you return and your 12v battery has an Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) of lower than 12 volts, or a 24v system is lower than 24v, then it is advised that you speak to a battery expert. Many boat owners and builders across the country rely on Leoch batteries to power their boats. Earlier this year, UK battery specialist DBS Leoch was acquired by Leoch, one of the largest battery manufacturers in the world, to become Leoch Battery UK. The company’s marine battery experts are ready to help if you have any questions about charging and maintaining your batteries so that you’re ready to get back on the water as soon as you are able to.