Vexilar battery Life?

[TJet Apprentice45]

So  I got my Vex out the other day to get things ready for some day when there's ice and it wouldn't take a charge.  Only had it two seasons now.  What has everyone been getting for Battery life from the batteries that come with your Vex?  Two years seems short for how little it really gets used durning the season but maybe that has something to do with a shorter life???

[bpiatt]

So  I got my Vex out the other day to get things ready for some day when there's ice and it wouldn't take a charge.  Only had it two seasons now.  What has everyone been getting for Battery life from the batteries that come with your Vex?  Two years seems short for how little it really gets used durning the season but maybe that has something to do with a shorter life???

Batteries slowly discharge on their own. Did you charge it up once every 3 months over the off season? Maintaining the battery over the summer will greatly increase its life span. If you haven't charged it during the off season chances are that its completely discharged and you need a new one. 

[TJet Apprentice45]

Definately didn't get it out this summer every three months, maybe twice since last hard water.  Good to know going forward, lesson learned.

[missoulafish]

Seems like 2-3 years whether is maintained or not. Are you  sure the charger is working. (indictor lights?) But the you always hear of someone that has a battery that lasts a decade...go figure...

[bpiatt]

Definately didn't get it out this summer every three months, maybe twice since last hard water.  Good to know going forward, lesson learned.

Live and learn, I've done it too. Some people recommend replacing your batteries every two years anyway, even if its still working. They say after two years your battery could die at anytime and not take a charge. I think if you take care of it and never completely discharge you can get way more life.

[TJet Apprentice45]

Yea the charger is working and the indicator light is working, it just won't take a charge.  Adding new battery to the list to take to Scheels next week. 

[needin2fish]

This will hopefully be my 5th year on mine. I always fully charge then disconnect the battery for storage over the summer.

[flylinemt]

Bpiat is right my first vex did the same thing to me after one year. I learned the hard way, now I maintain mine about every two months in the off season. But I know guys don't do any off season charging without problems .Some batteries must be better than others.

[fishinwithbrittanies]

Don't know if this helps or not but I replaced mine at Batteries + last year.  The one I had worked but I wasn't getting the life out of it I was used to.
After doing a little research I remember they were quite a bit cheaper than replacing one from the manufacture.  I have a marcum, but I'd bet they're all the same batteries anyway

[Hood]

Mine crapped out in its 5th year, 3 yrs now on thew new one.

[Gillfisher]

So  I got my Vex out the other day to get things ready for some day when there's ice and it wouldn't take a charge.  Only had it two seasons now.  What has everyone been getting for Battery life from the batteries that come with your Vex?  Two years seems short for how little it really gets used durning the season but maybe that has something to do with a shorter life???

8 + years on my FL-18 and still going strong

[MT204]

My first battery lasted 7 years. The secret is to throw away the "wall wart" style charger and get a quality maintenance  style charger and let the battery charge all the time.

[J_Edwards]

I plug mine in monthly and it's been going 5 years.

Replacing your battery every two years is wasteful and who ever claimed they'll just randomly die is full of doo doo.

[filetandrelease]

i don't depend on the lights i check mine with a volt meter , mine is now about 7 years and still going

[missoulafish]

The batteries aren't that expensive, I'd rather get a new one every few years and know that it will work all day when I need it to.

[captain54]

Mine will be 9 years old this winter. When we have ice here in Pa. I will fish 4 -5 times a week. I come home let it warm up 2 hours and charge it every time I used it. At the end of the season I charge it and do it again in Aug. or Sept. I'm sure I'll need one soon, but I hope the next one gives me as many years.

[wyoutdoors]

I picked up a charger that once the battery is fully charged, drops back to a trickle charger to maintain. Along the same lines of "Summer Maintenance", the power auger also is fired up once a month. Plus I run SeaFoam additive in it as well. 

[Zoo Angler]

ugh... I was getting ready to go out this morning and pulled the charger off my marcum and what do ya know, it didn't take a charge all night. Oh well. I went and purchased a new battery for $17.99 from wholesale sports and it's good to go for tomorrow now. This would have been the start to the third season for mine so yeah mine did not fair as well as the others.

[Robbi]

Yeah, looks like my vexilar battery went "tango uniform" on me too.........thought it was weak last year, then didn't keep it maintained over the summer......

do they sell them locally in Great Falls somewhere?

[J_Edwards]

Scheels typically carries them, I haven't looked to hard at their selection this year.  If not, Roberts might carry them, I seem to remember seeing them there at one time or another.

[lookinforpanfish]

mine is going on 4 years and don't charge during summer

[adkRoy]

Mines 8 years old I have never charged it during the summer.