Battery Storage for the Winter

Post by **Fishinbuddy!** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:29 pm

What does everyone feel is the best way to store their battery for the winter? Some say leave it in the boat, some say bring it in. Some say put in on a trickle charger over the winter.

Any Opinions out there, I would be glad to hear them.....

Cheers,

fishinbuddy!

Post by **plncrzy** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:33 pm

Take it out, put it in the garage with a 1amp charger on for the entire winter

I put two batteries in parallel with a 1amp charge from fall to spring.

Post by **Wallyboss** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:35 pm

If it's fully charged and all wires disconnected you can leave it in the boat. But I brought mine inside and will put a trickle charge on them every month or so.

Post by **troutnmuskiehunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:37 pm

I take mine out of the boats and trickle charge them until they are fully charged...then I leave them in my unheated shed until spring...

Just make sure that the fluid levels are up before charging...if not, get some distilled water and top them up!

Post by **gonefishin** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:43 pm

Wallyboss wrote:If it's fully charged and all wires disconnected you can leave it in the boat. But I brought mine inside and will put a trickle charge on them every month or so.

This is the same thing I will be doing with both of my batteries. I stored them fully charged and every 4-6 weeks I will put the charger on them set at 2 amps

Post by **katch moore** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:24 pm

don't put them on concrete.

if you are going to store them put a peice of wood underneath them.

and do like others have said, trickle charge them. not tickle

Post by **Fishinbuddy!** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:34 pm

Cool, thanks for the responses. everyone appears to do a similar thing.

I think I will charge them up and leave them in the garage. Then put the charger to them every 6 weeks or so.

this is a big departure from what I used to do. I used to just charge them and leave them in the boat all winter.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Cheers,

Fishinbuddy!

Post by **Rico24** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:36 pm

Katch Moore wrote:don't put them on concrete.

if you are going to store them put a peice of wood underneath them.

This is what i read about a month ago, from Wallyboss.

Wallyboss wrote:The battery on cement used to be an issue but not anymore with the plastic cases of batteries now. It's an old wives tale.

Some people still do prefer to keep them off the cement though.

Post by **katch moore** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:36 pm

if you put them in your garage, don't leave them on the ground put something underneath them.

matt

Post by **troutnmuskiehunter** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:26 am

Katch Moore wrote:don't put them on concrete.

if you are going to store them put a peice of wood underneath them.

and do like others have said, trickle charge them. not tickle

For those of you that still believe the "wives tale" of cement floors and batteries.....here's a section from http://www.batteryfaq.org/ which is a great site to learn from

14.1. MYTH: Storing batteries on a concrete floor will discharge them.

False! All lead-acid batteries will naturally self-discharge which can result in loss of capacity from sulfation. The rate of self-discharge is most influenced by the temperature of the battery's electrolyte and the chemistry of the plates. This self-discharge is often mistaken for concrete floor causing the battery to drain. Some experts believe that storing car or deep cycle batteries on a colder concrete floor might actually slow down the self-discharge (leakage) rate because the floor acts as a heat sink and cools the battery. (Please see Section 13 for more information on storing batteries and Section 1 for more information on sulfation.

In the early 1900s, when battery cases were made of porous materials such as tar-lined wood boxes, storing batteries on concrete floor would accelerate their natural self-discharge due to external leakage. Modern battery cases are made of polypropylene or hard rubber. These cases are sealed better, so external leakage-causing discharge is no longer a problem, provided the top of the battery is clean and free from wet or dried electrolyte and the same temperature as the floor.

Large differences in temperature could cause electrolyte stratification within very large batteries (>250 AH) which could accelerate it's internal "leakage" or self-discharge if the battery is sitting on an extremely cold concrete, stone or steel floor in a warm room, boat or submarine. Stirrers or bubblers are often used on these types of large batteries to keep the electrolyte from stratifying. Undercharging will also cause electrolyte stratification, which can also result in loss of capacity from sulfation.

Enjoy