Battery on Cement

[Cricket Too]

I'm pretty sure this a myth, I never really believed it at least, but can anybody tell me if there is any truth to this. I never could see how it could be possible that a battery left on cement could be damaged or discharged. I have been storing mine on the garage floor for 20 years and never had any problems. Thanks.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Battery on Cement

POPULAR MECHANICS.. bunk,hooey,hogwash..<br /><br />but i still throw a ole wood scrap on the floor first..

 

[dwci97]

Re: Battery on Cement

Sounds like a good one for the myth busters on the Discovery to figure out. I have heard this a bunch of times and throw a wood scrap on the floor first as well. My dad sits them on the concrete and his always stay charged...or do they?

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Battery on Cement

Placing a battery on a cement floor will cause it to discharge faster than normal.<br />This is not caused by current flowing threw the cement but by the thermal soak (cold) from the floor.<br />Internally, the top of the plates are at room temperature the bottom of the plates are seeing the effect of the cold floor. The temperature diffrence from the two caused a slight internal discharge. <br /><br />QA supervisor in a battery factory for 6 years. We made batteries for cars, subs, the space shuttle, the mars rovers, ect.....

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Battery on Cement

dcwi97, I was thinking the exact same thing. <br /><br />Major Woods, very informative, but is that slight discharge the only negative effect, or can the battery be damaged in any other way due to this? Also, I guess this would happen even if you stored it on the cement floor in the summer because the cement is always a little bit colder, right? But it's never really a dramatic effect that will ruin a battery, right? Thanks.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Battery on Cement

No damage will occure only slight discharge.<br />The bigger temperature diffrence the faster discharge.<br />I leave my batteries in the boat all year and just keep them topped off. They last as long as any battery kept indoors.

 

[raymondmoyer]

Re: Battery on Cement

I was told by our interstate battery rep ( i own a car audio shop ) the "don't charge on concrete" thing was dealing with the old asphalt based battery cases. And now that battery cases are made mostly of plastic that it wasn't as much of a concern anymore. Is there any truth to this ?

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Battery on Cement

You can charge anywhere you want to with no problems.<br />I have seen battery cases made from plastic, polysulfone, nylon, fiberglass, 50% glass filled plastics, ect...<br />but have never hears of asphalt cases , must be a way back thing

 

[roscoe]

Re: Battery on Cement

Yes, it was a long way back, before plastic and nylon was available. <br /><br />But it wasn't THAT long ago.<br /><br />Now I really feel old.

 

[knobby]

Re: Battery on Cement

best battery info I've found:<br /><br /> http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq.htm

 

[Jwill]

Re: Battery on Cement

I heard the old batteries had plates that were made of glass and were somewhat fragile.<br />Setting them down to hard on concrete could break the plates so thats how the rumor got started.<br />Who knows..........

 

[EvilLord]

Re: Battery on Cement

raymond is exactly right. nothing more nothing less. poppycock nowadays.

 

[JB]

Re: Battery on Cement

Moving to Boats.