Battery storage

[Old Salt]

I live in Pa. and always pull my batteries - 8 of them - and put on trickle chargers in my basement. As I get older this gets harder. Does it really matter if I leave them in the boat all winter as long as they were topped off and are on chargers?<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Old Salt

 

[swist]

Re: Battery storage

As long as they are kept charged they won't freeze. I have never taken the batteries out of my boat and it is stored in a COLD place (Maine). I am on my 9th year of mid-quality combo deep-cycle/strarting batteries. In my case, it ain't broke....

 

[KaGee]

Re: Battery storage

Originally posted by Old Salt:<br /> I live in Pa. and always pull my batteries - 8 of them - and put on trickle chargers in my basement. As I get older this gets harder. Does it really matter if I leave them in the boat all winter as long as they were topped off and are on chargers?<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Old Salt

I have done it both ways. A fully charged battery will not freeze. I have read in the past that some folks reccommend leaving them out in the cold. <br /><br />One thing about storing in the basement... batteries can react with a concrete floor... always store them on a piece of wood.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Battery storage

There is not currently a strong reason for avoiding contact of a battery with a concrete floor. The battery's contact with the concrete should not create a problem with the material in today' s batteries. If the battery is not clean, but has a surface layer of acid or grime which is conductive, the battery can be expected to self-discharge more rapidly than if it was clean and dry. Many years ago, the batteries were constructed with a wooden case around a glass jar with the battery in it. Any moisture on the floor could cause the wood to swell and possibly fracture the glass, causing it to leak. Shortly after the introduction of "Hard Rubber" containers, which were somewhat porous and of a less than ideal design, there was a chance of current to be conducted through the container of a high carbon content if the moist concrete floor permitted the current to find an electrical ground. These are two of the older reasons for not storing batteries on a concrete floor. There is no reference to avoiding storage on concrete floors in the Battery Service Manual published by the BCI.

 

[wilkin250r]

Re: Battery storage

Anything left out in the cold for 8 hours is probably very close to ambient surrounding tempurature, so the difference between 8 hours and 80 days probably is negligible. If it's okay for your car battery to reach ambient tempurature, I imagine it's probably ok for your boat batteries also.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Battery storage

Old Salt,<br /><br />I leave my 3 in the boat all year on a charger. No problems yet and this is the third season...

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Battery storage

Originally posted by ndemge:<br /> There is not currently a strong reason for avoiding contact of a battery with a concrete floor.

There is if you have to bend over to pick it back up! ... and it is an 8D.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Battery storage

Old Salt<br />No reason to take them out of the boat in winter. All battery self discharge and need to be charged at least one time a month. In colder weather they actualy self discharge slower.<br /><br />I for one do not like low amp trickle charger. Most of these type charger have no voltage regulation and can over charge and damage batteries. Instead get a good automatic charger. The automatics will taper there charge to 0 amps and not over charge the batteries.<br /><br />I always leave my 2 batterries in the boat and charge at least one time a month. I charge mine thru a battery isolator. To make it easy to do all year I ran a wire up to the bow and put in a plug where I can plug in my charger without getting in the boat. Reason I ran the wire up to the bow is I also have a 12 volt wire to the trailer from my truck. I can also charge the battery while going down the road on the way to a launch or on the way home after a long overnight outing. I can charge my deep cycle on the way home.<br /><br />Is this a Sailboat? Why so many batteries?

 

[swist]

Re: Battery storage

The battery storage ritual discussion never ends. If there is any truth to it, it's probably because removed batteries are more likely to be wiped down and stray current paths elimnated. It is harder to do this in many small boat installations if the battery(s) stay in place, but certainly it can be done. <br /><br />Last Winter in Maine was brutal. It was below zero a LOT. 8-yr old batteries in the boat, cables disconnected, wiped down. Only charged every two months. Nary a problem.