Battery Storage

[Dreamer]

I took the batteries out of my boat for the winter. Should I bring them in my house or will they be ok in an unheated garage (40'-50' f) for six months?

[maxpower220]

Either way will be fine. If you have a trickle charger, that would be the best. I just picked up one at Walmart for $20. Don't leave the battery on concrete floors, place them on something else. I don't know the reason, but even auto parts store won't leave them on concrete.

[lowdrag]

Don't worry about the concrete floors either. I always believed that too until I looked into it. It's a piece of advice that dates way back to early batteries and is no longer relevant with current batteries. Here's a link about it:

http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/faqs/tech_talk/maintenance/storing.htm

[zabooda]

Ditto with Lowdrag. A trickle charger is nice and a regular charger on the battery for a couple of days a month works too. You don't want to leave a regular charger in place as it will dry out the cells over time.

[kaneboats]

Don't worry about the concrete floors either. I always believed that too until I looked into it. It's a piece of advice that dates way back to early batteries and is no longer relevant with current batteries.

I remember hearing that as a kid and wondering how the heck a plastic battery case was going to allow anything to conduct through it. Glad the myth is being dispelled. Agree that trickle charger is the way to go.

[maxpower220]

I'm just here to keep the myth going.

[Sled491]

If only :)

[kaneboats]

I'm just here to keep the myth going.

That was my step-dad's job too. I can hear him now: "Don't set that bat-REE down on the SEEE-ment. It'll pull the charge right out of it."