hi
i'm new to boat ownership
my question concerns what is the best way to store a battery for the winter
is it better to leave it on the boat with a pole (+) disconnected
or is it better to remove the battery entirely and take it inside
thanks
rich
battery storage for the winter
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Neil Gordon
Re: battery storage for the winter
Rich,
I remove my batteries and store them on a shelf in the basement. They both hold their charge over the winter... in the spring they just go back into the boat. Motor starts right up!
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
nr_gordon@compuserve.com
I remove my batteries and store them on a shelf in the basement. They both hold their charge over the winter... in the spring they just go back into the boat. Motor starts right up!
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
nr_gordon@compuserve.com
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: battery storage for the winter
Rich,
I find that the best way to treat any lead-acid battery when not in use is to do the following: 1. Remove them from the boat. 2. Take them home and clean throughly with soap and warm water. 3. Remove the cell covers (even so called "maintence free" batteries have removable cell covers) and bring electrolyte levels to proper level with DISTILLED water. 4. Charge each battery until each cell is gasing freely(you can see this because cell covers are removed). 5. Check state of charge with a good hygrometer. 6. Check final charge with a volt meter after 24 hrs. of set time(if you do this immediately after removing the charger, the indication will be close to 13 - 13.5 volts, not the true state of charge), indication should be around 12.5 - .6 volts. 7. Place the batteries in a clean, dry area in the basement on wood or plastic. I place mine on two of those plastic milk cartons. 8. Repeat 4-8 in January if you pulled them in October and again just before launch in the spring.
If you do all that, your batteries will last longer than the stated "life" of the battery. I've treated my lawn tractor, car and truck batteries as above and had one fail last year, when I took it for trade in, the Sears guy was amazed I had gotten so much life out of it. Remember, sulfating of the lead in the battery and a subsequent shorted cell is death to it. Keep the water level proper and the battery charged and you will not have any premature failure. Remember, there is no such thing as a "maintence free" battery.
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei, CD-30.
I find that the best way to treat any lead-acid battery when not in use is to do the following: 1. Remove them from the boat. 2. Take them home and clean throughly with soap and warm water. 3. Remove the cell covers (even so called "maintence free" batteries have removable cell covers) and bring electrolyte levels to proper level with DISTILLED water. 4. Charge each battery until each cell is gasing freely(you can see this because cell covers are removed). 5. Check state of charge with a good hygrometer. 6. Check final charge with a volt meter after 24 hrs. of set time(if you do this immediately after removing the charger, the indication will be close to 13 - 13.5 volts, not the true state of charge), indication should be around 12.5 - .6 volts. 7. Place the batteries in a clean, dry area in the basement on wood or plastic. I place mine on two of those plastic milk cartons. 8. Repeat 4-8 in January if you pulled them in October and again just before launch in the spring.
If you do all that, your batteries will last longer than the stated "life" of the battery. I've treated my lawn tractor, car and truck batteries as above and had one fail last year, when I took it for trade in, the Sears guy was amazed I had gotten so much life out of it. Remember, sulfating of the lead in the battery and a subsequent shorted cell is death to it. Keep the water level proper and the battery charged and you will not have any premature failure. Remember, there is no such thing as a "maintence free" battery.
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei, CD-30.