I have 2 car batteries. One has never been in a car, and the other was in about 6 months. I have them out now, with nothing to put them in. How should I store them? Should I hook a trickle charger up to them? I've heard to not set them on concrete. What's up with that? I 'd like to just put em on a shelf, and forget about them until I need one. Any suggestions?
Car battery storage
- Thread starter Bamboooo
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JHZR2
Staff member
The shelf life without a charge is maybe 6 months before irreversible damage will occur. Get a trickle charger/maintainer on them, and keep them topped up. I wouldnt say that you need to keep them on float charge, but do top them now and again at least...
The "not on concrete" thing was when the case was rubber and it could discharge through damp concrete. Cases are plastic now and have been for many years. However its still somewhat important that the temp of the battery acid be somewhat the same on the top as the bottom. So on the concrete in basement should be OK, but in unheated area, maybe on a piece of wood.
Strike the word (phrase) trickle charger from your vocabulary. Never buy or use one. Instead get a maintainer or float charger (different names). HF has them for under $10. Typically they just maintain the battery exactly fully charged. The battery should be fully charged (or close) when you connect it. Some of the better ones have a desulphation circuit also, to knock that nasty stuff back in solution.
Strike the word (phrase) trickle charger from your vocabulary. Never buy or use one. Instead get a maintainer or float charger (different names). HF has them for under $10. Typically they just maintain the battery exactly fully charged. The battery should be fully charged (or close) when you connect it. Some of the better ones have a desulphation circuit also, to knock that nasty stuff back in solution.
Originally Posted By: Donald
The "not on concrete" thing was when the case was rubber and it could discharge through damp concrete. Cases are plastic now and have been for many years. However its still somewhat important that the temp of the battery acid be somewhat the same on the top as the bottom. So on the concrete in basement should be OK, but in unheated area, maybe on a piece of wood.
Strike the word (phrase) trickle charger from your vocabulary. Never buy or use one. Instead get a maintainer or float charger (different names). HF has them for under $10. Typically they just maintain the battery exactly fully charged. The battery should be fully charged (or close) when you connect it. Some of the better ones have a desulphation circuit also, to knock that nasty stuff back in solution.
Ok. I have 3 or 4 of these I bought from HF awhile back, when they were $5 a piece. They will be ok to use? I had one hooked up to one of the batteries, and it was putting out about 13.8 VDC charge. That will be ok to leave it on until I need it? Also, while I'm thinking about it, can I parallel the batteries, and charge them both with 1 charger? Thank you all for your suggestions. Greatly appreciated.
HF float charger
The "not on concrete" thing was when the case was rubber and it could discharge through damp concrete. Cases are plastic now and have been for many years. However its still somewhat important that the temp of the battery acid be somewhat the same on the top as the bottom. So on the concrete in basement should be OK, but in unheated area, maybe on a piece of wood.
Strike the word (phrase) trickle charger from your vocabulary. Never buy or use one. Instead get a maintainer or float charger (different names). HF has them for under $10. Typically they just maintain the battery exactly fully charged. The battery should be fully charged (or close) when you connect it. Some of the better ones have a desulphation circuit also, to knock that nasty stuff back in solution.
Ok. I have 3 or 4 of these I bought from HF awhile back, when they were $5 a piece. They will be ok to use? I had one hooked up to one of the batteries, and it was putting out about 13.8 VDC charge. That will be ok to leave it on until I need it? Also, while I'm thinking about it, can I parallel the batteries, and charge them both with 1 charger? Thank you all for your suggestions. Greatly appreciated.
HF float charger
JHZR2
Staff member
Id buy a GOOD battery maintainer if going that long. Not HF junk.
Kept well and properly, UPS batteries of high quality can last 10-15 years these days. If you keep these at relatively decent temperatures (say 60-70F) and at the right voltage without too many cycles (they self discharge) they should be OK.
For a critical application, Id probably want to test full energy content and resistance.
You could probably get a decent evaluation of resistance with a light bulb or resistor by measuring voltage drop under load.
Kept well and properly, UPS batteries of high quality can last 10-15 years these days. If you keep these at relatively decent temperatures (say 60-70F) and at the right voltage without too many cycles (they self discharge) they should be OK.
For a critical application, Id probably want to test full energy content and resistance.
You could probably get a decent evaluation of resistance with a light bulb or resistor by measuring voltage drop under load.
I also have a few of these, that I snapped up on clearance at Lowes. It has a 1 amp & 2 amp setting. I know these are cheapies too, but will they work ok for what I need them for?
Black & Decker charger
Black & Decker charger
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Don't forget to check the cells for water levels (if possible). I did it once a year and added a small amount of water after being on a float charger all winter. Got 6 years out of my RV Deep Cycle before I sold the trailer. Battery was in really good shape according to my load tester even in the 6th year.
I used a "Battery Tender Jr." or an "Xtreme Charger" - both good quality low amperage float chargers, the Xtreme has desulphation mode (not sure whether I believe it).
I used a "Battery Tender Jr." or an "Xtreme Charger" - both good quality low amperage float chargers, the Xtreme has desulphation mode (not sure whether I believe it).
Originally Posted By: Bamboooo
Ok. I'll set them up on a trickle charger. The only thing is, it may be 2 or 3 years before I actually need them! Should I just leave the charger on them and forget about them?
Um... Sell them on CL and buy new when you do need them!
Ok. I'll set them up on a trickle charger. The only thing is, it may be 2 or 3 years before I actually need them! Should I just leave the charger on them and forget about them?
Um... Sell them on CL and buy new when you do need them!
I would use the ones from B&D. While you can parallel the batteries if they are the same type (deep cycle vs starting) why bother if you have several chargers. I do not think a float charger is a precision piece of equipment. Probably the ones from HF are fine also.
Originally Posted By: Bamboooo
Ok. I'll set them up on a trickle charger. The only thing is, it may be 2 or 3 years before I actually need them! Should I just leave the charger on them and forget about them?
That's not what I would want sitting in my home or garage-a battery hooked up to any sort of charger or maintainer and ignored for 2-3 years.
If you're not going to use them, sell them and buy fresh new ones when you do need them. No hassles with storage, no concerns about what might happen if the charger has an issue when you're not around, etc.
Ok. I'll set them up on a trickle charger. The only thing is, it may be 2 or 3 years before I actually need them! Should I just leave the charger on them and forget about them?
That's not what I would want sitting in my home or garage-a battery hooked up to any sort of charger or maintainer and ignored for 2-3 years.
If you're not going to use them, sell them and buy fresh new ones when you do need them. No hassles with storage, no concerns about what might happen if the charger has an issue when you're not around, etc.
JHZR2
Staff member
Id look into the battery tender and battery minder units which have a maintenance mode with desulfidation.
My Dad bought a new battery for his ford escort "just to have" then junked the car with the original ten year old Motorcraft battery.
Fast forward FIVE YEARS, I put that battery in a hyundai accent and it worked just fine. Was stored in a temperate basement, never charged (until I topped it off at 6 amps overnight right before use), worked fine. Can't say I tested its CCA or it was challenged starting the 1.5 liter engine...
If you are going to put a gizmo on it I would run it once a month, if that.
Fast forward FIVE YEARS, I put that battery in a hyundai accent and it worked just fine. Was stored in a temperate basement, never charged (until I topped it off at 6 amps overnight right before use), worked fine. Can't say I tested its CCA or it was challenged starting the 1.5 liter engine...
If you are going to put a gizmo on it I would run it once a month, if that.
JHZR2
Staff member
never charged in 5 years? It may crank the engine, but the resistance in the battery is likel so high that it wont have much in reserve, and is probably straining the alternator pretty well.
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