Proper winter storage of car battery

[Mr_Accord]

I have a 93 Ford Aerostar that I use mainly between May and November and then it just sits in my garage for the winter. It is your regular maintenance free 12v Energizer Walmart battery and i'm not really sure what is the proper way of storing and keeping the battery charged with a float charger. I have a CTEK 3300US Plug it and Forget type auto charger but I have looked around the net and some people say leave the battery in the vehicle and just connect the charger and forget it and check on it here and there, while others have said due to the cold temps (it is currently -28C or -17F outside my home as I am writing this) the battery could freeze regardless of being fully charged and I could kill the battery. The other option I have heard is to bring it inside and store it in a cool dry place but don't batteries release a gas that is combustible when being charged, so wouldn't it be a bad idea to hook it up to a float charger inside the home?

Thanks

 

[Colt45ws]

With a 100% charge it will not freeze until -67C. At 75% that drops to -37C and at 50% its -23C.
http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/carfaq4.htm#freeze_points
http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/carfaq13.htm

 

[Rooy]

I would bring it inside if you can. Don't worry about gassing. It's taking such a small charge when being float charged that it isn't an issue. And even during regular charging, unless you're charging it in a very small enclosed space with no air circulation, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[wings&wheels]

I would not drive yourself crazy with this. I used to.

I stopped using trickle chargers a while ago and just pull the batteries (one optima yellow and two interstates) out of the three toys in the fall, store them on a plastic sheet in the garage or basement and give them a quick charge every month or so. This has never let me down. However, I usually replace flooded cell batteries at 5-6 years anyway so I am dealing with fresh batteries.

I do not store them in the basement any more due to kids, but otherwise carefully storing them in the basement is not a problem, mindful of the furnace, pilot lights, etc. My biggest worry would be something falling on the battery and bridging the terminals. I would not charge the battery in the house though.

good luck, stay warm. w&w

 

[Mr_Accord]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to leave the battery in the van with the CTEK charger connected and see how it does.

 

[steve20]

My dad's Toyota in Florida sits in a garage for about 340 days/year. We only use it when down on vacation. Before I leave I dosconnect the ground terminal. It starts every time we need it to-many times after sitting 6 months. BUT, that iis in FL


Steve