Battery winter storage......what's the best way......

[bandit67]

My bud has a boat with two marine battery's bought this past summer. While our winter weather is milder than some, we are down in the twenties at nite to fifties for the highs. Having been taught batteries work best when kept in the seventies, I suggested he bring then inside till warmer weather returns. Now he lives in a trailer alone and we pondered if the batteries would produce unhealthy gases being stored in a spare room.  And what about a trickle charger being hooked up? Would they last longer kept outside with a trickle charge hooked up or just stored inside left alone, or trickle charge inside..........any thoughts............J

[70 Charger RT]

Put the trickle charger on them for a day to make sure they are fully charged.  Partially charged batteries will freeze.  They should be OK outdoors as my batteries last when it's -40.  Another thing, keep them OFF of concrete.  For some reason, concrete will drain the charge.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I take my battery out of the car for the winter & put the Battery Tender on it for the winter

[67_Dodge_Charger]

Do not store the battery in your home if at all possible.  Gas emiissions are not good for you or your house pets.  Store your battery off the floor in a well ventilated room.  Extreme cold will draw the battery charge down so you will need to 'top off' the battery charge before you reinstall the battery. 

I had my battery sitting disconnected in my Charger for over one year and all I had to do was put the battery charger on it for a few hours.  Make sure that the fluids are at the proper level, use distilled water or fresh battery acid from your local battery shop.  Keep the connections and battery clean and it will last a long time.

good luck
Robert

[BigBlockSam]

howdy
all my cars have on board batt tenders . i get them at sears for $30 . i have a long fenced in drive way . they are all connected to one line on a switch. when i run the cars in the winter months , i turn the switch off. i heard it's not good to run them with the batt charger on. by keeping them connected they stay a little warm .the last batt i had to replace was almost 8 yrs old thats  a pretty long life . Rene