Storing a deep cycle battery.

[OTIS]

Can I store a deep cycle battery in an out building in the winter?

Thanks in Advance

[FishTales]

Your best bet would be to get a Battery Tender (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0005944520320a&navCount=7&podId=0005944&parentId=cat600057&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat21276&catalogCode=UF&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600057&hasJS=true) , you can leave it on all winter and it will maintain the charge. If you don't have some type of charger on it, the battery will eventually lose the charge then freeze.
Rich

[jpollman]

I just pulled the Optima out of the boat yesterday. I just put it on the shelf in the garage and hooked up the charger. A little while later she was showing fully charged so I unhooked the charger. I'll just hook it up again about once a month and she should be fine in the Spring. FishTales is right, you've just got to be sure that they don't discharge or they will freeze. As long as they stay charge there should be no problem.

[tdejong302]

I store my batteries in the basement on carpeting to help keep the battery off of concrete. Should I still put a charger on them. Or can I just charge them once they are in the basement and let them go 4 months in the warm basement. Thanks.

Is it an advantage to store them where its warm. Or is it more important to put a charger on them once a month.? Thanks:grouphug:

[FishTales]

I store my batteries in the basement on carpeting to help keep the battery off of concrete.
Is it an advantage to store them where its warm. Or is it more important to put a charger on them once a month.? Thanks:grouphug:
I would put the batteries on something more substantial than just a piece of carpet, lay down a couple short pieces of 2x4 to set them on, the cement has some way of drawing off the charge.
Warmer is better, I don't think they will discharge as fast, but the main thing is to maintain the charge.
Rich

[POLARBEAR]

be careful charging in a closed area. the gasses are explosive and people have had there homes burn because of it.

[jpollman]

Here's some good information on use and maintenance of deep cycle batteries.

http://www.marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm#6

The information on that site dispells a lot of the myths concerning deep cycle batteries.

John

[OTIS]

Thanks for the responses. It sound like I can just apply a full charge now and trickle charge through out the winter.
My charge has the "trickle" charge option.

Thanks Again.

[flinch]

I have a couple charger/conditioners on board my boat and just leave them hooked up to the batteries all winter. I don't bother taking the batteries out of the boat. The boat is stored in an unheated garage.

[Brownsdown]

Um Just a heads up bats do not discharge when placed on the floor or concrete that is a old folk lore,,,, and beleive it or not warm weather will discharge a fully charged bat quicker than cold,,,, ( i seen a article in a popular science mag.):lol: i used to think just the oppisite till i used one that was on the floor for about 5 months and she still had a full charge.........or as much that was there when it was left there...........................

[MiketheElder]

DO NOT store batteries in the house/basement. Search this site for some dangerous close calls the last couple of years.

Big Mike

[Houghton laker]

I store mine in the garage all winter with a float charger hooked up to them!!.....line the batteries up...positive to positive,,,negative to negative.....one charger!!

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I keep mine in the boat with the on-board charger on.