My boat is on the trailor in the driveway for the winter. I have left my battery in place with a automatic charger. Does the cold hurt it? There is also a west marine fan dehumidier going providing some heat
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A charged battery shouldn't freeze
But I usually placed my batteries in the basement for the winter. I didn't have a automatic charger but hooked up a trickle charger for 24 hours once a month.
But I usually placed my batteries in the basement for the winter. I didn't have a automatic charger but hooked up a trickle charger for 24 hours once a month.
Just Make Sure
that the batteries are fully charged. If they are, there shouldn't be any worries about the batteries freezing unless you are at the north pole.
that the batteries are fully charged. If they are, there shouldn't be any worries about the batteries freezing unless you are at the north pole.
No need to leave modern batteries connected
to anything, unless you have the need to keep bilge pumps, etc. supplied with power. Automatic chargers may get fried spontaneously, by lightning, by other line voltage transients or by brown-outs. We have learned the hard way to avoid leaving ANY wires connected to the battery when our vessel is dryberthed. Early October 2002 we left Rivendel II dry-berthed in Port Vila and when we returned nearly 8 months later our AGM battery banks, which we had left fully disconnected and showing 12.7 V, still had 12.3 V on them... Have fun! Flying Dutchman
to anything, unless you have the need to keep bilge pumps, etc. supplied with power. Automatic chargers may get fried spontaneously, by lightning, by other line voltage transients or by brown-outs. We have learned the hard way to avoid leaving ANY wires connected to the battery when our vessel is dryberthed. Early October 2002 we left Rivendel II dry-berthed in Port Vila and when we returned nearly 8 months later our AGM battery banks, which we had left fully disconnected and showing 12.7 V, still had 12.3 V on them... Have fun! Flying Dutchman
Not Sure I Agree
I am not sure what you mean by modern battery. The chemistry has not changed that much. If a lead acid battery is left in the discharged condition at cold temperatures for any period, the plates will sulfate. This is a non-conductive coating on the plates which is virtually impossible to remove. The batteries need to be monitored periodically or left on a low rate charger to insure that they have not discharged. A small solar panel will work well.
I am not sure what you mean by modern battery. The chemistry has not changed that much. If a lead acid battery is left in the discharged condition at cold temperatures for any period, the plates will sulfate. This is a non-conductive coating on the plates which is virtually impossible to remove. The batteries need to be monitored periodically or left on a low rate charger to insure that they have not discharged. A small solar panel will work well.
Actually, batteries have changed a lot
This even includes the chemistry. e.g. with regard to the composition of the lead plates. Most AGM batteries now have calcium or other inorganic additives in the lead plates that slow down self-discharge rates to as little as 1% per month. As a result, some fully charged AGM batteries can be stored for quite a few years before the charge levels would drop into the danger zone. Moreover, the lower the temperature, the slower the self-discharge process will go (unless the temperatures would be so low that freezing might cause dramatic phase shifts). I don't disagree with you that a battery left discharged for a long time will be damaged. But why try that? The idea is, of course, to first fully charge the battery and then disconnect any and all electric leads. Sometimes, it may even be necessary to clean the top of the battery from accumulated salt, etc. in order to achieve the lowest possible self-discharge rate. I have included a Google search link that will connect you to quite a few battery literature references on the net in order to back up my arguments. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
This even includes the chemistry. e.g. with regard to the composition of the lead plates. Most AGM batteries now have calcium or other inorganic additives in the lead plates that slow down self-discharge rates to as little as 1% per month. As a result, some fully charged AGM batteries can be stored for quite a few years before the charge levels would drop into the danger zone. Moreover, the lower the temperature, the slower the self-discharge process will go (unless the temperatures would be so low that freezing might cause dramatic phase shifts). I don't disagree with you that a battery left discharged for a long time will be damaged. But why try that? The idea is, of course, to first fully charge the battery and then disconnect any and all electric leads. Sometimes, it may even be necessary to clean the top of the battery from accumulated salt, etc. in order to achieve the lowest possible self-discharge rate. I have included a Google search link that will connect you to quite a few battery literature references on the net in order to back up my arguments. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
Experience
I just lost a battery on my RV because it was allowed to self discharge as well as on a lawn tractor. Those changes to the batteries are fairly minimal. Sulfation, if anything, is worse now than previously. I would recommend that you not let the battery remain unattended. There must be a manufacturer out there who would like to speak about this.
I just lost a battery on my RV because it was allowed to self discharge as well as on a lawn tractor. Those changes to the batteries are fairly minimal. Sulfation, if anything, is worse now than previously. I would recommend that you not let the battery remain unattended. There must be a manufacturer out there who would like to speak about this.
18 years ... turn the switch to Off ... walk away
six months later ... start engine. Change batteries every 8 years whether they need it or not. still using a "take out" set at 11 years old to run radio at home. Portsmouth RI. Vic "Seven"
six months later ... start engine. Change batteries every 8 years whether they need it or not. still using a "take out" set at 11 years old to run radio at home. Portsmouth RI. Vic "Seven"
We leave them onboard up here too!!
Ahoy Vic, That's what the majority of boat owners do here at our yacht club. We fully charge the batteries and leave them on the boats over the winter. Come February or March we sometimes check them to ensure the charge is still up, and give them a recharge just for the heck of it in April before launch. Our local winter temperatures vary from a mild day like today (1st day of winter and 50 degrees F) to the extemes of minus 40 (F or C). Cheers,
Ahoy Vic, That's what the majority of boat owners do here at our yacht club. We fully charge the batteries and leave them on the boats over the winter. Come February or March we sometimes check them to ensure the charge is still up, and give them a recharge just for the heck of it in April before launch. Our local winter temperatures vary from a mild day like today (1st day of winter and 50 degrees F) to the extemes of minus 40 (F or C). Cheers,
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