Long term battery storage
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:45
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ob
Hi knowlage forumites
Some time ago I was told that if batteries were to be stored for an extended period of time out of the vehicle to sit them on a wooden bench or shelf and never on a steel top bench or the concrete floor. An auto sparky that I asked said that he had heard that this was good practice as direct contact on steel or concrete would lead to them discharging at a far higher rate. He could not give me the reasons behind this however. I have just read an article in a magazine on the care and feeding of batteries and this point was raised again also without an explanation as to why.
Anyone got an answer?????
Thanks in anticipation
ob
Reply By: Dunaruna - Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:54
Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:54
A long long time ago it was good practice to sit batteries on dry timber simply because battery cases were made of timber or rubber. Both these materials were affected by outside moisture.
With modern cases (plastic) and modern internals (no sheet glass) the moisture thing does no longer apply but for some strange reason the practice of avoiding concrete lives on.
All that is required is a flat surface and keep it charged.
AnswerID:
332679
Follow Up By: Best Off Road - Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:59
Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:59
It was because years ago batteries were made of wooden boxes lined with pitch. If there was the slightest leak sitting them on concrete accentuated the leak as the concrete acted like a sponge.
But, what is now myth, lives on.
Jim.
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Reply By: Member - 1/2A - Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:59
Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 16:59
ob,
It is so easy just to do a google on things like this, I did one and here's the link.
Battery Discharge
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332687
Follow Up By: ob - Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 17:35
Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 17:35
1/2A,
Thanks for taking the time and effort to reply to my post. I had a read of the link on battery discharge and I will try Google to see if there is any other info to be had from this source. The site seemed to be part of a
forum where this question came up and from what I could understand (laymans terminology required by me) none of the participants could reach a mutually agreed upon, let alone scientific, explanation. Indeed some seemed to think that the whole idea was a load of rubbish. The date on this article was 1999 so maybe a little further delving on my part may uncover something more recent. Once again thanks for your input.
Cheers ob
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Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 21:03
Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 21:03
Hi ob,
As far as I'm concerned the most important step in long term battery storage is to connect a trickle charger to it.
The charger only needs to be good for about 13.5 to 13.8 volts and about 500mA (1/2 Amp) to keep the battery in good shape.
If you're looking for an upmarket version you could look at one of these,
C-Tek 800mA Charger
Projecta do a good range too, they are usually on the shelf at Supercheap or KMart.
Geoff
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Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 22:14
Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 at 22:14
Yes I agree, a good quality maintenance charger can be left connected. Try get one with pulse mode for sulfation like the Ctek XS3600 or the Ultimate 4000
Regards
Derek.
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