I am going to be storing an 8D flooded battery that I removed from my cargo trailer and it will be here in Michigan all winter in the cold of my garage while I am in the southwest all winter where it will be warm. Too bad battery.
Anyway, it seems that I recall that a fully charged 8D will overtime, self discharge, and ultimately discharge to the point of destruction/failure.
Does anyone know the actual numbers related to this discharging? I also seem to recall that a constant charging voltage of 13.6-13.8 at a rate of 1.25amps would keep the battery voltage up and prevent battery freezing and not overcharge the battery and cause boiling and evaporation.
I have a very small batter charger that puts out 13.8 volts at 1.25 amps.
What would be the results in the spring if i hook it up, and leave and return on June 1,2015?
Regards to all......
I wouldn't leave it on a charger unless it is a smart charger that will vary the rate of charge and not boil your battery dry over that length of time. Get a charger that will not charge if the battery doesn't need it. Don't have any specific one in mind, you may need to do some homework. Have a great day ---- Fritz
I like the batteryminder brand
I used to advise customers to put the tiny charger on a interval timer of some kind.
If you have power a battery heater that attaches to the batteries sides will save it from freezing at more than -32f for a fully charged.
I like heated batteries as the power was much better anyway on any battery if cold enough.
Times have changed since batteries were made of a porous material and the acid could slowly migrate through and make a discharge path into a concrete floor.
New batteries have a plastic case and can be stored on wood, concrete, metal bench, krypton, etc and it won't make any difference.
You can charge a new battery, throw it out in the snow at the start of winter and when you dig it out in early spring, it will start a vehicle just as well as when it was tossed into the snow.
Pierce