Do you trickle charge your battery in the winter: I have read conflicting reports on winter battery storage. Some say to keep a trickle charge on constantly and others say to fully...

HarryS Loc: NJ

I have read conflicting reports on winter battery storage. Some say to keep a trickle charge on constantly and others say to fully charge every three months or so. My battery is used on a 55lb bow-mounted electric motor. I would appreciate any help as this is my first cold winter storage.

Jeremy Loc: America

Try to keep it above freezing and trickle it every few months.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Agree with Jeremy: Just Sayin...RJS

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Also as a hint, the "Sealed" batteries unless Gel Cells all have removable panels you can pry up to add "distilled" water to. As the battery is charged it losses water and hydrogen. No they are NOT totally sealed or they would blow up from the gases expanding during charging. The batteries die because of lack of water or the H2SO4 becoming to weak. HS Chemistry and a lot of years before they started "Sealing" car batteries. I would put the battery in the house during the winter and then charge it before going out to use it. But that's just me. I did have a battery freeze in a car during a "Bad" winter, but it was 4 years old and the Acid had gotten weak. Pushed the cell plugs right up above the battery. LOL IF it is a Gel Cell battery take it into the house and charge it before using it.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Last year I removed my batteries and stored in basement
This year I wrapped my boat then remembered I forgot to remove batteries.
This is kinda worrying me
I have on board chargers . I’ve been plugging them in for a couple hours every couple weeks.
Hope I’m ok

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Ben Bragg wrote:

Last year I removed my batteries and stored in basement
This year I wrapped my boat then remembered I forgot to remove batteries.
This is kinda worrying me
I have on board chargers . I’ve been plugging them in for a couple hours every couple weeks.
Hope I’m ok

You should be good, Ben. My boat and UTV are in a heated garage, and my lawnmowers are in cold storage, and I put a charge on all of them every couple of months, they seem to survive o.k. I have a trickle charger but I don't use it much, but I do take it down to SPI with me just in case. I have never had to use it down there but one time my neighbor did. His comment to me was, "Who in the he!! takes a battery charger with them on vacation". I replied, "You must not be a fisherman".

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Ben Bragg wrote:

Last year I removed my batteries and stored in basement
This year I wrapped my boat then remembered I forgot to remove batteries.
This is kinda worrying me
I have on board chargers . I’ve been plugging them in for a couple hours every couple weeks.
Hope I’m ok

Just don't set them on concrete and you're good

HarryS Loc: NJ

Thanks for the comments, it is a sealed battery and I have them in an unheated garage.

JRK227 Loc: Cedarburg, WI

I use a self regulating 3 amp charger and top my batteries off monthly.

Rayz Loc: North West N.J. and South Hero Vt.

I keep my boat shrink wrapped up on northern Lake Champlain in Vt. at a Boat repair shop. They recharge in Spring and the 3 batteries onboard are good to go.

greyghost

Recent battery advice is you don't have to worry about putting them on concrete. That was true for the older battery cases, but the new materials don't leak charge through them. I have tried this advice and have not had a problem with any of my batteries. Of course it doesn't hurt to be safe.

Jeremy Loc: America

greyghost wrote:

Recent battery advice is you don't have to worry about putting them on concrete. That was true for the older battery cases, but the new materials don't leak charge through them. I have tried this advice and have not had a problem with any of my batteries. Of course it doesn't hurt to be safe.

You ever wonder if the battery manufacturers tell you bogus info to sell more batteries. I know today they say concrete and earth will not discharge a battery....but i don't believe them. All electricity manufactured is above ground and potential to ground. So I will never believe that leaving a battery on concrete ( has a bunch of contact with earth ) or on the ground will not discharge them.

greyghost

Insulation

DC Loc: Washington state

HarryS wrote:

I have read conflicting reports on winter battery storage. Some say to keep a trickle charge on constantly and others say to fully charge every three months or so. My battery is used on a 55lb bow-mounted electric motor. I would appreciate any help as this is my first cold winter storage.

I use a float charger that will automatically trickle charge a battery if low but will shut off and not charge if the battery does not need charging which prevents over heating or over charging issues. I hook one up on my boat battery when I put it a way for the winter. I also have one for my electric start generator so that I know that battery will still start the generator if the power goes out. They are fairly inexpensive and I have not had any problems with them or the batteries

E.pa.al Loc: Martin's Creek

I remove mine & take em to my work,heated shop
I do put them on a couple 2×4 to b safe,not on the concrete floor