Posts: 298
Location: Not where I want to be! | kjgmh - 11/18/2014 8:34 AM
Batteries will self discharge when sitting with nothing hooked up to them. The rate is fairly low, but it is higher at warmer temps compared to lower temps. So a fully charged battery will fair better in the cold compared to in your basement.
Lead acid batteries with out any load or connections will discharge at a rate of about 1% to 2% per day at 80 deg. Fahrenheit. The hotter outside, the discharge is greater. It's due to the reaction between the sulfuric acid and the lead plates. The colder the battery gets the slower these reactions are. So as the chemical reaction slows, the battery will slowly enter a dormant state, it doesn't go dead. For long term storage a dormant state is better for the batteries life.
Leave them in the boat, fully charged and disconnected. If a rodent should get in your boat and chews on your wiring you won't have a fire. |