Storing Marine Batteries

[CapeCodFrank]

Where is the best place to store the batteries over the winter? I live in the freezing northeast, and my choices are the garage, which is unheated, or the basement in a room away from the furnace. I plan to put them on a charger every month or so. Is it safe to do this in the basement?

Thanks

 

[Capt Bill Welder]

I used to store mine in the basement. I have heard to not store directly on concrete. Don't know if an old wives tale or not but I did put a piece of plywood under them.

 

[sparky]

I used to store mine in the basement. I have heard to not store directly on concrete. Don't know if an old wives tale or not but I did put a piece of plywood under them.

Old OLD batteries had permeable cases, and could dissolve the concrete. I'd stick a Battery Tender on the battery to keep it topped off.

 

[CapeCodFrank]

So, what I am hearing is to store them in the basement and hook them up to a trickle charger. I had heard that charging batteries could cause gas to escape during the charging process. Is this a concern if this is done in the basement? I plan to store them in a room away from the oil burner. Is it safe to charge them in the basement?

 

[Megabyte]

The basement should be fine. The amount of off-gassing of a flooded cell battery should be minimal, though storing them away from a flame source is a good practice.

If you want to keep them charged, hook them to a float charger about once a month and you should be good to go. You can find a suitable float charger at Harbor Freight for less than $10.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=42292

 

[DaleH]

Basement is fine.

Storing on floor is fine, as that old rumor about not storing on concrete did NOT apply to newer plastic-cased batteries.

IMHO and 40+ years of boating, if you charge at end of season and then prior to use ... you do not need to trickle or maintenance charge during storage.

Keep it clean and top off ALL cells with distilled water and 'if' you add water, wait at least 2-days before charging.

Works for me and I never get < 5-years from an Excide or Wal*Mart marine dual-purpose battery (made for them by Johnson Controls).

 

[sparky]

The basement should be fine. The amount of off-gassing of a flooded cell battery should be minimal, though storing them away from a flame source is a good practice.

If you want to keep them charged, hook them to a float charger about once a month and you should be good to go. You can find a suitable float charger at Harbor Freight for less than $10.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=42292

Please, do NOT buy that charger. I've had 2 of them fail, and take batteries with them. A name-brand charger, like the battery tender or even a $20 Black and Decker from Wally World will do the trick just fine.

I love harbor freight, but thats one item that has caused a lot of headaches.

 

[CapeCodFrank]

Thank you, all, for the help. I already own a Sears battery charger, so I am all set. Thanks again for the advice.