Winter storage for batteries

[saurav16]

What is the best way to store batteries for winter?

[eMKay]

Hooked up to a battery tender, which is a float charger.

[sailingdog]

In a cool, dry place... like a basement, connected to a three-stage or four-stage intelligent battery charger.

[CapnHand]

The best way to store batteries for winter is to sail to the Caribbean. If you have to stay in NY, read this: http://www.sailnet.com/forums/showth...ghlight=winter

[Brezzin]

You know I understand the whole reason to store the batteries inside and not on the boat but sometimes it simply is not practical. On my boat I have 3 8D AGM's in the house bank and at 164 lbs each, I'm not going to pull them out. I purchased AGM's because one of the benefits is they do better in freezing weather than a wet cell. So that should help extend the life cycle but the truth is that "marine batteries almost never die natural deaths, they are murdered" by the owners.
I forgot who said that origionally It could have been Don Casey.

[k1vsk]

If the charge is properly maintained throughout the winter, it makes no difference where they are stored. If you don't maintain the charge properly, it also makes no difference where you store them...

In other words, there is no wrong place if you take care of them

[TrueBlue]

With some of the smaller boats I owned with group 27 banks, taking them home was not a big deal. But, I agree with Dave's opinion re: heavier banks - you could really hurt yourself hauling them off a boat.

We have 3 4D banks on our boat and when up on stands, the deck is at least, 10 feet down to the ground. Since I prefer to winterize the engine after haul-out, there's no way in hell I'm wrestling with those.

I asked the yard manager about this, who claimed that most sailboat owners at the marina keep their banks onboard all winter. In reality, a fully charged wet battery bank will not freeze. Simply disconnect the cables and leave them onboard.

[labatt]

So it's OK to leave them in 0-30 degree weather as long as they are hooked up to a charge? Our marina lets us hook up to "shore power" when on the hard, so I'd be happy not to pull our 8D's out!

[TrueBlue]

You don't have to keep them hooked up, I never have during the past 4 winters with this boat, and temps dropped to -8 on one night. It's important to disconnect all cables from the battery posts to prevent current loss. If fully charged at layup, they should retain their charge all winter.

I've never had a car battery freeze on me - have you?

[eherlihy]

According to Nigel Calder (my new hero ):

Electrolyte Freezing Point as a Function of Battery State of Charge:
State of Charge : Freezing Point
100% : -70F
75% : -45F
50% : -10F
25% : +5F
0% : + 15F

This is "borrowed" from Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual third edition. It contains really great information. I highly reccomend it if you have a boat, or suffer from insomnia

Ed