Storing Batteries in Winter
Just purchased a 2004 BT Cruiser. The previous owner told me that when he stored the motor home for the winter, he never took out the batteries. I have always removed the batteries and stored them...
Forum Discussion
Harvey51 wrote:
1) Interesting! Why was it necessary years ago?
2) I am also wondering why a dumb, low current maintainer causes trouble.
3) I have an automatic maintainer that is rated at 1 amp but has only 13 volts and only supplies an amp when the battery is quite discharged.
1) It wasn't....ever. The path for current to discharge is from positive post to negative post. What the bottom of the case is in contact with has NO bearing on that.....no matter what the case is made of.
2) Typically a trickle charger goes up to a voltage slightly higher than the optimal maintenance voltage and S L O W L Y electrolizes the water out. There really is no problem with using a dumb charger if and only IF you check the voltage and water level occasionally.
If the battery will be unattended for more than a month, you need a smart charger.
3) Some "smart" chargers go ON and OFF instead of varying the voltage. If yours is like that, then the 13 V measurement probably corresponds to OFF. And chargers like that are NOT intended to be used when the battery is "quite discharged". The 2 amp models often will work if the charge is not too low (not below 10 volts) and you can leave it connected for a LONG time, like a week.
