free radical wrote:
DrewE wrote:
In areas where it's sub-freezing, you can also just fully disconnect the batteries for the winter (after charging them fully) and leave them and they'll be fine...or if they aren't, they weren't fine to begin with. Storing them in a warmer place requires periodic or float charging as the rate of self-discharge is temperature dependent..
I would not recomend or consider disconecting,
batteries will always lose some charge in winter cold and may freeze..
Even in mild weather batts will lose charge over time
I leave battery conected and clean snow of my 80W solar panel to make sure batt is always fully charged..
Works perfect,,but then it does get minus 20 here..
Btw I have AGM maintanance free batt.
Solar does work well for this, too, if you have it installed and store in a place that's not enclosed/covered.
Batteries will self-discharge much more rapidly in mild weather than in cold. The general rule of thumb is the rate doubles or halves for every ten degree celsius change in temperature. At winter temperatures, it takes months for them to drop below, say, 80% charge. During the summer in Florida, it only takes a week or two or three.
A charged battery will not freeze in anything above genuine arctic temperatures; if you're not storing it in, say, Deadhorse, AK, it's a non-concern if they're charged. A discharged battery will freeze much more readily.
