Battery Storage

You should fully discharge lead acid batteries for storage. How long are you planning to store them?

You must also store them separately and be sure to keep the appropriate neutralizers nearby in case of electrolyte leakage. Some areas have strict regulations regarding battery storage and you will have to maintain detailed inspection records to ensure the safety of ground water in the area.

Your area's Department of Natural Resources Hazardous Waste Management people will be able to help you with the requirements of your building and safe storage and inspection procedures specific to your state.

Lead acid batteries should be completely charged before storage. Kept in cool dry area with no chance of freezing. I would also recommend that they not be stored directly on a concrete floor, place on wood pallet. Will hold charge longer that way. While in storage the charge state periodically should be taken with an hydrometer. Recharge when below 70%. Correct fluid level when necessary.

Here is a link to various batteries and how to store.

http://www.powerstream.com/Storage.htm

You're right, My first comment said "discharged" my mistake. Not enough coffee this morning.

All of the replacement automotive batteries in Halfords (usual disclaimer) are sold fully charged, partly to look after the battery contents, and partly so that the purchaser doesn't have to charge them before use.

I was considering a battery bank for alternative energy in my summer cottage in NY state where it gets very cold in the winter. There is no heat in this home in the winter while we are not there (we drain all water lines) and I do not see a way to keep the batteries warm while we are away for the winter. Should we forget it?

Have a look at www.pulsetech.com for a product that is exactly suited for suhc an application.

You can store batteries in the cold , provided they are fully charged and kept charged by a solar panel. Boaters with large batteries store the boats with batteries left inside In your area they experience the same low temperatures as your cottage.

Cold temperatures inhibit th eelectrochemical activity. The only thing that would harm a battery is if it was discharged and then the weak electrolyte froze. If you start the storage period with fully charged batteries and have a solar panel to provide a smal ltrickle charge to ofset the normal self discharge, they should store for six months and be fine. Just be sure to place the solar panel so it doesn't get covered in snow. Tilt it up so it is almost vertical ( about 60 degrees from horizontal) that way it sheds most snow and raise it on a post above the expected snow fall level that woudl accumulate on the ground or roof.

Thank you very much, elnav and others - Cornelius

More likely they are dry charged, not fully charged. This provides sufficent current to start the battery buyer's car, after which full-up charging is completed by purchaser's car's alternator.

Well, we used to buy drycharged batteries for our cars- this means new flooded la batts are fully chargedn then the electrolyte removed into a plastic container- thus the batts would sit for long periods in the store with no adfverse effects- when a customer wanted to buy, the electolyte was added & away you went- no charge needed. I don,t see why this could not be used for used batts- fully charged, electrolyte removed into sealed container- no load, no discharge currents,no self discharge, no sulfation. As to alkaline batts, depends whether rechargeable or dry- follow makers recomendations.

Lead acid battery . you need to charge to keep it long. By taking out electrolyte when battery was fully charged , you can prolong the stoarage period , but again you need to fill in and charge. Have to kept in low humidity condition may be RH below 50. May be use some Silica Get pack to keep moisture out , as this can reduce self discharge. In lead acid battery , flooded type .the acid startifies. So one needs to bit overcharge to gassing level to keep stratification reduced. Stratification reduces capacity of the battery.One can shake it also and turn sideways few times , so that high gravity acid can be brought back to top.

Ideally batteries if kept on just Float duty , it can be stored much longer. Calcium calcium alloy batteries of lead acid called Maintenance free has long shelf life , say about 6 months, but you need to charge there after.

If One has a very good unused dry charge battery , you can store it for atleast one year and then put in acid and charge.

For alkaline battery cells one has to store in as dry condition as possible for long storage.

Thanks to all. My experience is that lead acid batteries go bad easily in storage under adverse conditions than alkaline wet cells. Again thanks for the vast knowledge and experience shared. Epsilon

Alkaline wet cells can be stored indefinitely charged or discharged no matter they will end up discharged if left long enough in storage. Most important though make sure the plates are not exposed to air in storage top up with distilled water if evaporation is a problem. When put back into operation they should return to full capacity after about 3 full cycles.

Trick I use: I drive my car on weekends only so if there's a really cold spell during the week I put a worklight with a 40W bulb under the hood, next to the battery. Keeps it from freezing. I don't know if this would be cost effective for the entire winter though, real sub-zero cold occurs only once ot twice a year and lasts maybe 2-3 days in NYC.

Cold weather drivers have long ago learned this trick.

Without trying to start the car, turn on the headlights for 10 seconds. Turn them off again. Wait 30 seconds.

The chemical activity of delivering the 10 amps to the headlights causes warmth to be generated inside the battery.

Enough so that it now starts the engine better due to apparent increase in stored capacity.

For really cold weather, you can buy a heating blanket to wrap around the battery and plug in.

Upstate new york state auto supply houses would stock them but any of their branches would be abel to order them in.

My guess is NYC residents rarely hear about such things. you would not have to keep the heat on all week. just for a few hours before needing to start the engine.