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Battery Winter storage; pull battery or battery tender.

beags86

beags86

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So traditionally, I always pulled my battery for winter storage. Put it somewhere warm til spring. This year I picked up a couple battery tenders.
(Chevelle, 76 stepper)

So what's better for the long term life of the battery? Being disconnected and recharged and used or a trickel charger?
 
Bikes and such usually do fine on a tender. But I'd say if you have a place to put it that's temp controlled, that'd be better.
They sit like that for long stretches before we buy them :dunno:
 
I run a 24V solargizer battery tender for my Deuce and a half. Works real well and the truck sits outside in some hellish weather. No issues for 6 years on Walmart yellow batteries with the truck not being used much. They make 12V ones too.
 
shady said:
Bikes and such usually do fine on a tender. But I'd say if you have a place to put it that's temp controlled, that'd be better.
They sit like that for long stretches before we buy them :dunno:
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Well due to my financial situation, neither places either of those sit at will be heated this winter. Hopefully next.
 
HankScorpio said:
I run a 24V solargizer battery tender for my Deuce and a half. Works real well and the truck sits outside in some hellish weather. No issues for 6 years on Walmart yellow batteries with the truck not being used much. They make 12V ones too.
Click to expand...
Well that's pretty good. The winter I lived in laramie it got down to -43 one night.....
So laramie brings the suck in the winter...
 
I just seen the put somewhere warm till spring lol. Didn't think of the traditionally part.
 
beags86 said:
Well that's pretty good. The winter I lived in laramie it got down to -43 one night.....
So laramie brings the suck in the winter...
Click to expand...

Yes, if my trucks start for work when it is -35 or so I call it a win. Lets me know in a hurry if I have been ignoring maintenance. Last few winters everything has been ready to go except me. I am perfectly happy down to 0, negatives are another story.
 
beags86 said:
Well due to my financial situation, neither places either of those sit at will be heated this winter. Hopefully next.
Click to expand...
I'm kind of in the same situation there. Can't quite justify heating the shop yet this year. And I have 2 vehicles with decent batteries up there just sitting in the cold..

I wonder if it's possible to mount some of those solar chargers outside and wire it through to hook up to the batteries :thinking:
 
I am sure you could run a wire in from a solargizer. The panel is small, about 8"x8". They can be plugged into AC also.
 
shady said:
I'm kind of in the same situation there. Can't quite justify heating the shop yet this year. And I have 2 vehicles with decent batteries up there just sitting in the cold..

I wonder if it's possible to mount some of those solar chargers outside and wire it through to hook up to the batteries :thinking:
Click to expand...
The chevelle is sitting in my shop. But I didn't get my gas line ran this summer like I wanted. So it's just a deal of heating it while I'm out there.

I know both methods work fine, but which is better for the life of the battery. So far we have one vote for tender. And one vote for a manual swap. So I suppose then you just push start it every time and ditch the starter...
 
For the life of the battery I'd almost say take them in to a coat closet in the house or something. If clean they shouldn't drain just sitting.

Unless you have to move the vehicle periodically like I do. Then that'd be pain in the azz.
 
If you have a stereo in one, you will have to either disconnect it , or use a tender.
But past that, I am not sold on tenders. At least not yet. I have one from Schumaker and one from Matco. The Matco one seems to work better. DON'T get the little cheap ones from HF! I have seen those not work.
 
Take non use batteries into a non freezing location. Even with a tender. I have Schumacher and Battery Tender units and haven't noticed a difference between them. Do not use a trickle charger unless it has auto off. The old ones charged all the time.
 
6872xtc said:
If you have a stereo in one, you will have to either disconnect it , or use a tender.
But past that, I am not sold on tenders. At least not yet. I have one from Schumaker and one from Matco. The Matco one seems to work better. DON'T get the little cheap ones from HF! I have seen those not work.
Click to expand...
Stereo? Why would that matter?
My stereo is made by thrush.
Chevelle has glasspacks


Old guys and their creature comforts! What's next? Lights that work? AC? Airbags?!
Come on now!
 
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