battery removal ?

[Guest]

Andy you are absolutely right. Delphi recommend (for their batteries only in a fully recharged state storing at -18 degress... Checked with the PBO battery expert Peter Driver (he runs a very successful industrial battery business) - he says that his AGM cells (Redflash & Lifeline) can be stored without damage to -60. He does make the point that the batteries should be fully charged (as the specific gravity rises preventing freezing). A flat lead/acid cell would freeze at about -15.

AH capacity and CCA is reduced at lower temperature (which is exactly why cars conk out on cold mornings).



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[Guest]

You're wrong - check with any battery manufacturer. FACT: self discharge is lower in colder conditions. FACT: AH & CCA rating is also lower in lower temperatures.

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[BrendanS]

Maybe translating that into English would help for some of those looking on.

Cold doesn't harm fully charged batteries.

Batteries won't lose their charge as fast when it's cold

However, a cold battery won't start the boat as well as one that is warm, so if it's brass monkey weather on the boat, the battery will feel it as much as you, and you might have to crank a few more times than you would in the summer, and run the risk of running the battery flat quicker- that doesn't mean that your battery is shot

Is that a fair summary?

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[cool_running]

Mmmm, So, Was the answer after all that, do we remove batteries or not???
I agree batteries do not work well in the cold, compared to hot climates.
Today it is -14 and snowing i would have to use both batteries to start engine thats a fact, but in summer no problem with one.

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[jimh]

wow - some great replies, just picked them after my weekend away.

So, clearing up on a few point's, charge the battery's fully now, completely isolate them, and they should be fine til around feb when another charge wouldn't go a miss - before she goes back in the water in March. (She's currently out of the water with no permanent shore power facility.)

thanks

Jim

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[Guest]

That's correct. Watch out though - some battery switches don't fully disconnect the battery (usually build up of dirt on their internal contacts etc) that can put a small load on them. Probably worth pulling either the negative or positive terminals off.

Make sure that the batteries are fully recharged - also consider putting a small charger on them (not the halfords type) either continuously (if you have power) or once every month or so.

Rgds - James

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