Battery storage

[rokntoy]

What is the best way to store a battery outside the vehicle for awhile. Do I need to put a charger on it.

 

[Yoothgeye]

Define "awhile."

There are battery tenders that you hook to the battery and plug in and they read the battery and give it juice as needed, I think that's the best way, maybe not the cheapest, but I wouldn't leave it hooked to a continuous charger for a long time.

 

[Yoothgeye]

Looks like some of the battery tenders are as cheap as $20. If you got a nice battery, I'd spend the cash.

http://www.pacificbattery.com/charger.html

I've left batteries sitting in vehicles for months at a time untouched, some crank, some need a jump, but I've never killed one from sitting.

 

[orangesonoma]

if it is going to sit get a tender...like it was said before they start out at around 20 bucks at autozone...pick one up you will be happy with it

 

[6BangBronk]

My thoughts on this is that a battery is a battery. It's either a good battery or a bad one. If the charge goes down... CHARGE IT! Geez! A brand new top of the Autozone line battery goes for $80 with a shelf life of 6 years. If the battery drains that easily, it's a wimpy battery that I'd hate to depend on out in the middle of nowhere and needs replaced to begin with. Save the $20 for a good battery charger. A battery isn't going to loose any life if it is drained and needs recharged. Just don't fry it or it will loose life. Charge with a steady low amp overnight and then a good battery will be back to it's full potential. But a good battery shouldn't drain to begin with.
Just disconnect the negative if it's in a vehicle and will be setting for a while.

My 2 on "Battery sitters".

 

[GotWood]

If I take mine out, I just set it on a piece of wood on the shelf. They (whoever they are) say not to set the battery on concrete.

 

[braxton357]

If I take mine out, I just set it on a piece of wood on the shelf. They (whoever they are) say not to set the battery on concrete.

For what it's worth the "don't set a battery on concrete" thing hasn't been a concern for decades with new plastic cased batterys.

And if I were going to store a used battery for any long period of time I would at the least charge it periodically. Tenders are nice but not necessary.

 

[bcammons21]

set plenty of batteries on concrete for weeks and still used them to jump cars

 

[GotWood]

set plenty of batteries on concrete for weeks and still used them to jump cars

For what it's worth the "don't set a battery on concrete" thing hasn't been a concern for decades with new plastic cased batterys.
And if I were going to store a used battery for any long period of time I would at the least charge it periodically. Tenders are nice but not necessary.

Those (whoever those are) bastards

 

[rockcity]

I have an optima that has been in my garage for 3 years sitting on the concrete floor without a tender or any charging. While it was not fully charged after that time, it wasn't completely dead. I put it in my buggy, wired it up, charged it, and it worked great for winching the buggy on the trailer and kept a good charge. 6 months later, it still has some good charge. Point is, with the newer batteries these days, I don't think the method of storage is very critical. Although a tender is nice, it is not necessary, IMO. Just keep it out of the weather and you should be good.