Winterized Batteries

[Michael.Chadwick]

I have removed my batteries this winter and will be storing them in my dry basement, on a wood shelf not cement floor. I keep reading about the need for a trickle charger to be used over the winter? Does anyone have a recommendation for a charger, or any other advice. My first year removing them........thanks.

[MyronL]

In 7 years I have never removed my lead acid factory batteries for winter storage. I have on occasion plugged the trailer into shore power, in the yard. It can get pretty cold here, but, it sure isn't Maine.

[emers382]

Ditto for us, neither with our old 5.0 with no solar, just kept it plugged in. With our newer 5.0TA the solar keeps the batteries up all winter without plugging it in. Sorry I don't have any recommendation for trickle charger.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Michael.Chadwick

I have removed my batteries this winter and will be storing them in my dry basement, on a wood shelf not cement floor. I keep reading about the need for a trickle charger to be used over the winter? Does anyone have a recommendation for a charger, or any other advice. My first year removing them........thanks.

Save yourself a lot of trouble and see Trojan Battery Myths at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7sboGMsl68

[padlin]

The one I've used, and still use, is no longer made, but I'd look at a Battery Tender if I needed a new maintainer. https://www.batterytender.com/Batter...nior-12V-0-75A

With the batteries disconnected in the trailer, I would hookup the 1A maintainer a few times over the winter, it would show the batteries full in about an hour. That's about the same as I ran into when I brought them inside for 1 winter. Once was enough for me. Check the fluid and charge them completely and they'll be fine outside.

Once I installed power near the trailer I just left it hooked up to power for the winter and stopped disconnecting the batteries.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Michael.Chadwick

I keep reading about the need for a trickle charger to be used over the winter? Does anyone have a recommendation for a charger, or any other advice.

Don't leave an old-style trickle charger connected - it continuously tries to charge the battery, which isn't good. A modern battery maintenance charger (or battery maintainer) such as the Battery Tender is intended to be left connected indefinitely, and is the way to go if there is somewhere it can be left plugged in.

With any kind of charger, you only need it if the battery voltage gets very low. Since it's in your basement, you can check occasionally.

[rubicon327]

You need a smart charger/maintainer. This is what I recommend:
https://no.co/genius1
I have three boat batteries in my garage right now that I alternate on the maintainer.