Storing Batteries?

[isuzurover]

I have 4x N70-size batteries at the moment that I will not be using for a while (say ~6 months). Some new, some SH, all the same brand.

What is the concensus on the best way to store them?

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Off a concrete floor connected to a Ctek charger in maintenance mode.

A little bit of Inox treatment prior helps to if you have accessible cells.

Andrew

Using Capitals, the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse or helping your uncle jack off a horse...

[weeds]

I leave mine connected to a ctek charger on maintenance mode from memory.

Will watch thread to see ifwhat I am doing is right

[THE BOOGER]

Link them in parrallel and connect to a small smart charger should keep them charged and in good condition:)

[Tombie]

Off a concrete floor connected to a Ctek charger in maintenance mode.

A little bit of Inox treatment prior helps to if you have accessible cells.

Andrew


Concrete floor bit is now a myth..

Only relevant to old rubber cased batteries!

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[isuzurover]

Thanks for the replies so far.

The concrete thing is a myth (noted from a previous thread).

I have a solar panel (with MPPS) and a standard battery charger for charging purposes. I would prefer not to have to purchase a smart charger if it can be avoided...?

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Myth busted! ;)
Dont use a STD charger or you will end up boiling them dry. Solar maybe but with all connected might not provide enough to keep the charge up on all of them.

Smart chargers are really the only way to go unless you constantly rotate them over in the engine bay.
If you have SH ones, run them at recondition mode first, then connect the new(er) ones.

A really good Ctek shouldn't set you back more than $200. Worth every cent!

Using Capitals, the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse or helping your uncle jack off a horse...

[drivesafe]

I’m not a fan of keeping batteries maintained 24/7 with battery chargers keeping the battery on permanent FLOAT mode.

The simplest way to maintain batteries is to fit a solar panel and let it cycle the battery every day.

with 4 batteries, a single 20w solar panel will maintain your 4 batteries with out the need of a solar regulator.

There is one potential problem, no matter what you decide to use to maintain your batteries and that is if one of the batteries drops a cell, the other 3 batteries will be pulled down to 10.5v.

But most people have no problems leaving all their batteries in a parallel set up and maintaining them together.

Hi Andrew and Tombie is correct, and while not so much a myth as more of a hangover from the days when battery cases were made from tar coated timber.

Storing batteries on concrete can actually help regulate the temperatures of the batteries.

[bee utey]

If you are worried about a dead battery pulling down the others, fit a diode between the solar panel and each battery. 1 or 3 amp diodes should suffice for a 20W panel.