Wintering Battery

[puskrat]

Things I believe:
Lead acid batteries discharge when Idle.
Lead acid batteries cook off electrolyte when over charged.
Maintainers are awesome for keeping a battery charged during the off season.
I dont have a maintainer.
I do have a 6/2 AMP, 12V charger.

Is it feasible practical and wise to cycle my battery between disconnected and 2A charging during winter? I have the battery out, on my bench. My only previous experience is with deep cycle marine batteries or in-use auto batteries. for the boat I just had to charge hard before going out after an off season or a period of summer idle.

I'm sure I'll get all sorts of knowledge from the hive. thanks in advance

[Rasputin]

Charge it, disconnect it, walk away till spring. I get 6 or 7 years out of those batteries and we have very long winters up here. A fully charged battery will not freeze until like minus 127 or some such number. Suffice it to say it is a ridiculous number.

[MaximPhil]

Originally Posted by puskrat

Things I believe:
Lead acid batteries discharge when Idle.
Lead acid batteries cook off electrolyte when over charged.
Maintainers are awesome for keeping a battery charged during the off season.
I dont have a maintainer.
I do have a 6/2 AMP, 12V charger.

Is it feasible practical and wise to cycle my battery between disconnected and 2A charging during winter? I have the battery out, on my bench. My only previous experience is with deep cycle marine batteries or in-use auto batteries. for the boat I just had to charge hard before going out after an off season or a period of summer idle.

I'm sure I'll get all sorts of knowledge from the hive. thanks in advance

Hi puskrat,
Ironically the colder the battery the slower it discharges when stored.
Having the battery on the bench I would put it on charge at 2 amp setting perhaps every month to 6 weeks. Check the fluid level too.
Phil

[puskrat]

Thanks gents. I guessed I was making a bigger issue out of things than I needed.