What battery charger for winter storage?

-
DartGTDan

DartGTDan

'71 Dart GT Fan
Joined
May 29, 2004
Messages
1,719
Reaction score
2,359
Location
metro-Detroit
I "store" my car in my attached garage during the winter months (typically November to April). What battery charger do you use?
 
or simply remove the battery and store it at room temp shouldn't drain or use electricity the whole winter, unless you have a climate controlled garage like mine they store fine here in Colorado
 
X2 on the Battery Tender. Go for the Battery Tender + model, not the wall wart. The BT+ has diagnostic LEDs and two pig tails. One pig tail has clamps, the other has eyes that can be connected to battery leads for goof resistant quick hookups regardless of lighting or sobriety. I've been using them in the garage at work for a few years without any Tender or battery failures.
 
I use a BatteryMINDer purchased at Northern Tool. It has automatic desulphation maintenance. 2,4,8 Amp charge settings, and charge profiles for the 3 different lead acid batteries: AGM, flooded, and gel. It comes both with clamps and wired pigtail. The colored LED indicators are helpful, showing battery condition, before, during and after charge.
 
dragondan64 said:
or simply remove the battery and store it at room temp shouldn't drain or use electricity the whole winter, unless you have a climate controlled garage like mine they store fine here in Colorado
Click to expand...

Actually you should charge it fully or in other words determine that it is fully charged and store it in a COOL place.

The warmer the battery, just like any chemical reaction, the faster it will self discharge.

Some people keep flashlight / other batteries in the freezer. I don't do that but I DO keep them in the 'fridge.
 
Battery tender Jr.
Have had the same one for over 15 years and it still work great.
Pick one up at any motorcycle shop.
I have 2 4 wheelers and 5 antique cars, it is always plugged into one of them.
My oldest 4 wheeler is a 2004 that I bought new and it still has the original battery.
 
sireland67 said:
Battery tender Jr.Have had the same one for over 15 years and it still work great.Pick one up at any motorcycle shop.I have 2 4 wheelers and 5 antique cars, it is always plugged into one of them.My oldest 4 wheeler is a 2004 that I bought new and it still has the original battery.
Click to expand...

This is the one I buy and if I'm not driving my car it's plugged in.


Cranks every time like you started it yesterday.

And if the fuel system is good it starts that way too..

You can buy them on ebay or direct from battery tender
 
sireland67 said:
Battery tender Jr.Have had the same one for over 15 years and it still work great.Pick one up at any motorcycle shop.I have 2 4 wheelers and 5 antique cars, it is always plugged into one of them.My oldest 4 wheeler is a 2004 that I bought new and it still has the original battery.
Click to expand...

Same here. First of every month I swap it out to my lawn tractor battery.
 
Another vote for Battery Tenders. I have them on all my stored stuff. 4 wheeler, lawn mower, trailer winch battery, race car , street car and more
 
Shcumacher battery tender brand.

I got two of the cheap ones at a swap meet for $10 each. I wire tied them to the rafters above the battery locations for the two cars I store in my garage. I don't use them all the time but they're nice to have there if I'm working on a charging or cranking issue.

I also picked up the next model up for $13, which is a 10/6/trickle IIRC. I have that at my shop. Careful with the harbor freight ones. For one thing, the LED lights no matter which terminals are connected!?

OK, it's this one-
 

Attachments

  • charger s.jpg
    33.8 KB · Views: 168
Harbor Freight float battery charger. $9.99! Can't beat it with a stick! Been using it for years on my cars. I have a Battery Tender Jr. and Schumacher I use on my motorcycles, also.
 
I use the harbor freight one also but only leave it on for 8 hours or so every other month through the winter. I store my cars in a 54 degree attached garage last batt lasted 8.5 years and was still good when I retired it.
 
I like to start the car a couple time through the winter. Usually don't run it long, so charge battery each time. Just a basic charger, no need to continually charge.
 
My boat is stored outside, car is garaged. Some of us boaters go a little (lol, a lot) overboard with the batteries. After winterizing the engine I full charge them before moving them onto a cart in the basement. I also pull the onboard charger to maintain them once a month or so.
http://www.dualpro.com/products/professional-series/
My car, I just disconnect the battery and clip on the old 2/6 amp sears charger for an hour or two.
 
I guess as I get older I get "ornery"!. I hate the fact its hard for me to find a 5 yr battery that will last that long. the " guarantees" for that 5 yr is a joke!???
I have 5 old mopars that I am either working on or driving some during winter. s w Missouri roads are dry and salt free in the country here 99% of the time.
I have an open shed, 2 sides completely open. I never tried those slow chargers. from what I gather here, if I place it on a battery one day a month, they will stay up, or should I just place charger on there for full charge every so often?????
I try to keep bout 3 batteries on hand for the old mopers.... then the cummins has 2 ,, the tractor has one BIG one! need bank loan to keep enough batteries!!!??
 
I make sure mine in charged 100%, and leave it in the car .It is in a building with no heat or power, and starts every spring with no assistance .
 
I use a CTEK 56-865 charger. Plug in and forget about it for the winter.

Dennis
 
zkx14 said:
I like to start the car a couple time through the winter. Usually don't run it long, so charge battery each time. Just a basic charger, no need to continually charge.
Click to expand...
Thats about the worst thing you can do, not for the battery but for the engine and exhaust system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top