What is the best way to store a battery over winter? Should it be placed on a maintainer/charger or simply stored in a heated basement or garage.
I was going to remove it from the tractor but don't know how to make sure it is ready to go again in The spring.
#2
exotion
i use a float charger or trickle charger on mine i leave it connected to the mower as well its outside under a tarp with an extension cord to an outlet
I take mine off in December and charge it at low amperage for about 12 hours. Then I place it in a plastic bucket and set the bucket on top of an old wood table in my basement. I charge it again in Febuary. The 21 ist of March i charge it again and put it back on the lawntractor. I have been told by a good many it would ruin the battery. I have been doing this for about 40 years. The book says to take it out, charge it, store it in a fairly warm place and put it back on in the spring. My uncle used to store several hundred batteries in the back storage room of his gas station. He kept it about 45 in there all winter. His batteries were very popular.
For winter storage I recommend getting a battery maintainer, they a fairly cheap if you shop around. Put the battery on a block of wood ing the garage, (or leave in the tractor if you have power available) and plug it in. Uses very little electricity and will be ready when you need it.
#5
Berniebac
I picked up a charger that is also a maintainer and will use that this winter. I will store it in my basement on the trickle charger and up off of the concrete floor. Thank you all for your methods.
#6
okiepc
The battery in my JD is soon to be 5 years old and still strong as new. I keep the mower in my shop, keep the battery clean along with the terminals. During the winter months I start it every couple weeks and let it idle for a bit, seems to do the job. :smile:
#7
Carscw
I don't do anything my back and side yards are fescue so I cut my grass year round
One of the cheap bat. Maintainers are hard to bet, i have one that i keep on a Bat, year round, the Bat is over 8 years old, still Hot, i took the Bat. off my standby Gen. when it was 6 years old, but i kept the old Bat. just to have as a back up Bat for all the things on the place that from time to time might have a dead Bat. i also use this old Bat. during fishing on my trolling Motor, its a NAPA Bat, I guess you get what you pay for, I quite the Auto Zone Bats.a long time ago
LakeRat1
PS: I have bought 2 of the solar Bat. Maintainers to instal on the Boat house to keep the Bat. on the Party Barge & Boat topped off, they are cheap at Harbor Freight, a Friend uses on to keep his Elect. fence Bat Charged
