Do batteries die when stood?

[haynes]

My car is stood for 6 months over the winter, does that kill the battery off? It gets started and moved around a bit maybe once a month. Why dont batteries degrade on the shop shelfs?

My battery has had it but i'm reluctant to get one now, before the car goes away for the winter, unless theres no real harm in having it stood.

[FWDRacer]

Yes - a battery needs to be cycled. Discharged and recharged to get a flow of electrons from electrolyte to battery plate and reverse. Over a winter the battery will naturally lose charge (more in a cold environment) so a trickle charge or regular starting of the car is required.

[Twizz]

Look at getting a battery tender, most people use the for motorcycles but I use them for anything... They come with a nifty connector cable which saves you having to take the battery off etc.

I have an Optimate, accumate and oxford also make them.

[cambiker71]

In answer to the first post, batteries do degrade left on the shelf, we check ours weekly and have a return system for stock older than 3 months, the optimate advice is good, they work great at keeping a battery in good order, i've heard good things about the "solar" trickle chrgers too but not tried one myself.

[Twizz]

cambiker71 said:

In answer to the first post, batteries do degrade left on the shelf, we check ours weekly and have a return system for stock older than 3 months, the optimate advice is good, they work great at keeping a battery in good order, i've heard good things about the "solar" trickle chrgers too but not tried one myself.

I have two, one on my caravelle and one on my campervan - They both work as I have no trouble starting them when they are left standing (even though both have alarms etc)

Well worth it

Edited by Twizz on Monday 13th October 09:55