12 Volt Battery Maintenance

[macsfriended]

In olden days the general recommendation while charging a vehicle battery was to remove the caps (so hydrogen gas cold escape) and cloth cover the open cells (to keep dirt out).

I've started using a Battery Maintainer during the winter while the boats, lawn tractor, etc. were wintering in the garage. The Maintainer has circuitry that shuts it down when a battery nears full charge.

Sooooo, I've figgered that due to the Maintainers circuitry, it is safe to merely sping clamp the maintainer (2 amp charge) for a week or so without removing the batteries, cables, caps, etc from the batteries. Then merely rotate the Maintainer from battery to battery on a 1 week on and 3 weeks off basis.

Anybody who can say OK or "Don't do that" and why???

Thanks, Ed

 

[642mx]

Re: 12 Volt Battery Maintenance

Yeah... you can do that. It won't hurt anything.

 

[JRJ]

Re: 12 Volt Battery Maintenance

I keep all my batteries charged up. They last years longer if you keep up with them.

 

[martin6651]

Re: 12 Volt Battery Maintenance

I also have a question. I found a booster pack for starting cars and found that the battery was reading less than 1volt. Is there any way to bring it back to life.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: 12 Volt Battery Maintenance

I also have a question. I found a booster pack for starting cars and found that the battery was reading less than 1volt. Is there any way to bring it back to life.

Its not nice to hijack someone elses post. But the answer is no.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 12 Volt Battery Maintenance

I wouldn't worry about removing the caps during charging (especially with a 2amp maintainer), your car/truck battery is constantly being discharged/charged and the caps are never removed.

The only time I pop the caps is to check the water level, 1-2 times a year.

 

[martin6651]

Re: 12 Volt Battery Maintenance

Bill, SORRY for hijacking someone's post but as we were talking about batteries I thought it would be OK to ask a question.