maintain your batteries over winter

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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]I have 6 batteries to contend with every winter. It used to be 8, but I sold the RV in June. I remove all batteries and store them in a heated room in my garage. They are placed on 2 layers of cardboard on top of a foam carpet pad. They are all topped off, charge & water wise, and then not touched again until late April/early May when they are again topped off and reinstalled. I’ve been doing this for about 30 years and have never lost a battery in storage.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]For any function that requires constant draining and recharging of the battery – like with electric trolling motors – I will NEVER use any battery except an AGM. Yes, they cost more. But it has been proven with controlled testing that they will last longer than any other type of battery common to these applications. I have gotten 8 years use out of an AGM that was used (drained/recharged) about 40 times a year for duck hunting – the duck club only allowed electric trolling motors. The battery was still working as intended, but I didn’t want to chance getting stranded with up to a 500 yard plus paddle back to the launch area. The longest use I ever got out of a lead acid battery used in those conditions was 5 years and most die in 3 to 4.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]Last year, I bought a pair of ACDelco M24AGM Professional AGM Voyager BCI Group 24 Battery on Amazon Prime for $146 to run my 24V Minn Kota. Worth every penny from my perspective and experience with them in the past. Cabela’s has their brand on sale a couple times a year and I’ve had good luck with their brand in the past as well. Boat crank batteries don’t normally run through deep drains and recharges, so any good quality lead acid battery will give you longevity and function at a lower price.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping any battery under constant charge either in or out of the unit it powers during long storage periods. But my personal experience has shown me that my process works also. The only thing I would add is that removing and storing batteries is best done in a room temperature space.[/size][/#800000][/font]
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