A Helpful Word from Aqua Edge Batteries!

The time has come once again for many of us put away the poles and mull over boat storing options along with other summer toys.  Boats, motorcycles and RV’s are often tucked away over the winter months and forgotten about until spring.  However, if you wish to prevent finding a dead battery when it comes time to take your boats, motorcycles and RV’s out of storage, then you will need to continue to maintain the batteries through the winter months.
 
It is important to remember that batteries self discharge over time when they are not in use.  Additionally, your boat, motorcycle or RV may have some electronic devices that, even while turned off, are requiring a small but constant amount of energy from your battery.  This type of power draw from your battery is known in the battery industry as a parasitic draw. 
 
This is why devices such as a battery disconnect or battery maintainers are good investments.  A battery disconnect will cut power to your battery with just the flip of a switch, and are a very convenient option for people who commonly have their battery in storage.  Battery maintainers run power to your battery from a wall outlet.  This small but constant charge combats battery drain without causing the water in your battery to excessively evaporate.
 
Batteries that are not fully charged are capable of freezing in cold enough temperatures.  If you live in a cold climate you will want to consider keeping your batteries in a warmer area, such as a garage or basement.  Keeping your battery charged will also prevent lead sulfation, which occurs naturally during discharge.  The longer the battery sits in a discharged state, the harder it is to reverse the effects of sulfation through charging.  Although you may not be able to see it, lead sulfation is the most common cause of dead batteries that have been sitting in storage.
 
Check your batteries monthly while they are in storage.  Keep them at a comfortable temperature and in a dry place.  It is easy to forget about your batteries when your boat, motorcycle or RV is in winter storage.  But keep in mind that doing so will probably result in a dead battery in the spring.