Highsider
Jeeper
If I only had the time
Posts: 357
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Post by Highsider on Dec 3, 2011 8:29:47 GMT -4
An easy way to tell if a battery has been froze is the sides well usually stay swelled out and most likely its toast.
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Post by backwoodsLJ on Dec 3, 2011 8:31:44 GMT -4
I've allways just left in the JP and unhooked and its been ok in spring maybe down a touch but recharged back up.I like Allen's idea (90bronco) and stick a charger on it after a month or so for a few while wrenching in the shop and that will bring up..... Lots of great tips and thoughts on the subject thatnks to all that responded....
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pyth
Jeeper
Posts: 503
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Post by pyth on Dec 3, 2011 20:26:29 GMT -4
Conversely, I've also seen a battery melt. Though that had less to do with improper storage then me driving with a busted alternator for a week.
Protip-- Boiling battery smells like rotten onions. Do not grab the terminals with your bare hand and try to yank them off a battery in said condition. Burns result as the entire side of the battery comes with them. Not my finest hour :/
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Post by jeepfever on Dec 4, 2011 9:50:35 GMT -4
I have a spare standard lead/acid battery in my garage on a simple $19.95 Cdn Tire trickle charger. I'll likely bring it indoors this winter.
Does anybody know if a Gel Cel battery like an Optima freeze?
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Post by HardRox on Dec 4, 2011 9:56:36 GMT -4
my cobalt sits in the snow all winter and i dont un-hook the battery....mainly cause after its disconected for awhile it sets of the security system and i have the car re-programed at chev .... but it startes up just fine in the spring and i had it sittin for the last 5 months and it started just fine also
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Hawkes
Hardcore
Lurker
Posts: 5,404
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Post by Hawkes on Dec 4, 2011 11:36:20 GMT -4
I have a spare standard lead/acid battery in my garage on a simple $19.95 Cdn Tire trickle charger. I'll likely bring it indoors this winter. Does anybody know if a Gel Cel battery like an Optima freeze? I have a gel cell in my 4 wheeler that is 9 years old. It gets weak from using the winch for the plow so I sometimes put it on the trickle charger, so far so good.
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dan
Jeeper
Membership Co-ord - Valley
Posts: 3,397
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Post by dan on Dec 5, 2011 6:19:08 GMT -4
I thought I had read somewhere that you had to use a special charger or something for gel-cell batteries. maybe I was just imagining it.
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chevystroker
Jeeper
NEVER CONFUSE HAVING A CAREER WITH HAVING A LIFE ! ! ! ! ! !
Posts: 896
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Post by chevystroker on Dec 5, 2011 7:27:59 GMT -4
I thought I had read somewhere that you had to use a special charger or something for gel-cell batteries. maybe I was just imagining it. My charger has a switch to select the type of battery: Regular Lead acid; AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat); Gel type. So, I assume the charger charges each slightly different, though you may still be able to charge them with a regular charger with no problems. Do not know. FYI. Optimas are AGM types. Gel are different again.
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Hawkes
Hardcore
Lurker
Posts: 5,404
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Post by Hawkes on Dec 5, 2011 8:01:59 GMT -4
I thought I had read somewhere that you had to use a special charger or something for gel-cell batteries. maybe I was just imagining it. FYI. Optimas are AGM types. Gel are different again. Good info. I found this: That explains why the winch on the 4 wheeler sucks. I'm not sure I have other options, the battery lays on it's side in the bike. Search info says to charge gel at a reduced voltage, and that AGM are replacing gel cells.
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Post by Nightpath on Dec 22, 2011 13:13:23 GMT -4
Heat/cold will kill a battery over time, slowly...basically it's just the chemicals breaking down and separating, the heat and cold affect this. Leaving a battery hooked up but not charging it will let it slowly discharge and cause the same thing. After a while it just won't hold the full charge because of chemical breakdown.
I have a battery in my garage right now, was working awesome when my brother took it out of his old truck, he let it sit for a few months in the summer heat in his garage. Gave it to me and it's dead, sides all blown out and the works. Looked at it and it's one of those Eliminators.
Had another old battery that was leaking out of the post...taht sucker lasted me a year until I got rid of it. Was an Energizer brand.
IMHO it's battery build quality.
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