outdoor battery storage

Well ... this may shock you, but I leave my battery in my jeep year round
.... temperatures range from -55 C (ok, for a coupla days one winter) to at
least 30 C and probably hotter under the hood ... .

My boat battery philosophy and rational ... I bring them indoors so they'll
be there next season ... along with the prop, the fish finder, the trolling
motor, ...


"Charles T. Low" <ctlow5 DeleteThis @boatUNdocking.com> wrote in message
news:D7idnUpJ97MfRo7dRVn-gw@b2b2c.ca...
 > We were talking about this here a while ago, and of course there are at
 > least two schools of thought on "outdoor" battery storage.
 >
 > It shouldn't hurt a battery which is well-maintained and fully charged.
 > (Such a battery will actually hold its charge better if kept cold.)
 >
 > But then, how do you know for sure? I had a deep-cycle battery on which I
 > even kept occasional specific gravity readings. but which "suddenly"
expired
 > this past summer (at about four years of age) and took the alternator
along
 > with it (or so the sequence of events seemed). And if one froze and burst
in
 > the boat, it would probably make a terrible mess - possibly even
dangerous.
 >
 > Anyway, both my batteries are new last summer, and one is in the garage
 > (because it hasn't been to the boat yet!), but the deep cycle is on the
 > boat. I climbed aboard yesterday, in minus 18 degree celsius temperatures
 > (and it's been down into the lower minus 20's overnight recently - brrr!),
 > and checked it with my digital voltmeter: 12.69V, same as the new starting
 > battery in the garage (unheated, but usually a little warmer than
outdoors).
 > It shouldn't even be that high in such temperatures, according to the
 > tables. I put a charger on the one in the garage, and it didn't even show
a
 > flicker of current draw.
 >
 > The freezing point of a fully-charged lead-acid battery's electroltye at
 > 12.65V is minus 67 celsius.
 >
 > So, I seem to be getting away with it, with proves nothing. But lots and
 > lots of people leave their batteries aboard over the winter, and I haven't
 > heard any horror stories. Anyone else?
 >
 > Charles
 >
 > P.S. See Darden's <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.batteryfaq.org" target="_blank">www.batteryfaq.org</a> - I still have lots to learn, as an
 > occasional foray into that site will show. How many people, for example,
do
 > load testing on their batteries? I don't.
 >
 > ====
 >
 > Charles T. Low
 > ctlow5 DeleteThis @boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatdocking.com</font" target="_blank">www.boatdocking.com</font</a>>
 > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26" target="_blank">www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26</a> - my boat
 >
 > ====
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

When the batteries are left in the boat do you also disconnect pos/neg
cables or only the negative one?
If it is sure bet that there is no harm then I'll leave them in next year

--
c ya Wim
www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html


"Ken Heaton" <No-spam RemoveThis @this.address.thanks> wrote in message
news:DiRQb.3554$Ja2.48344@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
: comments below:
:
: "Charles T. Low" <ctlow5 RemoveThis @boatUNdocking.com> wrote in message
: news:D7idnUpJ97MfRo7dRVn-gw@b2b2c.ca...
: > We were talking about this here a while ago, and of course there are at
: > least two schools of thought on "outdoor" battery storage.
: >
: > It shouldn't hurt a battery which is well-maintained and fully charged.
: > (Such a battery will actually hold its charge better if kept cold.)
: <snipped bit was here>
: > Anyway, both my batteries are new last summer, and one is in the garage
: > (because it hasn't been to the boat yet!), but the deep cycle is on the
: > boat. I climbed aboard yesterday, in minus 18 degree celsius
temperatures
: > (and it's been down into the lower minus 20's overnight recently -
brrr!),
: > and checked it with my digital voltmeter: 12.69V, same as the new
starting
: > battery in the garage (unheated, but usually a little warmer than
: outdoors).
: > It shouldn't even be that high in such temperatures, according to the
: > tables. I put a charger on the one in the garage, and it didn't even
show
: a
: > flicker of current draw.
:
: Batteries will not accept a charge at normal charging voltages when they
are
: that cold so not accepting a charge when cold isn't telling you much. An
: elevated charging voltage to raise the battery's temp. or taking it
indoors
: to warm it up would show a big difference in charge acceptance. However,
we
: do the same thing as you, charge fully when the weather gets cold and then
: leave the batteries in the boat and ignore them for the winter. No horror
: stories yet after 20 years of doing that. It was 20 below this morning
when
: I looked out.
: --
: Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
: Cape Breton Island, Canada
: kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca>
:
: > The freezing point of a fully-charged lead-acid battery's electroltye at
: > 12.65V is minus 67 celsius.
: >
: > So, I seem to be getting away with it, with proves nothing. But lots and
: > lots of people leave their batteries aboard over the winter, and I
haven't
: > heard any horror stories. Anyone else?
: >
: > Charles
: >
: > P.S. See Darden's www.batteryfaq.org - I still have lots to learn, as an
: > occasional foray into that site will show. How many people, for example,
: do
: > load testing on their batteries? I don't.
: >
: > ====
: >
: > Charles T. Low
: > ctlow5 RemoveThis @boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
: > www.boatdocking.com
: > www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat
: >
:
:
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

Wim,

Yes, absolutely I disconnect the negative post(s) at least.

Ken,

Thanks for that information. So, what occurs to me from that is: if
batteries won't accept a charge at "normal charging voltages" when cold,
then how do car batteries get charged in winter?

bowgus,

Nobody steals boat batteries around here. Never heard of it! Booze,
sometimes. Radios - the AM/FM kind, not VHF. Perhaps not a very
sophisticated or erudite class of thieves in these parts!

====

Charles T. Low
ctlow5.DeleteThis@boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatdocking.com" target="_blank">www.boatdocking.com</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26" target="_blank">www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26</a> - my boat

====


"Wim" <wim.DeleteThis@kingston.net> wrote in message
news:1018gnj1p0u1kc5@corp.supernews.com...
 > When the batteries are left in the boat do you also disconnect pos/neg
 > cables or only the negative one?
 > If it is sure bet that there is no harm then I'll leave them in next year
 >
 > --
 > c ya Wim
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font" target="_blank">www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font</a>>
 >
 >
 > "Ken Heaton" <No-spam.DeleteThis@this.address.thanks> wrote in message
 > news:DiRQb.3554$Ja2.48344@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
 > : comments below:
 > :
 > : "Charles T. Low" <ctlow5.DeleteThis@boatUNdocking.com> wrote in message
 > : news:D7idnUpJ97MfRo7dRVn-gw@b2b2c.ca...
 > : > We were talking about this here a while ago, and of course there are
at
 > : > least two schools of thought on "outdoor" battery storage.
 > : >
 > : > It shouldn't hurt a battery which is well-maintained and fully
charged.
 > : > (Such a battery will actually hold its charge better if kept cold.)
 > : <snipped bit was here>
 > : > Anyway, both my batteries are new last summer, and one is in the
garage
 > : > (because it hasn't been to the boat yet!), but the deep cycle is on
the
 > : > boat. I climbed aboard yesterday, in minus 18 degree celsius
 > temperatures
 > : > (and it's been down into the lower minus 20's overnight recently -
 > brrr!),
 > : > and checked it with my digital voltmeter: 12.69V, same as the new
 > starting
 > : > battery in the garage (unheated, but usually a little warmer than
 > : outdoors).
 > : > It shouldn't even be that high in such temperatures, according to the
 > : > tables. I put a charger on the one in the garage, and it didn't even
 > show
 > : a
 > : > flicker of current draw.
 > :
 > : Batteries will not accept a charge at normal charging voltages when they
 > are
 > : that cold so not accepting a charge when cold isn't telling you much.
An
 > : elevated charging voltage to raise the battery's temp. or taking it
 > indoors
 > : to warm it up would show a big difference in charge acceptance.
However,
 > we
 > : do the same thing as you, charge fully when the weather gets cold and
then
 > : leave the batteries in the boat and ignore them for the winter. No
horror
 > : stories yet after 20 years of doing that. It was 20 below this morning
 > when
 > : I looked out.
 > : --
 > : Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
 > : Cape Breton Island, Canada
 > : kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca>
 > :
 > : > The freezing point of a fully-charged lead-acid battery's electroltye
at
 > : > 12.65V is minus 67 celsius.
 > : >
 > : > So, I seem to be getting away with it, with proves nothing. But lots
and
 > : > lots of people leave their batteries aboard over the winter, and I
 > haven't
 > : > heard any horror stories. Anyone else?
 > : >
 > : > Charles
 > : >
 > : > P.S. See Darden's <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.batteryfaq.org" target="_blank">www.batteryfaq.org</a> - I still have lots to learn, as
an
 > : > occasional foray into that site will show. How many people, for
example,
 > : do
 > : > load testing on their batteries? I don't.
 > : >
 > : > ====
 > : >
 > : > Charles T. Low
 > : > ctlow5.DeleteThis@boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
<font color=purple> > : > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatdocking.com</font" target="_blank">www.boatdocking.com</font</a>>
 > : > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26" target="_blank">www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26</a> - my boat
 > : >
 > :
 > :
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

So maybe you live in an upper class area ... I'm in the city ... my property
backs onto a bike path/walking path ... lotsa traffic ... and that's where I
park my boat/trailer. Anything not nailed down disappears eventually. I'm
not complaining ... I prefer the city ... and theft off the property is just
part of living here. No breakins or vandalism ... just kids picking up
stuff likely for a coupla bucks for some adult to pawn.

Was awakened by the dog one night at about 4:00 am to see three kids ... one
at one corner of the lot, another at another corner (lookouts), and a third
dismantling my stepson's bike which was up on the front porch chained to a
pillar ... it was a rainy windy night, they obviously could not hear the dog
barking inside the house.

Opened the door and away they went ... all three well dressed, clean cut ...
meaning if you met them on the street you'd think ... geez ... there's a
bunch of good kids ... yeah right ... they just don't understand the path
they've started started down.


"Charles T. Low" <ctlow5 DeleteThis @boatUNdocking.com> wrote in message
news:asCdnT8bFO-JSIjdRVn-vw@b2b2c.ca...
 > Wim,
 >
 > Yes, absolutely I disconnect the negative post(s) at least.
 >
 > Ken,
 >
 > Thanks for that information. So, what occurs to me from that is: if
 > batteries won't accept a charge at "normal charging voltages" when cold,
 > then how do car batteries get charged in winter?
 >
 > bowgus,
 >
 > Nobody steals boat batteries around here. Never heard of it! Booze,
 > sometimes. Radios - the AM/FM kind, not VHF. Perhaps not a very
 > sophisticated or erudite class of thieves in these parts!
 >
 > ====
 >
 > Charles T. Low
 > ctlow5 DeleteThis @boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatdocking.com</font" target="_blank">www.boatdocking.com</font</a>>
 > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26" target="_blank">www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26</a> - my boat
 >
 > ====
 >
 >
 > "Wim" <wim DeleteThis @kingston.net> wrote in message
 > news:1018gnj1p0u1kc5@corp.supernews.com...
  > > When the batteries are left in the boat do you also disconnect pos/neg
  > > cables or only the negative one?
  > > If it is sure bet that there is no harm then I'll leave them in next
year
  > >
  > > --
  > > c ya Wim
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font" target="_blank">www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font</a>>
  > >
  > >
  > > "Ken Heaton" <No-spam DeleteThis @this.address.thanks> wrote in message
  > > news:DiRQb.3554$Ja2.48344@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
  > > : comments below:
  > > :
  > > : "Charles T. Low" <ctlow5 DeleteThis @boatUNdocking.com> wrote in message
  > > : news:D7idnUpJ97MfRo7dRVn-gw@b2b2c.ca...
  > > : > We were talking about this here a while ago, and of course there are
 > at
  > > : > least two schools of thought on "outdoor" battery storage.
  > > : >
  > > : > It shouldn't hurt a battery which is well-maintained and fully
 > charged.
  > > : > (Such a battery will actually hold its charge better if kept cold.)
  > > : <snipped bit was here>
  > > : > Anyway, both my batteries are new last summer, and one is in the
 > garage
  > > : > (because it hasn't been to the boat yet!), but the deep cycle is on
 > the
  > > : > boat. I climbed aboard yesterday, in minus 18 degree celsius
  > > temperatures
  > > : > (and it's been down into the lower minus 20's overnight recently -
  > > brrr!),
  > > : > and checked it with my digital voltmeter: 12.69V, same as the new
  > > starting
  > > : > battery in the garage (unheated, but usually a little warmer than
  > > : outdoors).
  > > : > It shouldn't even be that high in such temperatures, according to
the
  > > : > tables. I put a charger on the one in the garage, and it didn't even
  > > show
  > > : a
  > > : > flicker of current draw.
  > > :
  > > : Batteries will not accept a charge at normal charging voltages when
they
  > > are
  > > : that cold so not accepting a charge when cold isn't telling you much.
 > An
  > > : elevated charging voltage to raise the battery's temp. or taking it
  > > indoors
  > > : to warm it up would show a big difference in charge acceptance.
 > However,
  > > we
  > > : do the same thing as you, charge fully when the weather gets cold and
 > then
  > > : leave the batteries in the boat and ignore them for the winter. No
 > horror
  > > : stories yet after 20 years of doing that. It was 20 below this
morning
  > > when
  > > : I looked out.
  > > : --
  > > : Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
  > > : Cape Breton Island, Canada
  > > : kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca>
  > > :
  > > : > The freezing point of a fully-charged lead-acid battery's
electroltye
 > at
  > > : > 12.65V is minus 67 celsius.
  > > : >
  > > : > So, I seem to be getting away with it, with proves nothing. But lots
 > and
  > > : > lots of people leave their batteries aboard over the winter, and I
  > > haven't
  > > : > heard any horror stories. Anyone else?
  > > : >
  > > : > Charles
  > > : >
  > > : > P.S. See Darden's <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.batteryfaq.org" target="_blank">www.batteryfaq.org</a> - I still have lots to learn,
as
 > an
  > > : > occasional foray into that site will show. How many people, for
 > example,
  > > : do
  > > : > load testing on their batteries? I don't.
  > > : >
  > > : > ====
  > > : >
  > > : > Charles T. Low
  > > : > ctlow5 DeleteThis @boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
<font color=green>  > > : > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.boatdocking.com</font" target="_blank">www.boatdocking.com</font</a>>
  > > : > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26" target="_blank">www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26</a> - my boat
  > > : >
  > > :
  > > :
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

"Charles T. Low" wrote:

 > Thanks for that information. So, what occurs to me from that is: if
 > batteries won't accept a charge at "normal charging voltages" when cold,
 > then how do car batteries get charged in winter?

Looks to me like they don't, at least very well. As proof, the thousands of
calls to CAA, here in Montreal, for jump starts as soon as the temperatures
gets below -20C. I have a new car and have this problem. I'm sure the
manufacturers put the very low end of batteries in them in order to keep the
cost as low as possible. Canadian Tire sells batteries with twice the reserve
than original ones. So when half charged, they still have enough amperage left
to crank the engine. Never had any problem with those when I bought their top
of the line ones. They'll sure sell me another one for the new car.

Since the boat's batteries are here at home, they got very handy for jump
starting the car this winter. I also use them during power outages (they mostly
occur in winter!) to keep the boat's TV running and follow the situation.
Remember the ice strom? They ran the TV and some lights for the 48 hours we
lacked electricity. So this is why I bring them home!

Jean Dufour
Montreal, Qc

And never thought I'd one day qualify the -14C we have this morning as
"warm"!!! <!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

And never thought I'd one day qualify the -14C we have this morning as
"warm"!!!

Bonjour,
Ready then for a swim )??
--
c ya Wim
www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html


"Jean Dufour" <"moyac1"@sympa(nospam)tico.ca> wrote in message
news:%yPRb.28310$mf4.1008147@news20.bellglobal.com...
: "Charles T. Low" wrote:
:
: > Thanks for that information. So, what occurs to me from that is: if
: > batteries won't accept a charge at "normal charging voltages" when cold,
: > then how do car batteries get charged in winter?
:
: Looks to me like they don't, at least very well. As proof, the thousands
of
: calls to CAA, here in Montreal, for jump starts as soon as the
temperatures
: gets below -20C. I have a new car and have this problem. I'm sure the
: manufacturers put the very low end of batteries in them in order to keep
the
: cost as low as possible. Canadian Tire sells batteries with twice the
reserve
: than original ones. So when half charged, they still have enough amperage
left
: to crank the engine. Never had any problem with those when I bought their
top
: of the line ones. They'll sure sell me another one for the new car.
:
: Since the boat's batteries are here at home, they got very handy for jump
: starting the car this winter. I also use them during power outages (they
mostly
: occur in winter!) to keep the boat's TV running and follow the situation.
: Remember the ice strom? They ran the TV and some lights for the 48 hours
we
: lacked electricity. So this is why I bring them home!
:
: Jean Dufour
: Montreal, Qc
:
: And never thought I'd one day qualify the -14C we have this morning as
: "warm"!!!
:
:
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

Salut Wim!

Yep, anytime... in my dry suit!!! I'm a certified under ice scuba diver!
Got to do somethin' while I can't boat!

There's also that heated outdoor pool on the top of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel
for non-diving people interested in doing crazy things while in Montreal.

Jean

Wim wrote:

 > Bonjour,
 > Ready then for a swim )??
 > --
 > c ya Wim
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font" target="_blank">www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font</a>><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

"Wim" <wim.TakeThisOut@kingston.net> wrote in message
news:1018gnj1p0u1kc5@corp.supernews.com...
 > When the batteries are left in the boat do you also disconnect pos/neg
 > cables or only the negative one?
 > If it is sure bet that there is no harm then I'll leave them in next year
 >
 > --
 > c ya Wim
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font" target="_blank">www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html</font</a>>
 >
Actually, sometimes we don't disconnect any cables, just turn the battery
switch off. That isolates both batteries from each other and from every
circuit in the boat except one. That one circuit is a small separately
fused lead used to maintain presets in the radio/tape player. That circuit
we pull the fuse from. We eventually pull the cables off the posts in the
spring during regular maintenance to clean them up for better connections.
Of course this isn't the Yukon, the coldest it's been so far this winter is
21 below...
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

Hi:

For what it's worth and the time it takes, pulling just the pos+ cable
did the trick for me for several years. Prior to that I ruined more
stuff including clothing with spills than I saved. I also found it a
smart choice to flush the entire top of the batteries with a baking soda
solution every spring when I went in and reconnected stuff. Bilge pulls
it out and gets a flushing too.



Ken Heaton wrote:

 > "Wim" <wim DeleteThis @kingston.net> wrote in message
 > news:1018gnj1p0u1kc5@corp.supernews.com...
 >
  >>When the batteries are left in the boat do you also disconnect pos/neg
  >>cables or only the negative one?
  >>If it is sure bet that there is no harm then I'll leave them in next year
  >>
  >>--
  >>c ya Wim
  >>www.cruising.ca/thousand/f-index.html
  >>
 >
 > Actually, sometimes we don't disconnect any cables, just turn the battery
 > switch off. That isolates both batteries from each other and from every
 > circuit in the boat except one. That one circuit is a small separately
 > fused lead used to maintain presets in the radio/tape player. That circuit
 > we pull the fuse from. We eventually pull the cables off the posts in the
 > spring during regular maintenance to clean them up for better connections.
 > Of course this isn't the Yukon, the coldest it's been so far this winter is
 > 21 below...<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 17:58:48 -0500, rcgordo <fwf.RemoveThis@execulink.com> wrote:

 >Hi:
 >
 >For what it's worth and the time it takes, pulling just the pos+ cable
 >did the trick for me for several years. Prior to that I ruined more
 >stuff including clothing with spills than I saved. I also found it a
 >smart choice to flush the entire top of the batteries with a baking soda
 >solution every spring when I went in and reconnected stuff. Bilge pulls
 >it out and gets a flushing too.
 >
 >
 >
If it was me I'd use a rag dipped in a baking soda solution. If some
of the solution gets into the battery through a vent or cap it could
destroy that cell and the battery with it. Just something to think
about.
Mark E. Williams<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

That is possible I suppose but my experience was the hole in the cap had
the effect of an air lock. My method invovled pouring the solution
around and on top of the battery rather than just dumping it on at
random. very little ever got close to the hole in the caps.

It was suprising tho, that as clean as the top of the battery may have
looked it almost always fizzles while reacting to the soda.

Maynard G. Krebbs wrote:
 > On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 17:58:48 -0500, rcgordo <fwf.DeleteThis@execulink.com> wrote:
 >
 >
  >>Hi:
  >>
  >>For what it's worth and the time it takes, pulling just the pos+ cable
  >>did the trick for me for several years. Prior to that I ruined more
  >>stuff including clothing with spills than I saved. I also found it a
  >>smart choice to flush the entire top of the batteries with a baking soda
  >>solution every spring when I went in and reconnected stuff. Bilge pulls
  >>it out and gets a flushing too.
  >>
  >>
  >>
 >
 > If it was me I'd use a rag dipped in a baking soda solution. If some
 > of the solution gets into the battery through a vent or cap it could
 > destroy that cell and the battery with it. Just something to think
 > about.
 > Mark E. Williams<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage 

Baking soda getting into the cells will ruin it. Hot water dissolves
sulphates from spilled acid and with no risk of damage to anything.

Tan PS


"Maynard G. Krebbs" <eatsalot RemoveThis @thegalley.sink> wrote in message
news:rcko109tqil9toi67ktrq9b7m01ajipc1d@4ax.com...
 > On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 17:58:48 -0500, rcgordo <fwf RemoveThis @execulink.com> wrote:
 >
  > >Hi:
  > >
  > >For what it's worth and the time it takes, pulling just the pos+ cable
  > >did the trick for me for several years. Prior to that I ruined more
  > >stuff including clothing with spills than I saved. I also found it a
  > >smart choice to flush the entire top of the batteries with a baking soda
  > >solution every spring when I went in and reconnected stuff. Bilge pulls
  > >it out and gets a flushing too.
  > >
  > >
  > >
 > If it was me I'd use a rag dipped in a baking soda solution. If some
 > of the solution gets into the battery through a vent or cap it could
 > destroy that cell and the battery with it. Just something to think
 > about.
 > Mark E. Williams<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: outdoor battery storage