CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Please Read "Batteries discharged while sitting" ?

01-18-2014, 10:57 AM

Batteries were made with a carbon case a long time ago, the carbon would act as a conductor with the cement and produce a slow discharge. When the cases were produced with a plastic case some time 50+ years ago this issue went away

What ever its worth, I live in the Northeast. We have cold winters that last for 3 to 5 months. When a battery is subjected to cold for long periods of time without starting or maintenance, the can discharge over time. The good batteries can handle this better then the cheap ones. I have run Delco's, Odyssey, and now Optima in my 2 cars. One practice I started was to pull the battery out of the car and store it in the basement, and then use a tender on it here and there during storage. I think keeping it out of the extreme cold of the winter and simple charging maintenance goes a long way to a battery lasting. My Delco lasted until I changed to an Odyssey, ( for weight ) that was 3 years racing and 5 years in my friends street car. The Odyssey lasted 6 years, and went with my GTO when I sold it, and was used after for a year or so.
I now have a Red Top in my Firebird going on 3 years. Not saying my method is the end all be all, but I've had good results.

01-18-2014, 10:57 AM	#6
Todd Hoven Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Please Read "Batteries discharged while sitting" ? Batteries were made with a carbon case a long time ago, the carbon would act as a conductor with the cement and produce a slow discharge. When the cases were produced with a plastic case some time 50+ years ago this issue went away What ever its worth, I live in the Northeast. We have cold winters that last for 3 to 5 months. When a battery is subjected to cold for long periods of time without starting or maintenance, the can discharge over time. The good batteries can handle this better then the cheap ones. I have run Delco's, Odyssey, and now Optima in my 2 cars. One practice I started was to pull the battery out of the car and store it in the basement, and then use a tender on it here and there during storage. I think keeping it out of the extreme cold of the winter and simple charging maintenance goes a long way to a battery lasting. My Delco lasted until I changed to an Odyssey, ( for weight ) that was 3 years racing and 5 years in my friends street car. The Odyssey lasted 6 years, and went with my GTO when I sold it, and was used after for a year or so. I now have a Red Top in my Firebird going on 3 years. Not saying my method is the end all be all, but I've had good results.