The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Dan on August 30, 2011, 09:34:52 pm
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When I swapped over the battery our main electric fence battery tonight I wondered if it makes any difference whether I charge the drained battery before storing it?
Usually I recharge the spare once the low charge light goes on the battery in use, but I think that I read somewhere that some types of battery benefit from being stored fully charged.
If it makes any difference we're using these:
http://www.elecsolbatteries.com/products/Batteries/Elecsol-100.html (http://www.elecsolbatteries.com/products/Batteries/Elecsol-100.html)
Ta. :)
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Hi Dan
Batteries should be stored fully charged. I think the recommendation is that you check them and "top them up" once a month during storage. Ours get checked every 2 or 3 months when not in use and don't seem to have taken any harm.
Another point, when you finally want to use one of them, perhaps in an emergency, how long are you going to want to wait for it to charge...... ;D
Dave
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Yep, agree with Dave here Dan.
I think I remember when our 1st "kit" came it said something about the warranty on the battery being void if we didn't keep it "in constant use" ???
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Thanks folks, very helpful. :)
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Yes, definitely store any lead acid type battery fully charged and somewhere cool, and if stored for a long time top, up the charge every 2 - 6 months (more often if it's warm).
And ideally when you use them they should be swapped and recharged before the voltage drops below 12.2v for maximum life.
m
PS NiCads should be stored discharged.