how long do your batteries last after sitting
If you have a standard lead acid battery, here is some stuff to know. There are lead plates separated vertically with the electrolyte all around them. When it sits for too long, the plates develop a sulfur build up that prevents the basic chemical reaction that allows a battery to take & release a charge in a manner we all know & love. First of all, plain water will speed up the sulfur build up & reduce the lifespan, so do not use it. There are a lot of videos on youtube on refurnishing a battery. I will keep it short here for you, but I have been using this formula to make even the cheapest batteries last at least 10 years. Get a float or trickle charger. Harbor Freight sells them for less than $10 on most days. Use 1/2 gallon of DISTILLED water & completely mix in 1/2 cup epsom salts. You just made real live battery electrolyte! Now, dump all the old electrolyte safely, and top it off with the new mix, then put the float charger on it for 24-48 hours & this will not only fully charge it, but de-sulfate the inner plates & you just saved money from not buying a new battery. It only works if your battery has the removable plugs or plastic plates on top of course.
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Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
From: WV
my battery is fine if i unhook it.
Thread Starter
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Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
From: WV
If you have a standard lead acid battery, here is some stuff to know. There are lead plates separated vertically with the electrolyte all around them. When it sits for too long, the plates develop a sulfur build up that prevents the basic chemical reaction that allows a battery to take & release a charge in a manner we all know & love. First of all, plain water will speed up the sulfur build up & reduce the lifespan, so do not use it. There are a lot of videos on youtube on refurnishing a battery. I will keep it short here for you, but I have been using this formula to make even the cheapest batteries last at least 10 years. Get a float or trickle charger. Harbor Freight sells them for less than $10 on most days. Use 1/2 gallon of DISTILLED water & completely mix in 1/2 cup epsom salts. You just made real live battery electrolyte! Now, dump all the old electrolyte safely, and top it off with the new mix, then put the float charger on it for 24-48 hours & this will not only fully charge it, but de-sulfate the inner plates & you just saved money from not buying a new battery. It only works if your battery has the removable plugs or plastic plates on top of course.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 10
From: Gainesville, Ga.
audio, alarm, or remote start is probably draining it.
put a battery disconnect like this on it for under $5.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Ba...item35b86e6b62
put a battery disconnect like this on it for under $5.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Ba...item35b86e6b62
The point made about a battery drain is a valid one. Rather that bandaid it, look for the source of the drain. Pull the negative cable off, then attach a test light from the negative cable to the negative terminal on the battery. With the key off, the test light should not be on. If it is on, then remove 1 fuse at a time until the test light goes out. When you remove the fuse that puts the light out, then you know which circuit is draining the battery & track it down from there. If the test light is not on at all when you start, then test the charging system. With the truck off, test the voltage at the battery terminals, then have a friend crank it up while the test leads for the voltmeter are still on the battery terminals. If the voltage drops more than 2 volts, then either the alternator or battery is it fault. Also check the battery cable leads at all their connection points top & bottom to make sure all is solid & clean of corrosion there.
