6V Battery and Winter storage

[GrumpyJim]

So, I won't be driving my 49 Traveler much this winter. Normally I would put a Battery Tender on my vehicle to keep the Battery happy. Since this is my first car with a 6-volt system and positive ground. What is the best way to keep a battery charged during winter storage?

[Митя]

Fully charge and place in a dry and warm place (+10 degrees  Celsius and above). A good battery holds a charge for up to half a year.

Edited December 20, 2023 by Митя

[DonaldSmith]

My battery tender has a 6-volt setting. 

[Sam Buchanan]

27 minutes ago, GrumpyJim said:

So, I won't be driving my 49 Traveler much this winter. Normally I would put a Battery Tender on my vehicle to keep the Battery happy. Since this is my first car with a 6-volt system and positive ground. What is the best way to keep a battery charged during winter storage?

 

Same way you would keep a 12v battery in good health. 

[Bob Ritter]

I like to use a tranquil charger once a month for about 6 to 8 hours. First I disconnect the ground wire and check the battery water level and let the charger do it's job. The charger turns it's self off when it's fully charged. I also leave the battery disconnected until I get ready to drive the car. I don't see the need to remove the battery.

[Marcel Backs]

Cold is the enemy of an idle battery. Put a charger on it a couple times through the winter and as aforementioned keep it in a warm environment . If it is lead acid non sealed type ensure charging is done in an area where there is adequate ventilation, since the old style batts off gas (nasty stuff) during charging as opposed to sealed AGM batteries which do not.  This makes me wonder why MOPARS had batteries mounted under the seat. A slow charge setting is always preferred to a fast charge to prolong it's life. Hope this helps. M

[GrumpyJim]

I'm thinking I may pull the battery because the building the car is stored in does not have heat.

[Sam Buchanan]

Jim, just for clarification, the fact your car is wired for positive ground and has a 6v battery doesn't mean it requires any care that wouldn't be appropriate for a 12v neg ground application. If you have a process that has maintained a 12v battery over the winter the same method will work fine for the 6v. Batteries don't have a "positive or negative" ground, the same battery works in either situation and appreciates the same measure of care.

 

If you decide to remove the battery from your car that is fine, but don't assume your 6v battery needs special treatment any more than a 12v would. Best wishes for a peaceful winter slumber! 

[BobDeSoto]

 

I had a battery explode in my face forty years ago.  That was not any fun!

(what is your excuse for being Grumpy?)

Anyhow - don't lean over the battery while you are connecting, etc.

[GrumpyJim]

1 hour ago, Sam Buchanan said:

Jim, just for clarification, the fact your car is wired for positive ground and has a 6v battery doesn't mean it requires any care that wouldn't be appropriate for a 12v neg ground application. If you have a process that has maintained a 12v battery over the winter the same method will work fine for the 6v. Batteries don't have a "positive or negative" ground, the same battery works in either situation and appreciates the same measure of care.

 

If you decide to remove the battery from your car that is fine, but don't assume your 6v battery needs special treatment any more than a 12v would. Best wishes for a peaceful winter slumber! 

I guess I wanted to make sure if I put a Battery Tender on the battery, I won't have to do anything special. 

[desoto1939]

Here is a helpful hint prior to starting the charging and or jump starting a car with the battery in the car or in the engine area or under the seat.

 

Since batteries give off gas when sitting inthe car or engine compartment the first thing that you should do after opening the hood or exposing the battery if under the front seat on a car or even if you have a battery relocated to the trunk area.

 

1. Take a piece of hard cardboard or heavy paperstock and fan across the top of the battery.

2. Why?  This then pushes the gas that comes off the top of the battery away from the top and give you fresh air around the battery.

3. Now you have an area with no potential issue of when you hook up the battery cable to either jump start or hook up a battery tender to cause a spar and then ignite the gases from the battery.

 

This action of removing the gas only takes a few second but as one member stated the battery exploded in his face. so just beware.  This also goes for 6v and 12v cars and trucks and also on hemi truck with 24 volt batteries.

 

Rich hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[Sam Buchanan]

Hook up the jumper cables first to the dead car battery and then to the jump battery (jump box or jump vehicle) and there is no danger of sparks at the dead battery. Likewise, hook up the charger to the battery before plugging connecting it to house power.

 

Another common recommendation is to hook up the jumper ground cable at the car to someplace other than the battery to avoid possibility of sparking at the battery.

[p15-1948]

If mine sits for a couple weeks I pull out the tender and hook it up.  If I know I'm not going to drive it in the next two weeks, or so, I go ahead and hook up the tender.  My garage walls and ceiling are insulated, and one wall is backed by a house wall, but garage has no heat.

[Митя]

My car is parked on the street. battery 6v. outside from -7 to +3 degrees Celsius. Once every 2 weeks I start the engine. but I still recommend storing the battery in a warm room.