How to Store a Car Battery

Storing your car battery properly ensures that the battery lasts longer and functions properly when you need to use it. Most batteries can last quite a while if you follow the simple instructions for storing your battery. Allowing the battery to sit in the car can lead to a dead battery, corrosion messes that can damage the car's engine bay, and more money spent toward new batteries. Car batteries aren't cheap, so it's important to know how to store your seldom used car batteries properly. With the proper care, you'll save money by making your battery last longer. All you need is a battery charger, preferably an automatic one, that will keep your battery in excellent condition.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Battery charger that matches the battery size

1. Find a cool, dry place to keep your battery. As long as it's above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the cooler the better. The cold helps prolong the battery life, whereas a warm, humid location will diminish the battery life.

2. Make sure the battery is fully charged before storing it. Connect the battery to a proper battery charger that matches your battery size and allow it to charge for 8 to 12 hours. If your charger has an automatic charging time, select the "full charge" or equivalent setting.

3. Clean any corrosion that may have developed on the terminals or battery casing. Use baking soda to clean the corrosion off. Be sure the battery vents are closed securely and rinse off the baking soda and corrosion with water.

4. Remove any serial or parallel connections on the battery prior to storage.

5. Every 2 months, recharge the battery completely.

6. If you take the battery out of storage and use it, be sure to fully charge the battery before using it.

Tips & Warnings

• Never select a turbo or quick charge on an automatic battery charger. Always select the full charge.

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