Ref Battery

[taximan]

Is it ok to remove the battery for a few months ?

Just asking because I heard on some cars the ECU can go down aswell and has to be re-booted by main agents at a very high cost.

Bike has been stood for a few months in my garage in below zero tempratures and would not start yesterday. Put it on charge for 20 minutes and it started fine. Wondering whether to remove battery and store it in a warm dry bedroom lol.

Thanks in advance
Gary 

[seth]

yes all will be fine if you take the battery off .
i take the batteries of the 3 bikes and switch them around the optimate weekly.
i have done this for many winters.
the only thing you'll have to do when you refit the battery is to reset the clock to yhr correct time.

[taximan]

Thanks Seth.

I usually start it once a week over the winter cuz I don't use it but haven't bothered the last . . . err must be 3 months.

[seth]

unless your running the bike till its properly hot then just giving it a start/run once a week will actually do more harm than good as it leaves condensation behind in the engine/exhaust if not run long enough .
my batteries are 2x12 and 1x13 years old and i do the same every year with the batteries .
they wont last forever but doing ok so far.

[Kiwifruit]

I dont sit batteries on concrete. Always on a piece of wood on the ground.
Not sure why, was just told that years ago.
Maybe someone could tell me why ?

[seth]

the concrete extra cools the battery as its a (massive heat synk) changing the chemicals inside so they deteriorate quicker making them less able to hold a charge .

the very worst thing for a battery is it to get frosted or frozen that'll ruin it mega fast.

placing off the ground and on wood insulates the battery helping keep it in a better condition longer .

[Kiwifruit]

Thank you Seth 

[Mister Fishfinger]

Just asking because I heard on some cars the ECU can go down aswell and has to be re-booted by main agents at a very high cost.

Modern car ECUs are very complex and I believe they can adapt their settings dynamically for things like fuel quality, engine wear and so on as time goes on. This is much more functionality than you would find in our ECUs, which are pretty simple by comparison.

Having said that, I can't see any reason why they would be unbootable after a certain period without power. If that's the case, it's either poor design or a malicious feature to make money for dealers.

Either way it's not going to be good news for future barn finds...

[seth]

sorry some of the rubbish i know is mad
its from working as a wheelchair engineer we had a day course in batteries not long ago as some places kept sending back faulty ones under warranty but it turned out it was because they were sutting on concrete floors and others outdoors in the winter .
ours sit on pallets and the floor underneath contains all the heating pipes for the hospital so never a problem.
on top tip tho if you have a torch and its goes dim remover the batteries and put them in your trouser pockets with your hands give them 5 mins and replace in the tourch. they'll be bright and last a little longer due to being warm.

[gsxbarmy]

I dont sit batteries on concrete. Always on a piece of wood on the ground.
Not sure why, was just told that years ago.
Maybe someone could tell me why ?

Its not just batteries. You should never leave your bike tyres standing on concrete in one place for an extended period of time as it can affect the rubber (can cause the rubber to deteriorate). If parking your bike up for winter, put it up on its mainstand with a bit of old carpet under the front wheel. If only a side stand, then a bit of carpet under both wheels.

[Cykik]

I remove battery every winter, store in cupboard under stairs & charge once a month. Never had any problems. I've always thought that cold temps are major issues for batteries.

[KiwiCol]

Couple of points on batterys, storage & holding a charge.

Which is worse for a battery, hot weather or cold weather?

Hot weather. While most of us have grown up thinking that cold weather is the worst weather for a battery, the fact is that your vehicle is simply harder to start on very cold days. This is primarily due to the thickening of the motor oil during extreme cold. Heat actually damages the battery causing increased grid corrosion and water loss. Studies indicate that the average battery lasts nearly twice as long in a cold weather climate vs. a hot weather climate.



Will a battery rapidly self-discharge if stored on concrete?

No, placing a battery on concrete will not cause it to discharge any faster than any other surface. All lead-acid batteries will naturally self-discharge which can result in loss of capacity from sulfation. Heat speeds up this self-discharge, so that is why it in not a good idea to store batteries in a hot garage or warehouse. The rate of self-discharge is most influenced by the temperature of the battery's electrolyte and the chemistry of the plates. This self-discharge is often mistaken for concrete floor causing the battery to drain. Some experts believe that storing car or deep cycle batteries on a colder concrete floor might actually slow down the self-discharge (leakage) rate because the floor acts as a heat sink and cools the battery.



The above is taken from Continental Batteries Web Page of FAQ's.

The cold v hot storage is even born out above by Seth, He's in a cold climate & he's had 12 - 13 years out of his batteries. Yes, he might be moving them inside over winter, but it's still just above freezing up there anyway . . . 

[VladTepes]

Winter?

I was astounded that I left my battery in my bike for 6 months - not ridden, not started, not charged.
Didn't go flat - was able to start bike no real dramas.

[KiwiCol]

We should run a poll (totally unscientific) to see if the colder climate thing stacks up or not.

Like how long have you had out of your battery & put it against the average temp for the location.  Aussie would fare worst & Scotland would be right up there - maybe Norway & Russia would be tops?

[KiwiCol]

A couple more bits of info

Can I store a battery indefinitely?

No, a battery will self-discharge slowly over time. Allowing a battery to sit in a discharged state will ultimately lead to severe positive grid corrosion and battery failure. An un-used battery should never be allowed to sit over 6 months without a recharge.


Can a battery freeze?

Yes, if it is in a state of discharge. As the state of charge in a battery decreases, the electrolyte becomes more like water and the freezing temperature increases.  It is very important to make sure your battery stays fully charged in extreme cold weather. If a battery freezes, it can damage the plates and container leading to a potential explosion.

all courtesy of WWW.