Battery
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 327
Likes: 75
From: west mi. / ms. gulf coast
I disconnect my Corvair battery every year for about eight months during the winter. Leave it in the car in cold Michigan storage. It starts right up every spring. Never put a meter on it to see the voltage. I suppose I will when it doesn't fire right off. So if you have a battery that is loosing volts it's probably over 6 years old or it's got a problem. If you have a warranty get it exchanged before it one day leaves you stranded.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
Weeks....Remember the battery is a chemical reaction...depends on temperature and also the SCRUPULOUS cleanliness of the top of the battery.
Depends on condensation and temperature and humidity fluctuations.
unkahal
Depends on condensation and temperature and humidity fluctuations.
unkahal
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 4,476
From: Virginia
5% per month. So if you want to keep your alternator alive in the spring (and not burn out fusable links), you should charge your battery before firing up the car, but it should last a year if it was disconnected fully charged.
How long does a battery last on a shelf at Walmart or Costco? Probably months, or longer.
How long does a battery last on a shelf at Walmart or Costco? Probably months, or longer.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 327
Likes: 75
From: west mi. / ms. gulf coast
Take the battery back to where you bought it. Some places will requirer them to charge it and then load test it. If it fails you get a new battery. Some will just replace. If it drops voltage in 3 months it's got a problem.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: STANTON CA
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
As with any manufactured product, sometimes 'lemons' are produced. If your battery doesn't meet its life expectation, and it has a warranty, take it back.
Speaking to your initial question, there are many variables that influence the length of time a charged battery will remain charged, once disconnected from a charging system. What material the battery is placed upon, being one of the most important. If you place a battery on a bare concrete floor in a relative moist environment, you should expect much more rapid discharge than if it was in an arid environment. The level of moisture in the air and if the air has some measure of salinity (ie, ocean-air) can influence discharge rate.
If the battery is to be left disconnected for a lengthy period of time, sealing it [electrically] from the environment might be your first consideration. But, the best alternative is to keep it on a 'smart' trickle charger which will not over-charge it.
Speaking to your initial question, there are many variables that influence the length of time a charged battery will remain charged, once disconnected from a charging system. What material the battery is placed upon, being one of the most important. If you place a battery on a bare concrete floor in a relative moist environment, you should expect much more rapid discharge than if it was in an arid environment. The level of moisture in the air and if the air has some measure of salinity (ie, ocean-air) can influence discharge rate.
If the battery is to be left disconnected for a lengthy period of time, sealing it [electrically] from the environment might be your first consideration. But, the best alternative is to keep it on a 'smart' trickle charger which will not over-charge it.