Battery maintainer question

[NDRick]

Hey folks,

Considering buying a 1.5 amp battery maintainer for my JD 425 GT.

I keep it in a quonset but it's COLD storage ... -22 the other day.

Anyway I was wondering if it would be ok to keep the charger pluged in all the time?

I ask the question because I've read never charge a frozen battery.
The way the charger works is it shuts off once the battery is charged and turns on when it's not.

Guess my question is do you think the battery would be frozen by the time it's lost it's charge and the charger starts back up.

For the moment I pull/reinstall the battery as needed.

PS ... putting the GT in the warm garage isn't an option.

Thanx!! in advance for any/all replies

Rick in North Dakota ... it's a dry cold

 

[Gittyup]

I use a battery maintainer on my 425, stored in the cold, though not as cold here. Worst case temps are about -5, but mostly in the teens and twenties for the winter. I've had no problem. But, then again, I've never heard that one shouldn't charge a frozen battery. I'm using a standard Walmart garden tractor battery, maintenance free type. Been doing it for 4 years now. I put a quick connect connector on the front and just plug it in after each use.

 

[coveredbridge]

I just connected the battery from my utility car to my battery maintainer (Schumacher?) in my unheated garage. If I recall correctly, I believe that once the battery is "fully charged" the maintainer goes into standby mode, and actually slowly discharges the battery until it reaches the point where another charging cycle is needed. It seems like it is really monitoring the charge state of the battery rather than shutting off until it is discharged. The maintainer also has a "trouble" indicator light to warn of any problems that I check daily.

Last winter I left mine plugged in all the time with no problems, but we didn't see anything like 22 below. Still, I think the purpose of the maintainer is to keep the battery charged, so if the battery is able to accept a charge, it shouldn't freeze while on the maintainer, and if it isn't able to accept a charge, it's going to be worthless in any event.

 

[jmfox]

Don't use maintainers, use "float" chargers. They're cheap and do not boil down the battery.

jmf

 

[Iplayfarmer]

It's going to take REALLY cold temperatures to freeze a fully charged battery. I get negative 20 or below often around here and the only batteries I've seen frozen are ones that were drained and then sat dead in the cold.

Whatever you use, maintainer/float charger, it's better than nothing.

I actually think those maintainers are pretty good for batteries. I believe the newer ones monitor the charge and actually "float". It's something you'd want to look into. Just make sure that the charger has some kind of monitor and will shut itself off rather than apply a small amperage the whole winter.

In any case, keep a jug of distilled water handy and check the battery level a few times over the winter.

 

[ccsial]

Don't use maintainers, use "float" chargers. They're cheap and do not boil down the battery.

jmf

I use the Guest battery Pal. I have about 10 of them for my various toys and tractors. They extend battery life too since the battery does not get discharged. I've been using them for years. They are $25.

Guest Battery Pal Maintenance Charger - 2602 - BoatersWorld.com

 

[NDRick]

Hey Folks,

First ... thanx!! for all the replies.

I ended up getting a battery charger maintainer with float mode monitoring made by Schumacker for $18 from
Wal Mart.

I just installed it and it's perfect.

Thanx!! again

Rick in North Dakota ... it's a dry cold