Dave Liquorice wrote :


So how do you molly codle a lead acid battery that doesn't get much
use? Keep it somewhere a bit warmer? Would have to have an easy to
use plug/socket capable of carrying the starter current. I don't want
to be fiddling about reconnecting the battery in the middle of the
night, by torch light, whilst being battered by a gale and driving
snow...

Don't fancy the idea of having it on a charger all the time, even one
of the clever ones that drop to a "float" charge. I suspect that rate
will still be too high and dry the cells out over the months.

I have got a small PV panel that I had used with it before but wasn't
convinced that the dark/low light leakage drained more from the
battery than was put in by the PV. The PV panel was in a north facing
window so not ideal. To get south facing wuld require a rather long
cable run, proably not far short of 50m by the time you've gone round
things.

Any other suggestions?

Bringing it up to full charge once per month I find is the best
compromise for a battery which isn't used or rarely used. That what I
now do with the caravan battery. My last one, I left on 13.8v
permanently and it only lasted a few years before it needed
replacement, it had gassed itself dry.

I now just connect the battery every month to 3 months, to bring it
back up. I also ensure I leave it on charge longer than normal
following use of the mover, just before a trip, or on return from a
trip.

If you can find one, a plug in timer which can be set to come on once
per month for a couple of hours, would be ideal.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk