Any acid traces or residue on the bottom of the battery will etch any
concrete it comes in contact with, doing severe damage to the concrete if
there is very much acid. I think that's why we learned to not set them on
concrete.

Sometimes removing one of the cables will reduce the idle time discharge but
trickle charging is the answer to long term storage.
Don Young
"carl mciver" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
. ..
| Mom's car, sitting for 2.5 years had to be moved. The Interstate 72 mo.
| battery that was put in just before storage won't take a charge...no
| surprise, I put another new one in. Rather than turning in the core for
$12
| I will get it replaced under warranty. Is there any way to keep a new
| battery on the shelf for extended periods of time? Should I keep it on
a
| trickle charger? Is it an urban myth that sitting on concrete will kill
it?

Most battery warranties are prorated, so be prepared to pay about a
third of the battery's cost, at least.

The concrete thing had to do with the bakelite shell. When the
concrete's would get too cold, the battery would freeze, crack or break
open
the case, and the acid all over the floor made for a real mess. I think
there was some chemical interaction, too, but I forgot what it was.
Battery cases are made of plastic now, so there's nothing to worry
about.