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 Preparing Batteries for the Cold

By Bobby George

     While the weather around most of you is beginning to take a turn toward the colder side, we thought it best to go over some of the effects that cold weather can have on various types of batteries and what steps you can take to keep your batteries in good shape during the fall and winter months. Here's how to store batteries in the winter.

     Most batteries advise you to store them in a dry, cool place. So naturally, many people think that storing batteries in extreme cold will have no adverse effects (see our article on storing batteries in the refrigerator). However, extremely cold temperatures may actually harm batteries to the point of decreasing their lifespan and runtime.

     Perhaps the most common victims of this are power tool batteries. Most people simply store their power tools and batteries in the garage, storage building, or truck. When the weather turns cold, and power tools are no longer used as frequently as in the warmer months, many people simply allow these batteries to lie dormant in their cold surroundings. This is the quickest way to kill a power tool battery. Instead, these individuals should take these batteries out of the cold and charge them a few times during the cold season to make sure they are ready to go when they are needed.

     Have you ever noticed that a cell phone, camera, or laptop left in a cold car for a day or two almost always appears dead when you go to use it again? Cold cars are notorious for depleting batteries in all kinds of electronics. Leaving electronics in a cold car is no good for the equipment itself, either. Take your electronics in with you when you exit a vehicle if at all possible.

     Hunters, here's one for you. How many times do you have to replace the battery in your deer camera during the season? How much money have you spent making sure you don't miss the big bucks when they come near? You should know all too well what a few nights of cold weather can do to a battery. The solution? Try going with a sealed lead acid battery for your next replacement. Not only are they rechargeable, meaning you will save money on replacements in the long run, but that type of battery is made to withstand some harsh conditions. These batteries are used in such applications as electric fences, where most of their use comes from the outdoors. A sealed lead acid battery should withstand cold weather a little better than a standard alkaline.

     Cold weather can also wreak havoc on automotive batteries, motorcycle batteries, lawnmower batteries, etc. Make sure not to let these batteries sit for long periods of time without a start or a charge. It may be wise to invest in a "Battery Tender" that keeps a small charge on these batteries to keep them from going dead.