battery storage in this frigid weather

[69boss]

OK to make it short. Wet cell [you pick] motorcycle, snowmobile, watercraft 2 years, done, dead, shorted junk.They cost about 75% of a good battery. Save money in the short run only to be left on the trailer. Don't know about your area but ours is only 6-8 weeks no time for crap batteries.

 

[RodInEscondido]

The battery loses some ability to produce current in cold weather and the engine is more difficult to spin, thus winter will reveal weaknesses.

Then IMO, as long as the electrolyte didn't freeze and dislocate and break a plate lose, create a microshort or break the case, everything should be as it was once warmed back up.

One phenomenon that can happen to a wet cell sitting undisturbed for months is the electrolyte can stratify, meaning the specific gravity of the water will become non-uniform. Charging will create electrolyte circulation in that case, to correct the issue. A discharged battery will grow an insulating passivation sulfide layer on the plates, causing loss of capacity.

That is why you get a quality charger with a desulfating mode/cycle

 

[bigJake]

That is why you get a quality charger with a desulfating mode/cycle

yep my Ultimate IV desulfating charger has brought a couple lawn tractor batteries back from the dead and paid for itself

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

It can take a good amount of time to fully recharge a partially discharged battery. Assuming a fully discharged wet cell typically requires a soak and charge of around 10~12 hours, what happens if that battery is in a car typically driven short distances in heavy traffic at low speeds with headlights and all electrical accessories such as heater blower motor turned on full blast?

I'd guess the battery might not receive a good full charge, during the time of year demands are highest.

I point this out after just having recovered a completely dead battery this weekend due to the driver forgot to turn of their headlights and discovered the car wouldn't start two days later.