Quote:
Originally Posted by css9450
With the arrival of cold weather, I just installed a new battery that I bought just over a year ago but for one reason or another I didn't get around to installing until now. It sat on the shelf on the garage through all of last winter and summer. I was fully expecting to have to re-charge it first so I tested it with a meter. I was surprised to see it was still holding at 12.something volts after all this time unused. I installed it without re-charging and the car has been starting great. I know, I know, sample size n=1 but its how it worked in my case.
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Thats the crucial thing lead acid batteries store well in a fully charged state. If it sits for a long time discharged sulfation destroys the plates.
Another bad thing is you can take a brand new battery and drain it down to zero volts and you have lost up to 50% of its deserve capacity, CCA and useful life. Thats a good reason to carefully scrutinize a battery you take off the shelf sold as new but nay have been returned by another customer. Any signs its been installed pick another.