In a message dated 97-11-04 16:49:20 EST, Mark.Pelzel@cexp.com writes:
> Absolutely
> do not leave your charging batteries or other batteries in storage on a
> concrete floor - concrete will guarantee that they will fully discharge
> over a short period even with a small flow.
Mark:
I find that interesting, because I was just asked about that by a member of
the MG list. Since I didn't know the answer, I asked The battery systems
experts at the Tennessee Valley Authority where I used to work. These guys are
the corporate headquarters staff specialists, responsible for setting the
standards and procedures for all aspects of battery power systems at all of
the TVA nuclear power plants.
According to them, the only potential for problems with storing batteries on
concrete is the potential for condensation due to the cold storage effects of
the thermal mass of concrete. Concrete will stay cold long after the air in a
room has warmed up, thus the moisture in the warm air will condense on the
floor, and the batteries, creating a possible discharge path between the
terminals. Typically, this is only a problem when the doors to an unheated
room are opened on a warm spring day, after a several days of cold weather.
Heating the room dries out the air, so condensation is not a problem from that
standpoint.
As the battery cases are totally watertight, they should be able to function
perfectly well standing in a pool of water, so I don't understand how concrete
could be any worse. As I said, though, this is outside of my range of
knowledge, so I would be interested in hearing more from you on this. If that
is true, what is the mechanism for the increased discharge?
Dan Masters,
Alcoa, TN
'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
http://www.sky.net/~boballen/mg/Masters/
'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition
'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
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