Question re: 12-volt battery, please?

Ron, can you point us to any controlled and repeatable experiments that show modern car batteries dying rapidly due to being sat on concrete. I can find none.

The above are examples from the first few hits of your google link. Notice that one account seems more trustworthy than the other?

 

Here is a quote from one page that is on that google page I posted. Also, on that some page as well as other's there is information concerning temperature differences within the cell from top to bottom, and theoretically, the cold temp. is what is pulling the battery down. That information would support what I am talking and does make sense to me.

Batteries/Concrete

By jack mac 24/05/06@10:40
I sell batteries, and have asked the suppliers about the concrete issue, and they all told me it was a myth, and because of the plastics used today, would have no effect. So I tried it with 4 identical batteries, 2 on concrete. 2 on 5/8" partical board, during winter. The 2 on concrete lost charge quickly. The 2 on the partical board stayed about the same.
I am a Myth Buster.
Regards.
Jack.

flat battery on concrete? | OldHolden.com

As far as controlled experiments, "NO", I don't have that information in front of me. As far as credible post's on the internet is concerned, that is up to the individuals discretion.

I am simply sharing the information that is at hand. It does seem that many still believe in the "old wives tale", and some who do not.

What I would really like to know is what is the truth concerning the issue at hand. As I stated, I have been told this by more than one person. That included mechanics who worked on cars and owned service stations, along with a representative of a battery company. In the 70's I worked at a local service station, and I remember plainly that owner kept all the batteries on a sheet of thick plywood whenever they came in to be charged. He made it very clear to not put any of those batteries on the bare concrete floor. He too said the same thing, "it will kill them".

Ron

 

Yes, and the very next poster on the same forum repeats the same test and finds:

This guy even does the experiment more correctly and notes that the specific gravity (hence SOC) of the "floor battery" is not diminished, however it's ability to supply current in a load test is slightly diminished due to it being slightly colder. Storing a battery in cool condition is actually good for it, even though it performs better once its warmed up.

 

Hi Julia - by now I had expected you to say that you've gotten a replacement Optima.

 

yes, we're all on pins and needles!

 

Yep, take the battery back to them and tell them you want one that's never been any closer than 6' to anything containing concrete. That'll give them a really good laugh (at you).

BTW. Did you see dhansons voltage measurements he recently updated.

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So that's basically a new optimo battery in a Prius that sounds like that's driven about 200 miles a week. I guess that's probably what you can expect.​

 

It's not what you are getting because you haven't charge the battery yet. Give it a good long charge and it'll be fine.

 

I'd sure hate to be the manager on duty at Advance Auto if the Diehard battery charger doesn't do the trick.....
there's a storm coming his/her way.

 

Well, your old battery was not perfectly good. It was 5-6 years old, in marginal condition and barely adequate to start your car. Regular use of the charger might prolong the life of the old battery, but considering the cold winter season approaching, it was very reasonable for you to replace the battery now.

Please use an extension cord rated for outdoors usage, with three conductors including the grounding pin. Don't use one of those really skinny extension cords intended for indoors usage that only has two conductors.

Since you've provided this quote from the Optima rep more than once - if you are concerned about your two-month old battery being diminished due to its voltage being below 12.4V - imagine what sulfation has done to your original battery which was operating at a low voltage for who knows how many years.

 

I commend Julia for her statement, and I concur.

If I would have known that I would have gotten the flaming/tongue lashing that occured, I would have never attempted to help Julia in the first place. She came here looking for help, and that is exactly what I was trying to do. Not everyone is perfect, so with that said all I can do is sit back for now and watch what is happening.

I do hope Julia can resolve her issue at hand and either get her battery fully charged or get a battery that does not appear to be defective in "her" opinion.

Ron

 

Julia,

You don't have to feel sorry, since you are not responsible for what I post. I appreciate both your post's and your comments. I have learned a lot and continue to learn more as each day goes by.

I do hope you can resolve your issue at hand soon. I wish I could do more, but for now I need to sit back.

Ron