The workshop consumables checklist: what to keep on the shelf
Batteries
Maintaining your caravan or 4WD battery off-season
Storing your rig for winter or the wet season? A battery that sits for months without attention is the most common off-season casualty. Protect your battery investment with these key steps.
Five steps before you park it
Do these on the day the rig goes into storage, then put a reminder in the calendar:
- Disconnect the battery if possible, or isolate it from parasitic draws such as alarms, gas detectors and radio memories
- Charge it fully and check it every four to six weeks
- Use a smart battery maintainer if there is power nearby; it is the easiest way to keep the battery full without overcharging
- Store in a cool, dry space; under 25 degrees Celsius is ideal
- Never let the battery drop below 12.3V at rest
Why sulphation is the enemy
When a lead-acid battery sits partly discharged, lead sulphate crystals harden on the plates. A little is normal and recharging reverses it; left for months it becomes permanent, and the battery loses capacity it will never get back. Keeping the battery full is the whole point of the steps above. This is the best way to avoid sulphation, which kills batteries during long rests.
Short version: full, cool, isolated and checked monthly. RedPoint offers battery testing, maintenance advice and replacement deals to keep you ready to roll. Contact us to get started.
