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Originally Posted by MNBoxster
Hi,
I don't want to bore you with all the whys and wherefores, but a Wet Acid Cell battery is a pretty poor device for storing a charge longterm. they're much better at storing the charge for a short term, then discharging (doing work), then being recharged either by the Alternator or some outside source.
Inside the battery, substances actually change into other substances and release electrons (electricity) in the bargain. Adding more energy from an outside source allows this process to reverse itself. The chemistry is such, that it's better to keep these changes (reactions) occuring repeatedly over the short term rather than allowing the substances to remain in their present state for long.
This is why a maintainer is good, it keeps the chemistry going inside the battery during the storage period and can extend the life of the battery by 2-3 years. Also, a battery in poor condition will work the Alternator harder once the car is running again. In addition to using more Gas because the Alternator is constantly charging the battery, you also will shorten the Alternator's life.
With Batteries running anywhere from $40-$100, investing in a $25 maintainer and using $2-$3 per season to maintain and extend the life of the battery is a pretty good trade. Hope this helps...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99
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Yes, it helps tremendously! Thank you for the explanation and I'm planning a trip to the local auto store to pick one up!
I was kind of hoping for something referring to NickCats "power sucking vortex" but your explanation sounds just a tad more realistic.
Sammy
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