About tractor battery question

Farmallb · Jan 24, 2020

I heard or read along time ago that a battery should be setting on wood and not metal. Am I/that right or not??

Russ from MN · Jan 24, 2020

That's kind of an old wives tale, was more true 50 years ago. If the battery is clean on the outside it shouldn't matter, however, I always put a piece of rubber under my batteries, maybe because I'm old!

rustred · Jan 24, 2020

I think its cement, but myth busters said it was a myth.

flembo · Jan 24, 2020

I never heard that one I do recall people thought that concrete would ruin a battery but I believe that has been disproved. I don't know of any tractor car or truck that has a battery sitting on wood but I am sure someone will jump in on that one and correct me.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 24, 2020

All my batteries are resting on metal. They don't make wood battery holders, do they?
Geo.

Kansas4010 · Jan 24, 2020

It's something I was always taught growing up. Yes it's probably just an old wise tale but I'll still continue to do it.

David G · Jan 24, 2020

It does not matter.

Steve@Advance · Jan 24, 2020

I've heard that from the ol' timers way back when.

Best explanation I have heard was the early cases were made of hard rubber, which contained carbon, which was slightly conductive.

My question is, how could concrete be any worse than sitting in a steel battery tray on the vehicle?

I think it was urban legend gone wild. Probably from someone angered by a leaky battery etching the concrete on their concrete floor!

My garage floor has a couple of battery foot prints, left by the previous owners!

fastfarmall · Jan 24, 2020

I am like Russ,i buy conveyor belting [new 1/4 or 5/16 thick. put that under the battery,and bolt it down! i get about 7-8 years out of them!

Duner Wi · Jan 24, 2020

It won't hurt nothing.

Ray · Jan 24, 2020

I put rubber under mine to keep the battery from vibrating around.

Phil9N3667 · Jan 24, 2020

If the battery is leaking acid for some reason, it'll lose charge if it leaks onto the floor.

Traditional Farmer · Jan 24, 2020

That would also cut down on vibration on the battery.

dpendzic · Jan 24, 2020

what i had heard/read was that concrete being a heat sink was usually cooler than the battery and cooled it down and made it sweat, so the moisture would flow current between the terminals and drain the battery over a period of time

Steve@Advance · Jan 24, 2020

That sounds feasible.

I understand a battery that is wet on top, typically from overfilling, or overcharging and outgassing, will have some drain. That stuff is conductive. Try poking around in it with a volt meter!

On the refillable batteries, I've found they stay dryer and cleaner by not filling them to the split rings, especially on off road and rough riding equipment.

Russ from MN · Jan 24, 2020

Yes, there are numerous reasons to put rubber under them! I bought a used motorcycle once, the seller had put a new AGM battery in it, but it didn't fill the battery box. The second day I had it the battery post broke off down in the battery, from moving around. The seller paid for a new battery, I made sure it was packed securely in the box.

jeffcat · Jan 24, 2020

I like a thin piece of plywood. That way nothing will chew through the bottom of the case. I HAVE seen it happen. Chewed through the bottom of the case on my 300U. What a mess!

Deutz Lover · Jan 24, 2020

I have seen self discharge one time in my life. The battery had electrolyte on top of the case and it connected the terminals. The battery would be low after about a day. I am not sure how much charge it would hold in the first place, but it stopped doing this after the top was cleaned.

onefarmer · Jan 25, 2020

I was told by my high school auto teacher it was true with the original wood case batteries. The cement would draw the moisture thru the wood causing the discharge. With the modern plastic case batteries it doesn?t matter and is just legend now.

Hendrik · Jan 25, 2020

Fully concur!
Keeping the top of a battery clean is the best prevention against discharge, especially if the battery is not used for months. Even a brand new, fully charged battery will discharge if the top is covered in conductive dirt

showcrop · Jan 25, 2020

I see two different issues here, depending on whether we are talking about installation or storage. As others have said moisture on top of a battery can easily lead to discharge. Moisture indoors? well maybe not in some parts of the world, but in most places anything colder than the air, including the floor, will attract plenty of moisture. A battery sitting on a concrete floor will be the same temp as the floor is. Add to the moisture a coating of dust to help retain the moisture if you should happen to sweep the floor, and in a few weeks you can have a good charge leak going on.

c.oawright · Jan 25, 2020

No.. It does not matter. When batteries sit on anything and anywhere for a long period of time the internal resistance of the battery causes them to discharge.

showcrop · Jan 25, 2020

(quoted from post at 05:55:29 01/25/20) No.. It does not matter. When batteries sit on anything and anywhere for a long period of time the internal resistance of the battery causes them to discharge.

c.oawright, Yes, It does matter. While the internal resistance will cause discharge, the rate will be affected by various environmental factors, especially heat. All battery manufacturers advise avoiding high temperatures.

Janicholson · Jan 25, 2020

The correct answer is David g's. If the metal is hot (as in engine hot) bad idea. If the wood, plastic, rubber is hot, bad idea, if it gets vibrated to shreds, bad idea, if it gets dirty or wet on top, bad idea. Modern plastic cased battery will not self discharge beyond its normal chemistry if concrete was poured up to the top of the sides and allowed to harden. there is just no science (or witchcraft) that causes the drain. Jim

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