Topic: Will that battery freeze?

[Sly Bob]

Put the car away for the winter what seems like months ago and when I put it away I wasn't sure whether I should get a battery tender. I heard a recommendation from GM that you should just disconnect the battery. I was wondering if the battery would freeze but after a little research I found this site. A fully charged battery won't freeze.

http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/carfaq4.htm#freeze_points

Lots of other information about batteries as well.

[Sol Asylum]

Just make sure the battery is as you state fully charged because a partially discharged battery will allow some of the electrolyte to freeze and cause damage to the battery plates.  I have seen this happen many times.  Cars that have things like clock radios that pull a small voltage to maintain the time can be enough to partially drain a battery over time and allow them to freeze that is way GM says to disconnect it.

Safety tip: Always disconnect the negative first then the positive and when you reinstall its positive first then negative.  This way if you ground your wrench when you are adjusting the cable clamp you will not turn your wrench/battery into a spot welder.

[Sly Bob]

Good advice Sol Asylum. It's a good idea as well to not wear rings when you are doing those connects and disconnects. I remember years ago, when CB radios were all the rage I was working in a shop doing an installation and I was holding a wrench that completed the circuit between a hot wire and the chassis. The ring heated up red hot in just a second and I had to yank it off to break the circuit. Took a long time for that burn to heal. 

[Sol Asylum]

Years ago I was working in a hanger when two of our less experienced A&Ps decided to start a 100hr inspection on a Cessna 172.  I had my back to them and was working on another plane when I saw that purple blue light reflect off the wall in front of me followed by the snap of electricity followed by "holy sh*t."

Without turning to see I asked "do we need to have some OJT on removing batteries?"

Aircraft batteries use a ring terminal and stud with a wing nut to make the connection. The A&P that was removing the wrong cable first had a screw driver that had a shaft that ran through the handle and a metal bolster on the end.  He managed to ground/weld the bolster to the firewall.  We had to literally break the screw driver off of the firewall which left a hole in the firewall.  It was the fastest way that I have ever seen to put a 1/2" hole in stainless steel.  Who needs a plasma cutter?

[DeepBlueGXP]

Cool, I got my A&P in the late 80's when I was finishing my second tour in the Navy.  I was planning of getting out and working for US Air at the time.  Same thing I teach my kids.  Great advice. 

I'm sure Sol Asylum know this all too well.  Here is another warning for our Solstice.

When using our car to jump others, always use one end of the jumper cable to the ground on the engine, not near the battery.  DO NOT connect to both posts under the fuse panel.  They are both + Positives and will blow the fuse to the coolant fan.

 

[Sol Asylum]

People think that it's high voltage that kills when really its high amperage and it really doesn't take all that many amps.  People also don't realize just how many amps a car battery has.

[Critterman]

High voltage will throw you were low volts and high amps will fry you

[baconbits]

High voltage will throw you were low volts and high amps will fry you..

Medium Voltage 750 v-25000v Ac will cook you .. and High voltage > 25000v will vaporize you.. this comes from experience as an other electrician I worked with was playing around in a 125kv switch yard at a local paper mill with a fluorescent light..you put enough voltage near them they will light up..he got a little too close and  and the bulb flashed over blowing him basically to pieces..

more people are killed by low voltage ac 120v - 250v a year then any other voltage.. 120v  just more common..

DC voltage is another story..since Ac voltage crosses a neutral point  (0 volts )in a sine wave you can use a stick or something non conductive to knock the wire from a hand.. with DC since the voltage is always present your muscles tense with the current applied and you can't let go and when it comes to batteries since there is high current storage if the right conditions are present ie low resistance you will "fry" even at what I would consider low voltages 12- 24 vdc ..Any one who has ever welded DC with wet gloves and boots will attest to this... As far as Batteries freezing I have seen it ..but the Battery was old and temps were -40 to
-50 for a week

Sorry for the hijack.. Just wanted to add my 
Bacon

[Critterman]

reminds me of Spanish electricians after a storm when I was stationed in Rota Spain.   All the wireing ran along the outside walls of the buildings (concrete)  the electricians climb wodden ladders then curl their fingers inwards and touch the connections with the back of the fingers.  You allways knew when they found the live wire (220-240v)

[DeepBlueGXP]

reminds me of Spanish electricians after a storm when I was stationed in Rota Spain.   All the wireing ran along the outside walls of the buildings (concrete)  the electricians climb wodden ladders then curl their fingers inwards and touch the connections with the back of the fingers.  You allways knew when they found the live wire (220-240v)

They didn't have to curl their finger inward, the electricity did that for them