As the temperatures drop and snow starts to fall, many people put their campers and boats in storage for the winter. They must perform proper winterization procedures to ensure their rigs are ready to go in the springtime. In addition to draining any standing water and shutting off appliances, Battle Born Batteries must be adequately winterized before being left in storage for an extended period. Let's dive into what you must do to winterize and adequately store your Battle Born Batteries. 
Properly Winterizing Battle Born Batteries
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Bring the batteries to a full charge using shore power, generator, or lithium charger.
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Disconnect Solar PV inputs from controllers.
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Disconnect from shore power, generator, or lithium charger.
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Disconnect the batteries from the system using your disconnect switch or removing the positive main battery cable.
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Ensure that all system loads, including Smoke and CO detectors, must also be powered down.
- Turn off or disconnect the heat-enable wire from the positive main terminal for heated Battle Born Batteries.
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If temperatures are expected to drop below -10 ° F where the batteries are being stored, remove them and store them in a warmer location.
If you are storing your entire system, we recommend using a battery guardian to help protect your batteries by disconnecting them from parasitic loads once they reach a voltage of 11.5V. We recommend removing the primary battery connections if a disconnect switch is not incorporated into your system since our batteries do not require a trickle charge. When you return to your rig in the warmer months, they should have plenty of power and are ready to go! 
Why is Winterization Important?
Battle Born Batteries have a meager self-discharge rate of 2-3% a month on average. Our batteries can handle a storage range of –15° F to 140° F. 
Storing your batteries in subzero weather (-15° F or less) can potentially crack the ABS plastic and lead to a more significant loss of charge. When temperatures reach the extremes of cold and hot, they can self-discharge more than the average 3% monthly loss. If the batteries are stored without a charge, their levels could dip below what the internal Battery Management System, or BMS, can protect over the winter season. We recommend storing them fully charged in an environment above freezing if possible. Our team recommends not leaving a completely drained battery in that state for an extended time, as it can damage the cells inside. Doing so will void the ten-year warranty that we offer with our products.
What Else Should I Know About Winterizing Battle Born Batteries?
When discharging in frigid temperatures (less than 30° F), there is the potential for capacity loss in the batteries. The capacity is recoverable, and once the battery warms back up, it can return to its total amp hour rating. At 32° F, you’ll be able to discharge 80 Ah; at 0° F, you can expect a discharge of 70Ah. Additionally, charging a battery in extreme cold can cause lithium plating, a dangerous phenomenon that can lead to short-circuiting. Our batteries have protections that will not allow a charge if their internal temperature is less than 24°F. Battle Born Batteries explored cold temperature charging in our industry-shaking White Paper study, where we put LiFePO4 batteries to the test against AGM. Despite being in less-than-ideal temperature ranges of 26°F-30°F, our batteries delivered 175Ah out of a 200Ah battery bank. The video below discusses how our batteries can outperform AGM in these cold conditions. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCI0U5yli_U[/embed]
Want To Learn More About Winterization and Lithium Batteries?
Building or upgrading an electrical system can be overwhelming, so we’re here to help. Our Reno, Nevada-based sales and customer service team is at (855) 292-2831 to answer your questions! Also, join us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to learn more about how lithium battery systems can power your lifestyle, see how others have built their systems, and gain the confidence to get out and stay out there.
