[schnitz]

During a lunchtime discussion, the topic of car batteries sitting on concrete came up. I say it's a no-no. It wrecks the plates in the battery and they won't hold a charge after you sit them on it. A buddy says that that was only with the older batteries. He says now they use a thicker plastic on the base and they don't short out like that anymore. Who's wrong? I've got a soda riding on this...

In a while, Chet.

[bracketeer]

There is a posting on here somewhere about this. It is fictional. Leaving a battery on cement is no different than leaving it on wood or rubber.
http://www.inct.net/~autotips/battmyth.htm

[1931 steve]

[QUOTE=bracketeer]There is a posting on here somewhere about this. It is fictional. Leaving a battery on cement is no different than leaving it on wood or rubber.QUOTE]

I would agree with bracketeer, there is no difference what you set the battery on, besides what is in cement that could cause the problem. I think that battery technoligy has came a long way in the past 15+ years and they just last longer. I have heard my Dad say that setting the battery on the cement floor will kill it. Maybe back n the day when the life of a battery was short.

[schnitz]

So in other words, I'm out $.50.... Oh well.

In a while, Chet.

[1931 steve]

Thats one cheap soda!!!

Steve

[KULTULZ]

That was back in the days of tar top batteries. The last one I saw (I think) was the mid-sixties. Used to sit pennys on top so the acid would attack them instead of the car's sheet metal.

GAWD! I'm old...

[BstMech]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

That was back in the days of tar top batteries. The last one I saw (I think) was the mid-sixties. Used to sit pennys on top so the acid would attack them instead of the car's sheet metal.

GAWD! I'm old...

So that's where the penny thing originated. I remember when I was a kid the neighbor always had his hood up working on his car. Every time I visited/aggravated him I left two cents richer.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by BstMech

So that's where the penny thing originated. I remember when I was a kid the neighbor always had his hood up working on his car. Every time I visited/aggravated him I left two cents richer.

Hope you didn't put 'em in your pocket. That battery acid is some quick stuff on clothes...

REPRO BATTERIES-

Hard rubber raised letter case, POLY TAR** top with red Power Punch caps. 100% correct.

[ComingApart]

I guess everybody has heard that line about not putting batteries on concrete, but nobody has ever given me a plausible explanation for how it could cause any damage.
On top of that, the owner of my local part store has most of his Delco brand batteries on his concrete floor and I've never had any problems with any of the multiple batteries I've bought from him.
I stopped giving that story credibility years ago.

[nick62877]

the whole battery/concrete thing comes from way back when batteries had a wooden outer shell and a glass inner case to hold the acid. if you left the battery on the concrete , the moisture from the concrete would swell the wood. when the wood swelled , it would put pressure on the glass , possibly causing it to crack and leak acid. this , ofcourse would turn the battery to junk. it no longer applies to modern batteries.

[78 monte]

I was allways told that putting batterys on concrete will kill them too.
Now my thinking is a battery costs $75+/- ,lifting it off the ground and putting it up on a shelf is free.So why not??
Car battery: $75
Lifting battery onto a shelf: 1min labor
Finding it dead on the concrete: Priceless

Theres somethings in life money can't buy,for a new car battery theres Discover.

[docvette]

Doc here,

Weather or not the battery goes dead on concrete is only a small issue...

The Best way to store a Battery, Is up on a shelf, in a plastic or rubberized tray...

Some of those reasons are, You can drop things like HEAVY auto parts on top of them just sitting on the floor..before you know it, you have a nice burned white trail down your floor and everything destroyed in it's wake..

Sealed battery's...aren't..they just have higher pressure filler caps UNDER an almost seamless top, and under extreme duress, can weep H2So4 all over...

Lets not for get dropping the errant 12 inch breaker bar..which according to Murphy will always land between the + and - posts...

And kids, can get to them which is not safe at all either...

It's always best to store these things up on a shelf, in a tray with a plastic or rubber mat, and the terminals insulated. Why invite trouble?

Doc