If i order a new battery how long will it stay charged before fitting?

[d215yq]

Hi guys, as I'm currently not allowed to drive/leave the house the car has been already sitting 2 weeks without use. I'm buying a house mid lockdown here in Spain and the only time I will be allowed on the road will be to drive to the government property register to complete the purchase (this is an acceptable "essential activity" accroding to the law) which is 1h drive away, which will probably be in 3 to 6 weeks time. As such it is vital the car starts when needed after possibly 2 months of being sat.

Due to the fact that 1) the battery is 5 yrs + old (and in Spain they say replace every 4 yrs as the 35 degree heat in summer kills them) 2) it's also been fully drained twice when my alternator broke which is supposed to shorten life further and 3) who knows if recovery will be working (garages are shut) I don't want to miss the house buy as the battery is knackered so am wanting to order a new battery for 80€ delivered and replace it the day before I'm set to go - as it would no doubt be needed anyway at some point and I can even use the old battery for some automated irrigation system on the land in the house I will buy.

Can I just order a new battery now (it presumably comes fully charged and should remain charged for upto a month or two before I fit it to the car), or will a new battery possibly also drain if I can't fit it to the car for 6 weeks afetr buying it? I appreciate it's probably a silly question but things normally taken for granted cannot be any more so I need to make sure i do all i can to get to the registry office at my one opportunity without relying on anything/anybody!! Appreciate the feedback!

 

[mersum1es]

Sorry this is in Finnish only
https://exide.fi/batterikunskap/akun-itsepurkautuminen/

But it states that 70Ah battery should remain at 70% charge level even connected to car for 7 weeks.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Depends whether the car has a battery drain there is usually a small drain when connected. As a rule of thumb I’d recharge a healthy battery every 3 weeks.

 

[McDonald]

Hi guys, as I'm currently not allowed to drive/leave the house the car has been already sitting 2 weeks without use. I'm buying a house mid lockdown here in Spain and the only time I will be allowed on the road will be to drive to the government property register to complete the purchase (this is an acceptable "essential activity" accroding to the law) which is 1h drive away, which will probably be in 3 to 6 weeks time. As such it is vital the car starts when needed after possibly 2 months of being sat.

Due to the fact that 1) the battery is 5 yrs + old (and in Spain they say replace every 4 yrs as the 35 degree heat in summer kills them) 2) it's also been fully drained twice when my alternator broke which is supposed to shorten life further and 3) who knows if recovery will be working (garages are shut) I don't want to miss the house buy as the battery is knackered so am wanting to order a new battery for 80€ delivered and replace it the day before I'm set to go - as it would no doubt be needed anyway at some point and I can even use the old battery for some automated irrigation system on the land in the house I will buy.

Can I just order a new battery now (it presumably comes fully charged and should remain charged for upto a month or two before I fit it to the car), or will a new battery possibly also drain if I can't fit it to the car for 6 weeks afetr buying it? I appreciate it's probably a silly question but things normally taken for granted cannot be any more so I need to make sure i do all i can to get to the registry office at my one opportunity without relying on anything/anybody!! Appreciate the feedback!

A C-Tec battery conditioner seems like an obvious solution. Other makes are also available.

 

[d215yq]

A C-Tec battery conditioner seems like an obvious solution. Other makes are also available.

It's parked in the street so unless it's a solar one it won't work.

 

[d215yq]

Depends whether the car has a battery drain there is usually a small drain when connected. As a rule of thumb I’d recharge a healthy battery every 3 weeks.

It's a 1987 car so I doubt it can have a battery drain. That said, just in case I wouldn't connect the new battery until I needed to drive it. There's nothign wrong with car or battery as I understand, other than it's past battery replacement age and I don't want to find out why everyone replaces every 4 years when I have an important fixed appointment and there's no recovery/mechanics open.

In normal times I'd just leave it be and see if it started and call breakdown if it didn't.

 

[d215yq]

Sorry this is in Finnish only
https://exide.fi/batterikunskap/akun-itsepurkautuminen/

But it states that 70Ah battery should remain at 70% charge level even connected to car for 7 weeks.

Thanks, OK so I'll order it soon and then it'll definitely be used within 5-6 weeks. Just hope it hasn't been sat in a warehouse for months I suppose.

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

Thanks, OK so I'll order it soon and then it'll definitely be used within 5-6 weeks. Just hope it hasn't been sat in a warehouse for months I suppose.

The batteries usually have a week/ year stamped on one of the terminals ( eg 12/20 would be this weeks manufacturers date) should you get chance to select one. If not you can see how long it has been standing around.


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[malcolm E53 AMG]

I always give a new battery a top charge on delivery before fitting, if you intend to keep the battery on the shelf till it’s needed do this and then another top every 4 weeks

 

[mersum1es]

Yeah I also charge it full before installing.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

For some time .But dont let it sit on concret floor put it in the car,, or on to a rubber mat off the floor .,,

 

[LostKiwi]

It's parked in the street so unless it's a solar one it won't work.

Remove the battery from the vehicle and keep it on a maintenance charger in the house. Something like a Maypole 7423A is cheap and works perfectly.

 

[Botus]

A good AGM not connected will be good for a few years. According to the one for my bike up to 10 years on a shelf...
if there's a current drain they don't like life. A Maint charger that goes on and off are a good idea.

 

[peterws1957]

Thanks, OK so I'll order it soon and then it'll definitely be used within 5-6 weeks. Just hope it hasn't been sat in a warehouse for months I suppose.

I think you'll find that even if you buy from an MB dealer, the battery will have been sitting somewhere for months.

 

[d215yq]

Thanks guys, so if i can't guarantee a new one will work I'll have to look at ordering a battery charger too and charge it at home until needed. I can't even go to the car to get the older battery out and home to charge without risking a fine that's significantly higher than the cost of a new battery so probably best this way.

 

[Botus]

the last two AGM batteries I bought all say no need to charge,

but I always try and they both started just above 13v and within 10 seconds both rose up the volt scale and trip to maint mode... uncanny, hard to believe, but that's the results...

more perversely, if you top up an old worn out AGM at 11v with some distilled water and wait 24 hours it'll probably be above 13v too... and then trip out to maint mode within a few seconds.... including the 5 year old Aux one that putting the red light brake on in my fathers 211 ! - ok for good measure, I was going to the garage to test if my 5 quid TPMS wake up tool for the BM bike worked it did !!! so checked that old battery, was at 12.2v charged within 1 minute to 13.2v and tripped out (last touched 26 Dec 2019)

 

[Rob76]

I think you'll find that even if you buy from an MB dealer, the battery will have been sitting somewhere for months.

My New one turned up recently (From MB) and had a manufacture date of 2010!!!