# A battery warmer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908 "2017-09-21T20:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/1 "2017-09-21T20:45:59Z")
Is this even a thing? My RV battery froze last winter and had to be replaced after nine years of good service. I disconnect the negative terminal when I put it to bed every fall, but it sits in the engine compartment for six months or so and it does occasionally get below freezing here. Short of removing the heavy bastard and putting it back in twice a year (getting too old for that), is there any way to keep it warm? I don’t think a trickle charger will serve that purpose, will it? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/2 "2017-09-21T21:05:09Z")
Yes, they are definitely a thing. You can get them at just about any auto parts store or from Ama\*\*\*. Unfortunately, they need 120 VAC (or other, if you are in a different country) to work. But a warm battery is great for starting a cold car. I had quick connects on my battery and toted it up to my apartment every cold night. Pop in the car the next morning and it would start instantly. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/3 "2017-09-21T21:06:57Z")
Ask most Canadians, it is indeed a thing. I would recommend a timer as well otherwise the thing stays on. Just remember to take it off come Spring or you’ll be putting 4 cups of water back into your battery like I did with my Jeep…Apparently boiling off your electrolyte is like, bad, or something… 😃 [Battery Blanket.](https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/60w-120v-battery-blanket/A-p4270191e) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/4 "2017-09-21T22:41:41Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Ask most Canadians, it is indeed a thing. I would recommend a timer as well otherwise the thing stays on. Just remember to take it off come Spring or you’ll be putting 4 cups of water back into your battery like I did with my Jeep…Apparently boiling off your electrolyte is like, bad, or something… 😃 [Battery Blanket.](https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/60w-120v-battery-blanket/A-p4270191e) That’s perfect. I’ll only plug it in when we’re dipping below freezing, which normally only lasts a few days at a time. In Alaska, we all just had block heaters. I do remember when I was in college in Fairbanks that the temps would get so cold that oil would freeze and gas would gel. I recall one student who lit a small bonfire under his oil pan, trying to get things moving, but at -60F, it was pretty hopeless. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/5 "2017-09-21T23:49:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > That’s perfect. I’ll only plug it in when we’re dipping below freezing, which normally only lasts a few days at a time. In Alaska, we all just had block heaters. I do remember when I was in college in Fairbanks that the temps would get so cold that oil would freeze and gas would gel. I recall one student who lit a small bonfire under his oil pan, trying to get things moving, but at -60F, it was pretty hopeless. Step back a second. It only gets below freezing a few times a year? Your 9 year old lead acid batteries did not fail because of the cold. The cold just hastened the end. Personally in your situation, I’d invest in a solar powered trickle charger to keep the charge topped off during storage. ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/6 "2017-09-21T23:53:10Z")
As far as I know, a fully charged battery will not freeze, so because of that, a battery maintainer would also help. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/7 "2017-09-22T00:07:26Z")
My '62 Beetle had a little 6-volt battery under the back seat. It was easy to carry it in the house on cold Quebec nights. Things were simpler in those days. But I can’t really say if it had more cranking power at room temperature, than out in the street. Still had to drag the crankshaft through tarry oil, and heating the pan would probably be more effective. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/8 "2017-09-22T02:17:18Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > …heating the pan would probably be more effective. However, since '62 Beetle engines didn’t have oil pans… ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-battery-warmer/796908/9 "2017-09-22T02:41:15Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > However, since '62 Beetle engines didn’t have oil pans… That wouldn’t have stopped me from trying.