Kalkhoff (Panasonic) 18Ah - winter battery storage

[MGR1]

Hi all.

I have a question about winter (long term) storage of my Kalkhoff 18Ah battery. The bike has been standing unused since october. How often (if at all) should I charge the battery during the winter? I charged it once in november, and now it again has only 3 of the 5 lights lit when I push the battery check button, indicating the voltage has dropped due to self discharge.

Bike and battery is stored indoors, in room temperature. Battery is not yet one year old.

Regards,
Michael

 

[MGR1]

Thanks Scott.

It sits in the bike now. Should I take it out?

Regards,
Michael

 

[eddieo]

Looks like it from the above

Was looking at this bike last week online as some 2011 models around at good price, as my wife wants a stepthrough

How are you getting on with it, what do you think?

 

[Scottyf]

Yes, Please take it off the bike and then charge it.
It should be fine but its best to keep the battery or any other battery chemistry topped up as such.

 

[flecc]

Just to emphasise that this advice is only for these batteries for the Panasonic power unit, not most of our lithium batteries.

What is special about these batteries is that the internal electronics (BMS), which normally cause some current drain, shut down automatically after a period out of use. Since the lithium cells do not self discharge, the battery then comes to no harm long term.

To wake up the battery to bring it out of sleep mode, connect it to the charger until it indicates fully charged.

 

[MGR1]

OK! Thanks all. Will take it out immediately, and charge it before further storage. Still full winter here in Norway, I'm afraid, -10c outside today.

eddieo: I bought this bike second hand in september from 'Pedal Anton' on this forum. It has some 800 km on it, but looks absolutely like new. The previous owner was very pedantic about the care and maintenance, and it shows. I must also say that I am very satisfied with the build quality and finish of the Kalkhoff. It oozes of quality.

I haven't had time to put many km's on it yet I'm afraid, but had a chance to test it on some of the very steep hills from Trondheim and up to where I live. The worst of those gradients I am unable to ride with an ordinary bike in first gear, but the Sahel had no problem with that in 3rd / 4th gear with me sitting in the saddle. That is with a 19 tooth rear sprocket.

 

[eddieo]

Thanks! I have always like the look of the Sahel......

 

[NRG]

OK! Thanks all. Will take it out immediately, and charge it before further storage. Still full winter here in Norway, I'm afraid, -10c outside today.

...

-10! I'll be in Oslo next week, thanks for the heads up