So my battery has been disconnected (negative lead off) all winter.  I just got my carb back from kstyer and was anxious to try it out.  I got it installed, went to connect the battery and it was stone cold dead.  So now it is sitting on the slow charger.  Guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow to try it.

Any idea why it would be dead when it wasn't even connected?  How do they sit on the store shelf for months without dying?

Adam,

Cold temps and dirt can cause the battery to go dead just sitting in the car. Did you charge the battery last fall? An old battery can loose its ability to hold a charge as well. My battery is about 5 years old and it won't hold a charge for more then a coulpe of weeks if I don't charge it. Redwingvette2008-04-03 17:03:11

I think I replaced it last year.

well,, Adam it has happened  both for my cars and bike, i guess everyone else has explained it.
bob

That's why I take my batteries out and store them in a warm basement in a big plastic tote.  Been sitting untouched for 4 months now and I'm two for two yesterday and today getting 2 of the Vettes running. Both started right up. And these 2 batteries are over 5 years old.

I've got 5 other cars stored in my barn right now, one has been here every year for 10 years and starts up every year. 98 Trans AM. The guy just parks it and walks away, does nothing!

All lead/acid batteries self discharge... some faster than others depending on their lead composition(whether there is more antimony or calcium in the lead plates).. the calcium discharges slower.  Actually in colder temps, all batteries discharge slower.  We recharge our batteris at the warehouse every 4-5 months, for when a battery reaches 12.3 volts it is considered 50% discharged... a fully charged battery is 12.6-12.7 volts.  As stated before, an older battery does not fair as well in holding a charge over time as compared to a 'newer' one.   If its a JCI battery(Interstate, autozone, advance,walmart), you can tell its age by looking either on the back side of the case cap and see a number stamped into the battery(will be a loooong number but all you need is the first 2... JCI's start off with a number then a letter, i.e. 7 C which means 2007 and C is the corrisponding month, A-jan B-feb C-march, etc.  Most others will have  a date code sticker usually round and size of a dime...same nominclature only letter then number i.e. M7 (M-december 7-2007).   Mkapp's only advantage to keeping his batteries inside is to prevent them from freezing(a fully charged battery should withstand about 20-30 below 0 F) however not fully charges, the freezing point keeps rising.  Hmmm, you'd think i work with batteries knowing this....  ;) 

[QUOTE=mkapp7879] [/QUOTE]

Stingrayjim....