Does anyone know if keeping new batteries in the refridgerator helps them stay fresher longer? I've never personally done this but I heard about it from someone else who swears by the practice. I guess the cold may slow down the degradation but I'm not sure...

I know batteries have a longer shelf life these days but I've also personally witnessed new, unused batteries at work start leaking and die after sitting on the shelf a couple years.

Any ideas?

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

The theory seems sound on its face but I wonder if the real change in the rate of degradation of the battery is significant or even measureable. You could clear out some space in the fridge and buy a couple boxes of batterys, keep some in the fridge and the rest not and then test them periodically. Or you could write to Mythbusters and see if they want to bust it.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Store in a cool dry environment. Keeping dry is hard in the fridge, particularly with the condensation that results while you're waiting for the battery to warm up enough to generate energy. Old tech carbon and acid cells may have seen some benefit, but not current alkaline, lithium, or rechargables.

It should weaken the charge, think about how your car battery likes 0 degree temps.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I would think that colder temperatures would slow a chemical reaction, such as a battery discharging. Remember that a car battery gets recharged from the alternator all the time, whereas an alkaline cell self discharges over several year. I would think that colder temps would slow down this self discharge.
Yes, I do keep my batteries in the fridge, in one of those drawers typically.

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic