> for lead acid, slow discharges actually COOL the battery a little below ambient... Very interesting, Sean. Is there a name for this effect? IIRC there was a procedure for starting military 2-1/2 Ton trucks in extreme cold which involved shorting the battery for a few seconds, circa 1970. I never did that, but others claimed to have done so. It does get cold on the DMZ in Korea... My MO was to take the battery inside the hootch, which also makes it somewhat harder to steal. In the morning build a small fire under the vehicle, thaw it out, re- install the battery, and you're good to go. This is a somewhat heroic proposition with a deuce-and-1/2. The battery is a two man carry... Jack -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist