All gel cell batteries (6V and 12V) should be stored fully charged and placed on charge periodically to top them off.
For example; if someone is storing their battery for 6 months during the off season they should fully charge it before doing so, and plug it in say once a month to be safe and let it top off. Due to potential fire hazard, we don't recommend leaving a battery on a charger for long periods.
When a battery is used, we recommend it be placed on charge as soon as possible. The longer it sits with no or little charge the more likely it is to lose its ability to charge or hold a charge for its entire life. We have treated batteries like this and have had 12 volt and 6 volt batteries in use for 2 years that still hold close to their original life’s charge (close enough to where we cannot notice). With that said, just like a car battery, every lead acid battery will need to be replaced after a certain time period. We are not certain what the possible life of a battery is, but say 2 years of heavy use is a reasonable amount of time for them to last.
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