[Al Skierkiewicz]

Well we checked one of our 2006 batteries and compared it to graphs from previous batteries. This one battery is very similar to the previous years batteries. I am still working on getting test data locked down between a very old battery and the fresh ones this year.
In most cases a battery appears to produce better when warm but there is a diminishing return. The chemical reaction progresses better at higher temperature but the internal resistance changes with temperature as well. It is for this reason that some folks turn their headlights on for 20-30 seconds before trying to start the car on a cold day. For our use, batteries at room temp are just fine, they will heat up during competition but will cool off in a short period of time. The temperature changes also affect charging and the way the charger senses the state of charge on the battery. For this reason I don't recommend putting a battery on charge immediately following a match. Give it 10 or 15 minutes and the charger will more accurately assess the condition.