The lights dim because they are running off battery voltage instead of alternator voltage (which has to be higher than battery voltage to keep the battery charged). I would think that sub-freezing start every morning for 5 months out of the year would be much worse on your battery than leaving your lights on for the short EOC period. My batteries still last 4 years in this climate.
__________________
Winter daily driver, parked most days right now
Summer daily driver
|