Forum Discussion

reckfield's avatar
reckfield
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2013

Batteries

What do you do with the batteries in your 5er during winter? I live in Central OR and it can get pretty darn cold here at times. Do you leave them in the 5er and keep electricity to the converter or do you remove them and store inside? Thanks.
  • Zshun's avatar
    Zshun
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2024

    When managing the batteries of an RV (such as the 5er) in winter in a cold area like Central Oregon, you can choose to leave the battery in the vehicle and keep it charged, or remove the battery and store it indoors. Stay in the car is simple, but need to ensure that the power supply is reliable; Take it out and store it to protect the battery better, but it needs to be checked and charged regularly. Choose the best option based on your actual usage and facility conditions.

    https://www.oremabattery.com/news/how-to-store-agm-batteries-for-cold-winter-months-230368.html

  • 83trekker's avatar
    83trekker
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2013
    I take mine out put them in the garage and put the battery minder on them all winter, so far so good. Paid a lot of money for my 2 6volts so I want them to last.

    Depending on what kind of converter you have in your trailer, it could cook your batteries leaving it in there all winter, I would deff take them out and bring them in the house or garage and charge them right up too.
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2013
    I live in a similar climate and I leave my batteries in the rig, fully charged, checked water level, and disconnected. I may charge them by switching the disconnect for 24-hours, once a month. My rig stays plugged in.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Sep 07, 2013
    Leave em in as long as you have power to the trailer. If everything is working correctly all you need to do is check the water level once or twice during the winter.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2013
    I use to take em out, PITA. 3 years ago I started leaving them in the RV and plugging in the RV for 24 hours every couple of weeks. So far so good. It gets pretty cold here also.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Sep 07, 2013
    A charged up battery will stay along time without being connected... Being charged negates freezing to a big degree...

    Here in Virginia I can leave mine in a charged state with my battery disconnect switch open... Other times I just leave power on my RV Trailer and it keepds the batteries up and going. If I am hooked up and keeping re-charged from the on-board converter/charger then I will check battery fluid levels on a regular basis.

    Roy ken
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Sep 07, 2013
    Hi,

    Charge, disconnect and once a month charge for 24 hours.

    -OR-

    Add a modest solar system.
  • SteveAE's avatar
    SteveAE
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2013
    reckfield,

    It isn't cold enough here (usually) to hurt well maintained batteries.
    I leave the batteries in the trailer and let the solar system maintain them. Occasionally, I have to brush the snow off panels.
    A smart charger, plugged into shore power, would do the same.

    Steve
  • RickSo's avatar
    RickSo
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2013
    pianotuna wrote:
    Hi,

    Charge, disconnect and once a month charge for 24 hours.

    -OR-

    Add a modest solar system.


    X2

    Since adding solar system have not removed batteries...just check battery levels and remove snow from panels when necessary. I don't have power where I store our rig. I used to remove and leave on maintainer charger all winter. I lost two 6 volt Trojans our first year into RV'ing even though they were fully charged and disconnected. Learning curve for some -40 degree temps we can see here.

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