Disconnect batteries?

dvv711 wrote:
We are not connected to shore power while in storage, which is why we're concerned about how to handle the batteries during cold winter months. Since we have the battery disconnect lever, I think we're good.

Unless there is an after market disconnect switch installed by someone other than the mfg, I say NO, NO, NO. If it was installed by the MH mfg, their switch does not disconnect the CO2 alarm, the propane alarm and maybe things like the refigerator lights. If this is correct, then you will come back to dead batteries with a shortened life span.

And here's one of the worst parts, if you've parked it in an RV storage place, and you have dead batteries that are located half way down your MH, how do you get to them to do a jump start with another MH or trailer 2' from yours and 30' from you vehicle???

Yes, you can say that those are the house batteries and won't effect the starting batteries. Well, the disconnect doesn't shut off the power from the starting batteries either unless someone has installed a separate aftermarket kill switch for them too. If not, then power from the starting batteries is still going to little things like the radio. If you have a slight malfunction in any part of the chassis electrical system, then you'll have dead batteries there also. So now how do you get back there to jump start things? Go buy two or three sets of jumper cables and hook them together?

It takes less than 10 minutes to take the negative cables off of both sets of batteries. On the chassis batteries you probably have dual batteries, take the negative cable off of both sets. Because they're stiffer cables their memory may want to put them back on top of the battery terminals. Take something like a couple of used flattened plastic water bottles and put them between the terminals and the battery leads - 2 minutes.

On the house batteries find the battery terminal that has the negative cable going to the convertor - on that battery terminal there is usually three cables all under one battery nut. Take those three cables off and put a water bottle under them if needed. This take another whole 1 minute.

That leaves you 7 minutes out of the 10 for staring at things. This will take a 3/8" ratchet, a 2 - 3" extension and a 9/16" 6-point socket and three flattened water bottles. Oh yeh, also one zip lock bag - put the wrench in it and leave it under the front passenger seat so it's easy to locate when you come back to reconnect the batteries.

You do not have to disconnect all of the cables.

Again, if your batteries are fully charged, they'll do just fine. Mine make the winter in Fairbanks, Alaaska without a problem when fully charged and the negative cables disconnected.

On my hunting rig below in my signature, the three batteries on it have a disconnect within 18" of the batteries. The rig is parked at the end of Sept, the switch turned off and it's not started until next Sept 1st when moose season starts again. That's a whole 11 months and the last set of batteries last 7 or 8 years. This set is on their 3rd year and doing fine. Last year I did have to move it in late Feb and it was down around -30F. A couple hours of heat under the 453 diesel and the batteries cranked it right up.

Bill