Short life batteries
Our rig is stored for several months at a time but is always plugged in to shore power. I seem to have difficulty finding time to go check the electrolyte level in the battery. My battery's never seem...
Forum Discussion
I also suspect your older model trailer does not have a smart mode converter/charger. The older converter/chargers only use a single mode charging voltage which is usually 13.6VDC. This DC voltage will boil out your battery fluids over time which very much shortens the life of your battery. If you are able to do regular battery maintenance this type of charger is ok but one should inspect their fluids on a bi weekly basis or so.
Changing out your older Converter/charger for a newer one that supports multi-mode charging DC Voltages will help your situation big time...
Units to look at are Progressive Dynamics and IOTA Converter Chargers models.
I too support disconnecting your negative battery terminal or install a Battery Disconnect switch. A fully charged battery will last the winter months or your long storage time... I have the compete battery disconnect Switches installed on my setup and my fully charged batteries will drop down from 12.6-7VDC to around 12.4-5VDC over the winter months here still sitting outside in the battery boxes.
This is what works for me at any rate. I suppose everyone's situation is somewhat unique.
In my case I started out in 2008 with 4ea 12V Interstate 85AH batteries connected in parallel (340AHs Battery capacity) and right away I lost one 12V battery due to the boiling out of fluids which made the one 12V battery to be shorted out internally. I changed out my older single mode converter/charger unit for a multi-mode smart mode charger type in 2009. I still check my remaining three each 12V batteries out of habit but have not seen any boiling out fluids since then. Last couple of seasons I have started to see my batteries performance start falling back and am currently in the process of changing out my existing three 12V 85AH interstate batteries. Two of my existing three 12V Batteries are really in poor performance shape now with only one that holds a good charge. I got a good six years out of the Interstate GP24 batteries...
I will end up with two groups of two 6VDC GC2 batteries in series giving me around 440AHs of battery capacity.
My last two seasons I have not been out all that much doing my OFF-ROAD camping style for various reasons so this is the perfect time to make my Battery Bank change-out... New batteries, New Battery box along with new battery cables, and cleaning up of all my Blue Sea battery electrical components... Drilling new holes as we speak haha... Everything needs a little of new fresh paint every now and then I suppose...
Your batteries should last you a long time but you do have to work at it alittle bit...
Just some of my thoughts here...
Roy Ken
Changing out your older Converter/charger for a newer one that supports multi-mode charging DC Voltages will help your situation big time...
Units to look at are Progressive Dynamics and IOTA Converter Chargers models.
I too support disconnecting your negative battery terminal or install a Battery Disconnect switch. A fully charged battery will last the winter months or your long storage time... I have the compete battery disconnect Switches installed on my setup and my fully charged batteries will drop down from 12.6-7VDC to around 12.4-5VDC over the winter months here still sitting outside in the battery boxes.
This is what works for me at any rate. I suppose everyone's situation is somewhat unique.
In my case I started out in 2008 with 4ea 12V Interstate 85AH batteries connected in parallel (340AHs Battery capacity) and right away I lost one 12V battery due to the boiling out of fluids which made the one 12V battery to be shorted out internally. I changed out my older single mode converter/charger unit for a multi-mode smart mode charger type in 2009. I still check my remaining three each 12V batteries out of habit but have not seen any boiling out fluids since then. Last couple of seasons I have started to see my batteries performance start falling back and am currently in the process of changing out my existing three 12V 85AH interstate batteries. Two of my existing three 12V Batteries are really in poor performance shape now with only one that holds a good charge. I got a good six years out of the Interstate GP24 batteries...
I will end up with two groups of two 6VDC GC2 batteries in series giving me around 440AHs of battery capacity.
My last two seasons I have not been out all that much doing my OFF-ROAD camping style for various reasons so this is the perfect time to make my Battery Bank change-out... New batteries, New Battery box along with new battery cables, and cleaning up of all my Blue Sea battery electrical components... Drilling new holes as we speak haha... Everything needs a little of new fresh paint every now and then I suppose...
Your batteries should last you a long time but you do have to work at it alittle bit...
Just some of my thoughts here...
Roy Ken
