Forum Discussion

JRS___B's avatar
JRS___B
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015

What battery tolerates winter storage best?

We are snowbirds, but are about one month away from becoming sunbirds.

For several years I have had the original single deep cycle battery in our 36 foot fiver. No boondocking, just FHU RV parks. I flipped the battery switch off and that same old battery sat all summer with no maintenance charge. Yet it still works fine, but I will replace it because it certainly is time.

The future change in usage is that instead of being stored for 6 months in the summer, it will be stored for 9 months, including winter in Michigan.

My question is, should I just buy the same thing I have since this type battery has served me well, or should I be looking for an ungrade? I do not want to put in a new battery and find it will not accept a charge after sitting all winter in the cold, or maybe boil over because it is so dead.

Since I only need one battery, the cost is not a real concern.
  • JRS___B's avatar
    JRS___B
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2015
    Thanks. I think I will just buy a new battery that matches the specs of the old one.

    My situation is that I can store the trailer in Michigan for a mere $25 per year. So trailering it back and forth to Florida makes no economic sense at all. But the storage yard has no electricity, so I cannot have a trickle charger runnning from Oct. through June.

    I guess I could pull the battery and just take it back and forth to Florida with me.

    Any chance I could set the battery by a south facing window and keep it from dieing completely by using a solar powered charger? I would be willing to give it try just for grins.
  • owenssailor's avatar
    owenssailor
    Explorer
    Apr 29, 2015
    I store my boat batteries in Ont. over the winter.For the last 35 years the routine is the same. Fully charge the batteries, disconnect all loads and return in the spring. This year I left them Nov 15 and checked them Apr. 15. Both batteries were at 90% charge.

    It was very cold this past winter - no problem.

    A battery discharges very slowly in cold temperatures. The trick is to ensure absolutely no load on the battery. If you don't have a disconnect switch it is best to remove the cables.

    I don't know of any boat owners here that remove the batteries over the winter and there are no problems.
  • JRS___B's avatar
    JRS___B
    Explorer
    Apr 29, 2015
    owenssailor -- I definitely have a battery disconnect switch. Thanks for your comments and experience.

    10+ years ago I tried a solar charger that plugged into a car's lighter, in order to keep the battery charged in my old mustang that was hardly driven. It was a joke. No help at all.

    I am thinking now that probably these solar chargers have improved and might try one again, but something in a little better quality (basically whatever I can buy for $50 or less).
  • Coach-man's avatar
    Coach-man
    Explorer
    Apr 29, 2015
    I stand corrected not having lived up north for 60 years! I had heard stories about batteries freezing, but I guess they may have been discharged! On a class A I had a few years back I installed a solar pannel from Harbor Freight, about $300 including a "battery minder", kept the house batteries charged with no overcharge, and no problems when left in storage for extended periods! Good luck!!
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    Apr 29, 2015
    JRS & B wrote:
    owenssailor

    10+ years ago I tried a solar charger that plugged into a car's lighter, in order to keep the battery charged in my old mustang that was hardly driven. It was a joke. No help at all.

    I am thinking now that probably these solar chargers have improved and might try one again, but something in a little better quality (basically whatever I can buy for $50 or less).


    I have a solar charger for my pickup which sits a lot over the winter. I have found that it needs to be at least 5 watts to keep the two batteries charged over time. Less won't do but more would be great but more $$.
  • B_O__Plenty's avatar
    B_O__Plenty
    Explorer II
    Apr 29, 2015
    Charlie D. wrote:
    Some RV's require a wet cell for the emergency braking system to work. Be careful about going to AGM
    ..What difference would that make. If the battery puts out around 12 volts why would it matter if it's a wet cell or AGM? The brakes require 12 volts and they won't know what kind of battery is providing it...

    B.O.
  • Charlie_D_'s avatar
    Charlie_D_
    Explorer
    Apr 29, 2015
    B.O. Plenty wrote:
    Charlie D. wrote:
    Some RV's require a wet cell for the emergency braking system to work. Be careful about going to AGM
    ..What difference would that make. If the battery puts out around 12 volts why would it matter if it's a wet cell or AGM? The brakes require 12 volts and they won't know what kind of battery is providing it...B.O.


    I wonder also but here is the exact wording. The capital letters are as posted on the pin box cover. There is a Bargman controller of some type under the pin box. The disconnect cable plugs into the standard type switch and it is wired to a Bargman switch or controller with, I believe, a fuse before going to the brakes.

    "SAFETY BREAK-AWAY SWITCH WILL NOT OPERATE unless connected to a power source equivalent to or greater than an automotive type 12 volt 12 amp hour wet cell battery." Something to think about when selecting replacements.

    2013 Forest River Primetime Crusader 330MKS.
  • christopherglen's avatar
    christopherglen
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2015
    Key words "equivalent to or greater". AGM is a wet cell, the "wet" is absorbed in a fiberglass like mat, and pressed between the plates VS liquid poured between them. A GEL battery is a thick paste injected between the plates. Overcharging will cause H2 and )2 bubbles to form on the plates, pushing the paste away. This effectively reduces the capacity of the battery by reducing the surface area of the plates in contact with the electrolyte (gel). My guess is that is the reference to wet (VS gel).
  • tplife's avatar
    tplife
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2015
    AGM. AGM. AGM. AGM. Charleie D is mistaken, AGM batteries are designed as direct replacements for old-school wet-cell technology. And AGM cells are NOT gel cells!!! Do a search of these posts, or better yet some AGM research, and you'll find out why you get more value for your money. And all the other advantages are frosting on the cake.
  • newk's avatar
    newk
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2015
    Coach-man wrote:
    ...If it is cold enough the battery can freeze, crack cells, and warp plates! At very least keep the battery compartment at least 32 degrees to prevent freezing.


    :S You must have never left Florida. I live in Wyoming. We've had many winter days at -30 (MINUS!), and I've never had a battery freeze. I take that back. Once, when driving across South Dakota with temps of -30 to -40, the alternator quit. As a result the battery went dead and froze. I also lived in Alaska for a few years. No problems with batteries.

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