I have a 2012 Class C (Thor Four Winds) with a Ford E-350 chassis. After sitting for 3 months in storage (shame on me) I found the starting battery completely dead. I assume there are 'things' that discharge the battery over time? I was able to start the rig with the emergency start switch from the house batteries. Now I have it on the charger hoping that there is no permanent damage.The question is: how to prevent this in the future? I could: A) disconnect the starting battery while in storage (not sure if that would cause other problems)or B) I have a 100 W solar panel on the house batteries - maybe I could hook that to starting battery as well? But how? direct wiring to the starting battery or maybe to the cigarette lighter? For some reason I kinda don't want to mix the house and starting batteries.or C) put a separate small solar panel up for the starting battery? (I kinda hate to do that - can't just put on the dashboard cause I use a vinyl cover on the windshield)Note that I do not have access to 110V in the storage yard.My old 1998 Jayco E350 never had this problem. I never worried about the starting battery.

Harbor Freight sells a solar battery maintainer with suction cups. Maybe you could find a piece of glass that gets enough light to keep your batteries up to par.

I have a switch that goes to either "use" or "store". Mine stores unheated, inside when not in use so the solar cells on the roof do nothing. It starts every Spring for me.

Get a battery disconnect installed right at the battery.The electrical battery disconnect should be leaving some power to the chassis computer. It will eventially drain battery.

Hi,Add a Trik-l-Start. Problem solved.There will have been damage to the starter battery--but likely it will remain useable for some time. Desulphate it, if you have the facility to do so.

I disconnect and check the voltage every month or so. If it went below 12.5 I would put a charger on it, but it never does.

How to prevent dead starting battery in storage?

17 Replies

mlts22
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2014
Another solution (assuming there is shore power available) might be to get two small Battery Minders. The big ones take up eight amps at most, the small ones, .25 to 1.7 amps (usually quite less that when just maintaining charge.) Those also take care of desulfation as well.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
pianotuna wrote:
Hi Border,

The OP has a modest solar system so the trik-l-start will work.

I thought that OP's rig was stored indoors, sorry!
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jan 06, 2014
Hi Border,

The OP has a modest solar system so the trik-l-start will work.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
Trik-L-Start device gets power from the converter/charger and needs the rig to be plugged into shore power to send some charging current from the house battery to the starting battery via a wire to the starting battery positive terminal.

Many/most rigs have no provision to charge starting battery when engine is not running. If you have no power available in storage, remove house and starting batteries and connect to "smart" trickle chargers where you do have 120vac power available. Check electrolyte levels every month or so and add distilled water if needed to cover the plates. Most batteries self-discharge over time when not connected to anything. "Battery Minder" chargers have a desulphation mode which can (supposedly) restore batteries to near new capacity over time.
ketchjb
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
Thanks guys,
I think I will check into the Trik-L-Start solution. I managed to locate the emergency start solenoid on my rig so should be an easy hookup. And it would be a permanent solution.
Also, I plan on using the rig a lot more this year.

Looks like my battery may be alright. It's showing 12.45 volts after charging and sitting overnight. Time will tell.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Jan 05, 2014
While the Trik-L-Start will do the job there's a better solution. Use a voltage controlled relay like the Blue Sea ACR to connect the start battery and the house battery. It will monitor the voltage and when the solar panel gets the house battery voltage up it will connect the batteries and allow the starting battery to charge also. When the sun goes down and the voltage falls it will disconnect them.
The benefit from this is that when driving down the road it will work the same way and allow the engine alternator to recharge the house batteries.
It seems like the MH should have been set up for the engine to recharge the house anyway so you may already have a similar device. It may be as simple as changing the wiring or reprogramming it to have it act both ways on charging.
Ray___June
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Add a Trik-l-Start. Problem solved.

There will have been damage to the starter battery--but likely it will remain useable for some time. Desulphate it, if you have the facility to do so.

I've used a Trik-L-Start for over 6 years. Works great and easy to install.
old_guy
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
those harbor freight things are not enough to keep your battery up during the winter moths. take the cable off the positive side of the battery and if you have electric close buy yourself a battery minder.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 04, 2014
ketchjb wrote:
B) I have a 100 W solar panel on the house batteries - maybe I could hook that to starting battery as well? But how? direct wiring to the starting battery or maybe to the cigarette lighter? For some reason I kinda don't want to mix the house and starting batteries.

Trik-L-Start combiner is made for this exact purpose. When house battery voltage is high enough to indicate charging TLS allows up to five amps to the start battery. In all other conditions the batteries remain separate. Easy install across the boost relay.

Works perfect on my truck/trailer in storage.
triple602
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
No AC at my storage yard either so I bought this setup and love it:

http://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDer-Solar-Charging-System-SCC-015/dp/B000JS268M/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1388888218&sr=8-30&keywords=solar+battery+tender

I bought an extra controller to connect panel to house batt's when boondocking.