Forum Discussion

Blazing_Zippers's avatar
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2014

Winter battery care

We have two Costco 6 volt batteries that are almost 4 years old on our trailer. In our neck of the woods, winter might spike down to -10 degrees or so, but mostly hovers around 10 to 30 degrees for the low temps.
SO, my question is this; With the rig being plugged into 30 amps, would you consider it best to leave the batteries on the rig, OR unplug the 30 amp circuit and remove the batteries (placing them in a warm area)during the cold times?
I see farm equipment etc. with batteries left in the cold with no winter precautions, and there "seems" to be no problem with them. Also, after a few years, most RV batteries lose most of their capacity, so is the extra time and effort worth it?
Thanks
Seeking Advice
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Oct 23, 2014
    I would leave them in and check the water once in a while. Below is a quote from the Trojan Battery website about the freezing point of a fully charged battery..

    Can a battery freeze?
    The only way that a battery can freeze is if it is left in a state of partial or complete discharged. As the state of charge in a battery decreases, the electrolyte becomes more like water and the freezing temperature increases. The freezing temperature of the electrolyte in a fully charged battery is -92.0oF. At a 40% state of charge, electrolyte will freeze if the temperature reaches approximately 16.0oF

    link to Trojan website
  • bid_time's avatar
    bid_time
    Nomad II
    Oct 23, 2014
    I take mine out. I spent good money for a good battery so I won't be taking any chances. 5 minutes of effort is worth it to me; but for me that's just another case of what I call the right tool for the job for me. Your experience may vary.

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