Well, I have unboxed it and am examining the contents of the package. And to answer my own questions, yes, there are procedures in the manual for repairs and maintenance to be conducted by the end user. But they are not simple tasks -- this is not something I will do until I have to.
As far as I can see, there is no required annual maintenance.
The instructions do not expressly say "this can be powered directly by an ordinary deep cycle battery." But since it requires a 12 volt power source, and it is designed for RVs, I think the answer is yes, direct-to-battery is OK.
They also say that if the cable run to the battery is more than 10 feet, use 10 gauge wire, rather than the 12 gauge wire that they provide.
Finally, they say that if you use alligator clips (presumably to the battery??), they have to be rated at 20 amps. So don't use a spare pair of flimsy clamps (which is what I was planning to do until I read the little manual carefully). ;)
