Battery Shut off and Storage Question.

Aluminum Siding wrote:

westend wrote:

Aluminum Siding wrote:
Great replies everybody! And some good advice. I actually went to Battery Town today where I bought my new 6v batteries. They recommended the shut off switch in the off position, unplug the trailer and hook up a trickle charger. They first recommended a solar charger but since it's not in storage and I have a plug I bought a plug in kind. So now with the 3 stage trickle charger the batteries will be always topped off. The circuit to the trailer will be cut so no drain there. Lastly the trailer will be unplugged so no wasted electricity and use of the minor electronics.

My original intent was to just disconnect once fully charged but batteries will slowly discharge on their own reducing the longevity of the batteries. Again thanks everyone for the awesome replies.

That is absolutely the best way to treat your batteries. You may want to make sure you occasionally get the Trojans back up to 14.8V (the pair)if your trickle charger doesn't get that done. I have solar and program the controller to a temp compensated 14.8 V for storage. The controller only goes into absorption for a half hour and then comes down to a float charge. I've been checking with a hydrometer and the solar keeps everything right at baseline SG. About once a year or so I stir them up with 15-16 volts from my shop charger.

Thanks I've heard this before. My TT gets them up to about 13.8 before going into a float. I have a friend that stated the same above. He puts a charger to his that he can control and every 6 weeks gets em way up. Forgot what volt but he does the same. I just got the trickle charger and when I shut the batteries off at the trailer fully charged at 13.8 the charger is still showing red for almost 24 hours now. I'm hoping cause its getting them up to the 14.8 mark or so. I'm going to google my trickle changer to see where it floats at. Nothing in the instructions state at what volts it moves to a float.

There are two real ssentials to maintaining batteries, a hand held meter and a hydrometer. Those folks that live in Reality, USA can skip the hydrometer since you have to actually use it but a meter is really helpful with an RV since you have two separate electrical systems and it's cost is trivial. Measure your voltages when using the trickle charger and follow the Mfg float temperature guidelines. I'd also suggest to do an equalize procedure occasionally. Taking good care of your batteries will result in a long useful life, 10 years is not atypical.

To the guys with boats or that have been in a Marina and see how battery charging is handled: This is more a matter of logistics than method. Boats are usually covered or wrapped in the storage situation. It's also difficult to have a charger on every boat. That is why the Marina removes them and charges them inside. If they could, they would never touch them. I've maintained fleet battery charging and it is different then a single RV user.

After lugging hundreds of batteries, I'd rather not lift another. A battery disconnect switch eliminates this and should be a factory installed item, IMO.

AS, good luck with your new batteries. Treat them well and you will save $$$ in the future.