Forum Discussion

jamesu's avatar
jamesu
Explorer
Nov 07, 2019

Battery storage

Over the years I have taken out my TT batteries and hooked them to a trickle charger in my garage during each winter. I now have the TT under covered storage at a local storage yard which has electric plug ins. Related to my TT battery’s winterization, am I good just plugging in the TT? Will this keep the battery warm/charged? Or should I remove the battery and trickle charge it in my garage?

My storage facility is open-sided, covered storage so there is no heat, just an electric plug in next to my TT. I can count on a few decent freezes in December/January here in W. Washington. Other than this battery question, my TT is stowed and winterized.

19 Replies

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  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Nov 07, 2019
    Keep in mind that some trailers have a "disconnect" switch that doesn't completely disconnect everything. If you don't know for a fact that everything is disconnected, take off a battery cable.
  • garym114's avatar
    garym114
    Explorer II
    Nov 07, 2019
    Lynnmor wrote:
    Instead of powering up the converter and any parasitic loads, I disconnect the battery and use a Battery Tender for a few days a month. It could be left on indefinitely, bit I have other uses for it. With the trailer plugged in it is exposed to any electrical glitches in the power system. Cold will not harm a fully charged battery, in fact cooler temperatures are better for it.


    Best advice
    The lower the temperature the lower the self discharge rate.
    You really don't need a tender on a disconnected battery but you can connect one periodically if it makes you feel good.
  • profdant139's avatar
    profdant139
    Explorer II
    Nov 07, 2019
    So I am going to display my ignorance, once again -- I had thought that if a battery is left disconnected, it will discharge about one percent per day. And after a couple of months, that discharge could shorten the battery's useful life.

    Is that not true? Because if a battery can be charged, disconnected, and left alone for a long time with no damage, I am wasting electricity. I store mine in my garage (which never freezes) and keep it on one of those Battery Minder Plus gizmos.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Nov 07, 2019
    so long as battery is fully charged and disconnected the colder it is the better for the battery.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Nov 07, 2019
    If the battery is fully charged it will be fine to sit on the trailer all winter disconnected. If you still want to charge it I would plug disconnect it from the trailer and plug the tender into it.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Nov 07, 2019
    I have left the TT plugged in all winter, checking the battery water level, I have disconnected the battery and charged it periodically on the TT. However, the easiest way for me is to charge it and leave it in the laundry room in a plastic tub.

    It is convenient to check but only sits for 3-4 months so it rarely looses much charge.
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Nov 07, 2019
    Our camper is plugged in continually when at home. Never had any problems with batteries.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Nov 07, 2019
    Ideally any charger should be temperature compensated but most aren't.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Nov 07, 2019
    Instead of powering up the converter and any parasitic loads, I disconnect the battery and use a Battery Tender for a few days a month. It could be left on indefinitely, but I have other uses for it. With the trailer plugged in it is exposed to any electrical glitches in the power system. Cold will not harm a fully charged battery, in fact cooler temperatures are better for it.

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