There's a lot of advice out there that says the best way to maintain deep cycle batteries over the winter is to remove them from the camper and put them in warm storage. However, I'd like to use the camper occasionally during the winter and it would be convenient to leave the batteries in it if I can do so without damaging them.The manual for the Progressive Dynamics PD4000 power converter in the camper says it will automatically go into "Storage Mode" and decrease the voltage to 13.2 volts to maintain the battery. Does this mean I can just plug-in the camper power cord over the winter and the batteries will be OK? If not, could I purchase some kind of battery tender or maintainer that would work?

I have plugged in both my RV and my TC and let the Progressive charger maintain the batteries. The TC is newer but the RV is a 2007 and I finally replaced the battery this year after 11 years. It still holds a charge but the meter showed it was showing its age. That is how I have maintained my batteries and it has worked for me.

I have 4 lifeline 6V AGM Golf Cart batteries in my camper. I spoke with one of Lifeline's tech people who told me that as long as the batteries are fully charged and are disconnected, they will lose 1%-2% over the winter but will not freeze. That proved to be true last year so I've done the same this year. I can't speak for other battery manufacturers or types of batteries but thought I would provide information on my situation.

Even though I have a nice 3 stage smart charger built into the inverter to charge my 6 6 volts, I just throw a small battery tender on them thru the winter. Works great on all 6.

I have 80W solar panel on the roof charging the baterry and solar controler keeping it at proper level.works great,just need to clean of the snow many times in winter.Fully charged batery will never freeze..

“I spoke with one of Lifeline's tech people who told me...”Not worth much...”who told me.” What does their warranty/instruction booklet say? I downloaded Trojan’s booklet for my batteries...and read it. For instance it reads...”The freezing temperature of the electrolyte in a fully charged battery is -92º F (-69º C).”

Keeping batteries in camper over winter? | Good Sam Community

sbryan
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2018
I have plugged in both my RV and my TC and let the Progressive charger maintain the batteries. The TC is newer but the RV is a 2007 and I finally replaced the battery this year after 11 years. It still holds a charge but the meter showed it was showing its age. That is how I have maintained my batteries and it has worked for me.
RobWNY
Explorer
Nov 23, 2018
I have 4 lifeline 6V AGM Golf Cart batteries in my camper. I spoke with one of Lifeline's tech people who told me that as long as the batteries are fully charged and are disconnected, they will lose 1%-2% over the winter but will not freeze. That proved to be true last year so I've done the same this year. I can't speak for other battery manufacturers or types of batteries but thought I would provide information on my situation.
zb39
Explorer
Nov 23, 2018
Even though I have a nice 3 stage smart charger built into the inverter to charge my 6 6 volts, I just throw a small battery tender on them thru the winter. Works great on all 6.
free_radical
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
I have 80W solar panel on the roof charging the baterry and solar controler keeping it at proper level.
works great,just need to clean of the snow many times in winter.
Fully charged batery will never freeze..
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2018
“I spoke with one of Lifeline's tech people who told me...”

Not worth much...”who told me.” What does their warranty/instruction booklet say? I downloaded Trojan’s booklet for my batteries...and read it. For instance it reads...”The freezing temperature of the electrolyte in a fully charged battery is -92º F (-69º C).”
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 24, 2018
Bring batteries into warm areas decreases their life span. It is good to fully charge, leave in place and disconnect.

Having solar to charge is even better than the above.
owenssailor
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
I take the RV south but the batteries in the sailboat, tractor and Miata are left in place fully charged and disconnected. They will be just fine in the spring. I've been doing this for the last 40 years.

Fully charged batteries don't freeze. I cold weather they discharge very very slowly.
Geewizard
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
free radical wrote:
I have 80W solar panel on the roof charging the baterry and solar controler keeping it at proper level.
works great,just need to clean of the snow many times in winter.
Fully charged batery will never freeze..

Ditto. My 110W solar panel keeps them charged all winter.
Optimistic_Para
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
For the record, a fully charged battery will freeze at minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Which I suppose you MIGHT run into in Siberia or Antarctica. But as a practical matter, a fully charged battery won't freeze anywhere in in the lower 48. With the possible exception of Frostbite Falls, MN. :)

The reason you might want to unhook the battery ground wire is because on some RVs, alarms like CO and LPG are sometimes wired directly to the battery, bypassing any battery off switch which you might THINK kills power to everything.
jplante4
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2018
200 watts of solar keeps my 4 GCs up all winter. I disconnect the chassis battery. On my last rig, the little solar panel wasn't enough and the batteries froze. However, the case wasn't compromised (just bulged) and the batteries took enough of a charge in the spring to run a few things to sell the coach.