Winterizing a fridge.....

Thanks Barney!!

I am told that if the charger is only floating 13.6 volts that you can leave that on indefinitely. Check the voltage over fully charged batteries to see. Some might do much more. I had a charger from 1972 that put out 18 volts an dI never knew this until recently. Somehow the batteries, two marine, were fine and lasted as expected, but it was not always plugged in, just when I thought they needed topping off.

Always check the water level - every month or two (and same goes for your daily driver car). Use distilled water only in batteries. When the water gets below the lead plates then your batteries are in trouble.

deltabravo wrote:

bacabunch wrote:
but should i clear out the fridge and shut it down?

Yes. Empty it, dry it out, leave the doors open so mold doesn't grow in it over the winter.

Agreed

Have a look in the full time forum here:

https://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24160748.cfm

Grit dog wrote:


What’s the thoughts on leaving plugged in with a Charge Wizard?
Any negative experiences?
Snip...
Have had the camper plugged in with (new this year) Charge Wizard and the charging / maintaining profile as stated in the literature seems like it’s well suited to just leave plugged in.

My trailer is 16 years old, and came from the factory with a Progressive Dyanamics converter and has the Charge Wizard that I installed myself 15 years ago and has been plugged in 24/7 just about every day for the past 12 years. I am on my 2nd set of batteries (Have two) and they are about 5 years old now but still going strong. The Charge Wizard is just that - a wizard. It does the job exactly as advertised and well worth the $25 or or so it cost to add to the converter. New ones come with it automatically.
Barney

dodge guy wrote:
Be careful. Some built in chargers will boil the batteries. Best thing to do is attach a battery maintainer. Disconnect the negative cable and put the clamps on the posts. Maintainers will keep the batteries charged without cooking them.

actualy the best thing to do is upgrade your built in charger so your not boiling it in the winter or summer.

Steve

bacabunch wrote:
but should i clear out the fridge and shut it down?

Yes. Empty it, dry it out, leave the doors open so mold doesn't grow in it over the winter.

Sorry, see there’s a battery thread right here too.

AJR wrote:
Dodge Guy is right. Every new to me camper I test to see what the converter does. Only bought one Charge Wizard so far.

Topped off the batteries twice this year.

One more time. Leave the fridge doors open.

What’s the thoughts on leaving plugged in with a Charge Wizard?
Any negative experiences?
I routinely maintain other batteries with maintainers. Sometimes plugged in for months at a time, sometimes rotated between machines. Boat batteries have stayed plugged in virtually year round on a Pro Mariner charger / maintainer. Last set of AGMs lasted 10 years.

Have had the camper plugged in with (new this year) Charge Wizard and the charging / maintaining profile as stated in the literature seems like it’s well suited to just leave plugged in.

Turn the Fridge off.

Fully charge the battery bank.

Disconnect the battery bank.

Charge for 24 hours once per month.