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Battery Maintenance

DUO_CORE
Explorer
Explorer
We don't camp year round, only a few times in the Summer/Fall.

My rig has 4 six volt batteries.

What does everyone do in the winter as far as the batteries? I've been leaving the rig plugged in to my 30 amp outlet on my house. Should I be doing something else?
2006 Silverado Duramax/Allison CC DRW 4x4 175,000 mi.
EFI Live
DSP5
TransGo Jr.
B-100 made in a Bio-Pro 190
2006 Day Dreamer 5th Wheel
11 REPLIES 11

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
My two 12V batteries on my SaltWater Boat have the cables removed for winter storage for 6mo, re connect and engine starts right up!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

philh
Explorer II
Explorer II
wfco is **** {rhymes with rap}

sayoung
Explorer
Explorer
I guess I'm using the wrong battery's as I use deep cycle sealed ( trolling motor) ones. They stay plugged in & all I do is keep terminal spray corrosion preventer on the connections.

StirCrazy
Navigator
Navigator
I have the same set up, as long as you have a good converter you can just leave them plugged in. I also have solar on mine (480 watts) and I top off the water twice a year. so far these batteries have lasted 13 years.


Steve
2014 F350 6.7 Platinum
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumberqueen WS100

Gjac
Explorer III
Explorer III
Another option is to fully charge the batteries before winter storage and disconnect the negative cable. A good fully charged battery will last until spring. Batteries self discharge at a much slower rate during cold weather.

2112
Explorer II
Explorer II
What brand converter do you have?
My WFCO is stuck on 13.6V, too high for continuous float charge. I use a timer that allows it to charge 1 hr every five days.
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost SuperCab Max Tow, 2084# Payload, 11,300# Tow,
Timbrens
2013 KZ Durango 2857

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
30 to 60 watt solar panel and PWM controller will do it.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
In my acid days I'd bring them into warmer conditions and charge them every so often.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

BarabooBob
Explorer III
Explorer III
I rely on my Progressive Dynamics converter to do its job. I leave the TT plugged in and check the water levels every couple of months. I pull the fuses out of everything except the battery fuse to avoid parasitic drain of the battery. Keep it simple.
Bob & Dawn Married 34 years
2017 Viking 17RD
2011 Ford F150 3.5L Ecoboost 420 lb/ft
Retired

azdryheat
Explorer
Explorer
Keep 'em plugged in to keep 'em warm. Check the water level.
2013 Chevy 3500HD CC dually
2014 Voltage 3600 toy hauler
2019 RZR 1000XP TRE

theoldwizard1
Explorer
Explorer
I assume you have them wired as 2 serial, 2 parallel. Personally I would disconnect the batteries from you onboard charger and connect them to a battery maintainer. Then I would plug the battery maintainer into a cheap mechanical lamp timer and set it to charge for about 4 - 6 hours per day.