removing batteries for winter.

[walker2413]

I live in a fairly cold climate and winter seems to have been hard on my batteries. This fall, I am planning on taking out the 2 – 6 volt deep cycle batteries in my fifth wheel and storing them in the basement on a piece of plywood for the winter. When I take them out, I plan to put the positive battery wires in a plastic bag and taping it up for insulation. I am planning on putting the negative wires into another. The purpose of the bags is so that these terminals cannot touch each other and cause a short circuit. My question is this: “With no batteries attached to the system, can I still plug the trailer in and run most systems on ac? I like to plug in an electronic rodent repelling device. I am just nervous of how the built in trailer charging system will behave with no batteries. My next question is this: while storing the batteries in the basement, if I hook them up in series, is it al-right to put a 12 volt battery maintainer on these batteries?

Thanks,
Bill W

[walker2413]

I just want to thank everyone who responded to my post. I suspect that my system over charges them in the winter and gases off the electrolyte. So,I have decided to take the batteries out and store them in the basement. Doing so will allow me easy access to them for filling the cells prior to putting them back in the trailer.

Bill W

[Mile_High]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Mile High,

Converters are crude compared to solar charge controllers. For one thing they don't do temperature compensation. Where I live it gets to -40. At -40, 13.2 volts would actually discharge a battery bank.

In an ideal world fully charge in the fall by plugging in for one week, then disconnect the battery bank and leave it in place.

There is also no guaranty that either of the users has not 'flatten' their batteries during summer time use. Batteries don't do well with such an approach.

Mile High wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
I solved the issue by adding a modest solar system. The batteries lasted 10 years.

I'm not clear on how that solved the issue? Both the guys that had the failures over winter said they were plugged in so they were already charging them.

A thanks, I understand what you are saying now. I imagine for those that store indoors like myself, a much improved plug in battery conditioner/charger might be the ticket.

[Timay]

arnko37 wrote:
HERE IS WHAT NOT TO DO. I left the batteries in my motorhome for the winter thinking the solar maintenance charger on the roof would keep them up. Then I parked the unit inside a barn where no light could reach the solar charger. In the spring the batteries were froze and split open.

Made me laugh! I think all of us have done those kind of goofs...

I leave mine in the trailer all winter (2 12volters)but I specifically bought a charger/converter with a built in battery maintainer (including a desulfater) and leave the trailer plugged in. I ran a 20A line from the house panel to the trailer to serve that purpose, as well as power for our 'guest room'.

No problems in 15 years or so...

Tim

[Dave_H_M]

I know this does not answer your question, but I have never pulled my fifth wheel batts in the winter, and it does get kinda cool in central IL in the winter.

I don't believe in keeping the RV plugged into 120 either even though it has a 30 amp plug where it is stored.

I installed a remote batt cut off switch (batt is a PITA to get to). So when the RV is in storage the batt is turned off and a batt maintainer is hooked to it.

However you have to do what makes you comfortable. All of those batts out there in the barn are outside dogs. :W

[pianotuna]

Hi Mile High,

Converters are crude compared to solar charge controllers. For one thing they don't do temperature compensation. Where I live it gets to -40. At -40, 13.2 volts would actually discharge a battery bank.

In an ideal world fully charge in the fall by plugging in for one week, then disconnect the battery bank and leave it in place.

There is also no guaranty that either of the users has not 'flatten' their batteries during summer time use. Batteries don't do well with such an approach.

Mile High wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
I solved the issue by adding a modest solar system. The batteries lasted 10 years.

I'm not clear on how that solved the issue? Both the guys that had the failures over winter said they were plugged in so they were already charging them.

[arnko37]

HERE IS WHAT NOT TO DO. I left the batteries in my motorhome for the winter thinking the solar maintenance charger on the roof would keep them up. Then I parked the unit inside a barn where no light could reach the solar charger. In the spring the batteries were froze and split open.

[owenssailor]

Some simple facts:
Fully charged batteries are happier in very cold temps than in warm environments. The self discharge rate is very low in freezing conditions. For more than 30 years I have left the batteries on my sailboat over the winter here in Ontario. Fully charged in Nov. See them again in April. Make sure there is absolutely no load on the batteries. They have always been fine. Most boaters here leave their batteries in the boat.

[Mile_High]

pianotuna wrote:
I solved the issue by adding a modest solar system. The batteries lasted 10 years.

I'm not clear on how that solved the issue? Both the guys that had the failures over winter said they were plugged in so they were already charging them.

[pianotuna]

I solved the issue by adding a modest solar system. The batteries lasted 10 years.

[LOFAT36]

I use to live in Calgary, Alberta and pulled out my batteries every winter & charged them once in awhile. My unit wasn't plugged in & batteries do not like cold weather.

[MNRon]

I've never pulled my trailer batts over winter, just plugged into AC every few weeks to make sure stay charged. Now trying to head south in winter for some time instead 🙂 I also have a boat and lift battery that I bring in but don't leave on charger all winter, just top off in fall before storage and again in spring before installation. I don't worry about covering terminals etc either.

[2oldman]

walker2413 wrote:
Over the last 6 years I have left my batteries in the trailer over the winter with it plugged in. In August I just installed my 3rd set of batteries, so I figured it is time to take them out over the winter.

I side with you on this. I'm not convinced long periods of cold weather, charged or not, is good for batteries. Neither is hot weather.

[Mile_High]

Bill, it might be your charger in your converter. My first Iota converter didn't have module to switch down to trickle charge (Keystone too cheap), and it would boil off the batteries. I had to install the module myself, which was real simple and no problem after that. This PD converter does have the rate charge and is selectable from front in my breaker box. I can select trickle, or several other step down charges.

You might check that. The alternative might be to just charge the batteries direct off a smart battery maintenance charger and disconnect from the trailer, but leave the batteries in place.

[walker2413]

Thanks for the quick replies. Over the last 6 years I have left my batteries in the trailer over the winter with it plugged in. In August I just installed my 3rd set of batteries, so I figured it is time to take them out over the winter.

Bill W