Batteries

Stored on a site without power.. For up to six months (Though I'd like to limit to 4) Make sure they are FULLY CHARGED, then. operate any disconnects provided and then Lift the negative cables off the battery, While you have 'em off put something black on them,,, Paint, Tape, wire loom (Put red on the positive wires)

Stored on a site with power.. IT depends on your RV. More specifically the power converter.

Magnetek 6300, Parallex 7200... Do as above and connect a Battery Minder or Battery Tender to the batteries and feed it power.

Progressive Dynamics Intella-Charger with charge wizard (Optional or built in), IOTA with IQ-4 technology, etc. plug in rig.

The difference.. The first (magnetic) is a single stage converter with very lousy regulation, the 7300 has better regulation but is still single stage, teh 7300T is the minimum acceptable charger (it is two stage, not the T, for Two stage).

The others (PDI with wizard or IOTA with IQ-4) are among the best of the best 3-stage converters.

I'm a little different than everyone else! I leave my coach plugged in 24/7/365 and have been doing this since 1976 and it works just fine for me! I check and clean the batteries once a month (House Batteries) my chassis battery (engine) is sealed so I just clean the top and the cables. I also have a solar trickle charger that keeps my batteries refreshed. Good Question and you will get many different answers! It won't take long as a owner to try different things too see what works for you best.

I'm embarrassed to admit this ...but when we first got our latest class C I thought I knew how, I thought it should be just like old one. Found out later that I needed to plug in elec cord. I thought with a "solar charger" it would charge whenever the system needed a charge and the sun was out. Not a chance turns out only had 5 watt charger.
So the first item I would do is find out how your system is set up and how it charges. You most likely will want to get a cheap elec multi meter under $10.00 (and keep in rv, comes in handy). You'll be able to find out if it charges when the motor is running and what you have to do to charge it on elec 120 volt. And if it has a genny how that works and I also found out that I have to plug in rv power code into its own socket built in near power cord storage bin. So they are not all the same. Once you get it noodled out it will become second nature.

how do I handle my batteries while not in use?

Depends how long "not in use is" Long term over 2 months we disconnect battery and when under 2 months, once a month check water and run genny 2 hours with A/C going to put the genny under a load per onan instructions.

Hi,

Disconnect the negative cable on the "house" battery bank.

Post the make and model of the converter on this thread.

rdcsjc,
First off, before you start adding anything like chargers etc, get to know your rig! What kind of rig is it? What make, engine, trans, how many house batteries, what type, how many chassis batteries, what type?

If you've got manuals for your rig, look them over and see if you can find out the charging system(s) that are built into it or not. There is nothing wrong with leaving it plugged in as long as, any factory "on board" charging systems are a "staged" type. That is, they detect the state of charge of the batteries and then simmer down to a trickle charge or maintenance charge.

But, your manual may state that your coach is NOT to be left plugged in for long periods of storage due to possible battery damage. You'll have to determine what you have or don't have.

Keeping the batteries up, while in storage is the best thing for them, as long as it's not "over charging" them. That way, if and when you visit the coach during the storage period(s), you can fire the beast up, the genny, test all the interior components like water pumps, heaters, and anything else that needs periodic exercise.
Scott

Use a regulating charger or a trickle charger on them and keep them charged. Check the water level often to be sure you are not boiling it out. This can be done with the batteries in place, or you can remove them to your garage etc. The main thing, is to not let them go completely dead.

Are you parking it at home or off site? If at home I would just disconnect the negative and leave them. Being in Fresno you aren't going to have freezing temps. If off site I would disconnect them and bring them home so they don't walk away. I don't do anything with mine because I keep my MH plugged in all the time at home.