Keeping Batteries Charged During Storage

Yep, do some research on what you have and how it works. I assumed a few things and when I checked the MH (2003 DSDP) on Friday and found one of my chassis batteries had cracked wide open from freezing/thawing. Batteries normally only freeze if discharged so I guess there either was a draw on them and the inverter charger did not maintain a charge.

This is the first time I had left it plugged in all winter and I assumed the Trace 2000 would keep the chassis batteries charged:S.

I did disconnect the "salesman switch" inside the MH, but left the chassis batteries connected. Previous years I disconnected both switches and did not have the MH plugged in and everything was fine.

I will now have to purchase two new batteries (to replace the ones I bought last spring!). I haven't been able to fully check the 2nd chassis battery as the weather went from nice to snow this weekend but will change it anyhow. (hopefully the house batteries are OK - no obvious signs of distress).

Next year I intend to use the chassis battery disconnect and add an intelligent trickle charger - cheaper than batteries! Also will re-read the manual on the inverter to see where I went wrong.

Chris

Depends on the type of batteries. I have the AGM batteries and when parked my Xantrex inverter/charger keeps them fully charged without having to worry about water boiling off, like you would have with wet cell batteries.
As long as I am plugged in, my house batteries are fine. For my chassis battery, I use a charger that provides a float charge to keep that battery topped off. Again, it is an AGM so I do not have to worry about water loss.

I use the battery tender jr. and the regular battery tender. The regular one has temperature compensation so it floats at a lower voltage in hot weather. There are so many taps into all the batteries, there needs to be some kind of charging/maintainer if they're not totally disconnected. BTW, Deltran (battery tender maker) has a solar powered 3 stage maintainer that I have used before I installed solar on the motorhome. Depends where you're storing, indoors or out, too.

Forget the trickle charger and just plug in the RV. Class A should have good charging equipment but post the model here for best answers. Upgrade as needed. Also verify if the house system will charge the chassis battery. If not add a Trik-L-Start combiner.

a CONVENTIONAL trickle charger delivers a constant (1.5a) charge and WILL BOIL the batteries dry, ruining them.

you want a intelligent battery maintainer - batterytender or batteryminder are good brands that can support 3 batteries.

the converter/charger in your coach (assuming its an intelligent charger) will maintain the house batteries ONLY (not the engine batteries).

if switch your house batteries off when you store the coach you will need an EXTERNAL battery maintainer. You'll also need a battery maintainer for the engine batteries as well.

When I disconnect the fully charged batteries around the end of October, they stay charged pretty much til early spring. No trickle charge required.

JCGibson wrote:
Since we wouldn't be using our Class A year round (once we actually get one), especially Dec-Feb, how are the batteries maintained during storage? Is there something built into the coach to keep them charged? Or would I just need to keep it plugged in to my garage 50amp receptacle for charging?

With our Fifth Wheel, I just use a trickle charger, but I only have one to worry about.

John

John,
Well Sir, so many folks out there, think all coaches are built the same and have the same equipment on them. Well, nothing can be further from the truth. "Once we get one", assumes that, you don't have one yet, correct? Now, if so, then at this time, we all have no idea what year/make/model/engine/fuel type/ etc. you're considering. Some coaches, DO come with provisions built into the system, that will keep both the HOUSE (Also known as the "Coach") batteries, and the CHASSIS (Also known as the "Engine") batteries charged while on shore power.

While other coaches, be them gas, diesel or, Class A or C or, ? do not have any provisions for keeping both sets of batteries charged while on shore power. Whether or not, an intended coach has or, doesn't have any provisions for charging the chassis batts on shore power, certainly is not a big deal breaker if it doesn't. As has been stated, there's all sorts of remedies, if it doesn't.

This situation is not rocket science like some make it out to be. It can be as simple as hard-wiring a medium cost, three stage battery charger to the chassis batteries. Or, the item called a "Trik-L-Start" can also be purchased and added for, close to the same price and, it not very hard to install.

For my personal preference, I prefer the harding of the additional charger. The primary reason is, it's completely independent of the charging system that handles charging the coach batteries. That way, if anything goes wrong, at any time, with the system that keeps or, charges the house batteries charged, having a stand-alone, hardwired, three stage battery charger to keep and maintain the chassis batteries keeps on going. Again, it's a preference.

Now, I don't know how much you know about the difference in gas or diesel rigs but, there is typically a fundamental one in the battery charging department. About 99% of the gas rigs come with what's called a "Converter/Charger". Those CONVERT 120VAC to 12VDC and, the charger side of that operation also charges the house batteries. Now, that system CAN, (but not always) be also capable of charging (via various componentry) the chassis batteries.

Most diesel coaches, come with what's called an "Inverter/Charger". Those INVERT 12VDC to create 120VAC and, have a charger built into them that keeps the coach batteries charged. But, many of them DID NOT come from the factory with provisions to keep the chassis batteries charged at the same time the inverter/charger is charging the coach batteries. Some did.

And, in most cases, it did not make much difference which make or model of diesel coach you bought. There's been a zillion write-ups on all kinds of makes and models not charging the chassis batteries while on shore power.

You can't always rely on solar too. If your coach is parked under shade or, under a cover or, in a garage, solar is out of the question as a reliable, continuous source of keeping ANY set of batteries charged. Solar works great if, (1) it's a large enough system and, (2), you have considerable sun shine to make it work.

So, I hope I've not bored you with all this hoopla but, I just thought I'd try and explain something that can't be answered with a simple one line sentence. Good luck in your search.
Scott

old guy wrote:
buy a good trickle charger, don't buy a floating charger from Harbor freight, they will boil your batteries dry, get a (darn it, having a senior moment), it's something Jr. maybe someone else here can come up with a name.

That sucks, doesn't it !!!

Battery Tender Jr.

I bought a 1.5amp battery trickle charger. it claims to be intelligent and shuts off when batteries reach full, and then just maintains.

have only had the coach for about 8 months mow, but pulled it out of storage for 3 months and fired right up

buy a good trickle charger, don't buy a floating charger from Harbor freight, they will boil your batteries dry, get a (darn it, having a senior moment), it's something Jr. maybe someone else here can come up with a name.