I feel like a newby!!!

[ccxnola]

I'm posting here after more than 15 years of (mostly) enjoyable 'camping' in everything from a tent to my current RV since I just made a blunder when I already knew better.

The rig (in my sig) has been a good and enjoyable vehicle for many years. Unfortunately the love of my life and co-pilot passed to be with Jesus and the Angels late last year. The rig sat in the storage lot of the six months prior and the recent 5 months - almost a year! In that time, only once did I go to the lot and fire it up to circulate fluids and then drive it 4 miles to turn the tires - plus a single trip of a day each way to visit friends. (and for that recent trip, I had to use the generator to charge the batteries to get the engine started.) That seemed to work out OK. BUT...the dual 12v AGM batteries turned out to be dead when I tried to get going this past weekend. They would charge using the generator, but not hold it. Long story short and memory 'joggled' - AGM batteries self discharge. They must be maintained on a trickle charger (not possible at my remote lot) or discharged and re-charged at least every 60 days - every 30 days is better.

So...yep, I have two new AGM batteries in the rig - an expensive lesson I will not soon forget.

[Veebyes]

All batterys discharge even without a load. Some faster than others. One of the great traits of AGMs is the very slow rate of discharge in storage.

I am a firm believer in AGMs. Bought mine, a single 4D case rather than 2 group 27s or 31s. During winter storage I do not have the luxury of even seeing my trailer for over a six month stretch. During that time the battery is disconnected. The battery has served well since 2009. After each storage period the battery has recharged in less than an hour after 6 months storage.

This year, we shall see. The battery has been unattended since early last November. It won't get plugged in again till early July. It is now 8 years old. Even at this age & 8 months untouched storage I don't anticipate a problem when I connect it July 6th.

[DrewE]

All lead-acid batteries self-discharge more or less, the rate depending on the battery type, health, temperature (faster at warmer temperatures), and perhaps other things as well.

Anyhow, there's no need to discharge them manually before recharging, and indeed doing so is harder on them than just recharging. That is not true for all battery types. NiCd batteries, in particular, typically benefit from occasional full discharges.

If you store the RV somewhere outdoors, a modest solar setup could keep the batteries all nicely maintained without additional work or worry.

[falconbrother]

I'm very sorry for your loss. You have permission to not stay on top of everything. We do the best we can with what we have to work with in life.

I sold my motorhome and went with a travel trailer. So, the nature of the battery issues has changed. With the motorhome I would drive it around, run the generator every two weeks or so. Now I just pull the battery and put it on a charger from time to time.