Winter battery care

It really depends on what converter/charger you have as to whether you should leave them in the RV.. If it's a 3 stage unit then you will be fine. If it's a single stage (13.6V constant) then it will eventually boil them dry.

If in doubt....... pull 'em out!

ScottG wrote:
It really depends on what converter/charger you have as to whether you should leave them in the RV.. If it's a 3 stage unit then you will be fine. If it's a single stage (13.6V constant) then it will eventually boil them dry.

This is the best answer you will get. It all depends on the quality of your converter/charger.

I just turn off the 12volt master switch and clamp a trickle charger directly to the battery. We get down to -30 around here and never had a problem doing that.

My own experience does not find that rv batteries lose there capacity after a few years. Keep them charged with the correct type charger for the battery involved (very important, different battery type, different charger may be required), and you should get many years of service.

I do the same with the deep cycle batteries for the trolling motor in my boat. They always give me many years of very good service.

BTW, DW and I just got back from a month in your lovely state. We started near Bonners Ferry and zig zagged our way throughout the entire state.

Our temps get down to around zero in the winter, and I leave my 2 6-volts in the battery compartment in the 5er. We may have the rig plugged in at different times during the winter but since the float charge from the converter doesn't seem to work real well, I will keep the batteries disconnected with my disconnect switch - after getting a full charge. About once a month I will check the voltage and if it drops I will connect and charge through the converter for about 24 hours. Last winter I only needed to charge them up just once.

I don't live where it gets that cold, at least not more than every few years.

If I lived in your area, I'd buy a Battery Tender, and leave that on my batteries for the winter. The Battery Tender's are the best at keeping the batteries at full charge, without any damage.

Good luck with whatever you do.

We live in the same temps as you stated and we have always just left our rig connected to shore power 24/7 no matter the time of year as it is stored in our side yard. We have 4 year old 6 volt Interstate batteries from Samsclub and they are holding up well being charged by our Iota DLS converter.

Trickle charging, activating 12 volt kill switch with occasional charging, or just removing them altogether will work as well. I don't do anything with the batteries in our motorized toys or work equipment over the winter, just charge them with the BD 40 amp charger before and after the winter season comes and goes.

-10

I would pull them and keep on a trickle charger in my garage or basement or other somewhat heated area.

From another north Idaho native, I took the time to remove mine one winter. No thanks, not worth it. My last 6v batteries lasted 8 years left on the tongue of the trailer, using a mix of solar or the built in converter (WFCO 35 amp). I'm pretty minimalist about battery care; keep 'em watered, keep 'em free from corrosion, don't let 'em discharge too low. That's about it.

Thanks to all that answered. Our trailer has a pretty good charger/converter, so I'll leave the batteries on the tongue. We've never had any problems with leaving them, but I thought I would ask. Sorry to say this, but the towing season is over for the year.. Darn.