Leaving the house batteries in the chassis for the winter

We leave our RV plugged in and the batteries in too. We check them during the winter periodically for water levels.

I understand that modern RVs are not equipped to go on battery charging minder mode that will prevent overcharging even if connected to shore power for long.

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I understand that modern RVs are not equipped to go on battery charging minder mode that will prevent overcharging even if connected to shore power for long.

It's the opposite. The converters in older rigs (like pre-2000) can boil the batteries. Newer converters will go to a float charge. I keep mine plugged in 24x7 and I'm on my 5th season with a pair of deep cycle Wal*Mart batteries and an updated converter. The batteries are fine.

Depending on the rig, it may not keep your starting (chassis) battery charged. If not, a Trik-l-Start or equivalent will borrow the charging from your house converter to keep your chassis battery charged as well.

Modern (2000 or later) yes it should and no problems. Some older ones you should not do that but post the model of the converter to be sure.

I did that with mine before I went full time.. Have done it since as well but... well. Full time.

You leave the car battery in all year. Simply keep them charged.

Docsource,

I will be honest here (that is not atypical for me), but part of this is that I wouldn't trust Thor....

If you can, you should locate the converter/charger and come back here with a make and model. Then we can answer your question.

I live in SE Michigan (now, a refugee from the east coast magopolis) and the winters here are a lot like Seekonk. I have never take any of the batteries out in 14 winters. I don't replace them very often either.

If it is not a problem to lift the house bank in and out, you may not have enough. We have a 23' classic with LED, and even when the reefer was gas, we were often short of house power.

Matt

Docsource,

I will be honest here (that is not atypical for me), but part of this is that I wouldn't trust Thor....

If you can, you should locate the converter/charger and come back here with a make and model. Then we can answer your question.

I live in SE Michigan (now, a refugee from the east coast magopolis) and the winters here are a lot like Seekonk. I have never take any of the batteries out in 14 winters. I don't replace them very often either.

If it is not a problem to lift the house bank in and out, you may not have enough. We have a 23' classic with LED, and even when the reefer was gas, we were often short of house power.

Matt

I keep mine throught the winter. But I have it plugged in all winter also. Just need to periodically check the water level.

Even a single stage converter, operating properly with an output of 13.6V or thereabouts, won't boil batteries dry too quickly. Just check and add water as needed (maybe every month, at least until you get an idea for how often it's required).

With a PD 9600 series converter, I top up the battery water once a year, whether they need it or not.

In areas where it's sub-freezing, you can also just fully disconnect the batteries for the winter (after charging them fully) and leave them and they'll be fine...or if they aren't, they weren't fine to begin with. Storing them in a warmer place requires periodic or float charging as the rate of self-discharge is temperature dependent..

turbojimmy wrote:

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I understand that modern RVs are not equipped to go on battery charging minder mode that will prevent overcharging even if connected to shore power for long.

It's the opposite. The converters in older rigs (like pre-2000) can boil the batteries. Newer converters will go to a float charge. I keep mine plugged in 24x7 and I'm on my 5th season with a pair of deep cycle Wal*Mart batteries and an updated converter. The batteries are fine.

Depending on the rig, it may not keep your starting (chassis) battery charged. If not, a Trik-l-Start or equivalent will borrow the charging from your house converter to keep your chassis battery charged as well.

Sorry, the word "not" is not supposed to be there.

Thanks turbojimmy for the nice catch.