Solar Panel with Deep Cycle Battery for winter storage

mgfiest wrote:
I have a cheap solar on my vechile battery which stays in and is in working order when spring comes. I have no load on the rv battery and its junkville in the spring. I know the better solar is putting out more voltage and it has its own shutoff installed in it. So I may have to assume that the new rv battery was******to start with... But any who... Theologically I should be able to leave a deep cycle battery on the solar over the winter months?

Theologically? Better ask your pastor or priest or rabbi. :W

An appropriate solar setup should be entirely capable of keeping the battery up over the winter. If it isn't, it seems it's not an appropriate setup for that use.

As I understand things, a good battery generally should survive the winter simply by being charged up fully and then completely disconnected. Self-discharge is quite temperature dependent, and pretty low when the environment is cold. A fully charged battery won't freeze unless you're someplace like Alaska. (Discharged, the electrolyte will freeze at a comparatively warm temperature.) Checking a couple of times and charging a bit if needed wouldn't hurt things.

If there are any small loads on the battery, it of course won't stay charged over the winter.

thanks all for the input

mgfiest wrote:
I have a cheap solar on my vechile battery which stays in and is in working order when spring comes. I have no load on the rv battery and its junkville in the spring. I know the better solar is putting out more voltage and it has its own shutoff installed in it. So I may have to assume that the new rv battery was******to start with... But any who... Theologically I should be able to leave a deep cycle battery on the solar over the winter months?

Yes, I live in similar climate (MN,US) and my batteries are maintained year round by solar.

I would guess that the small panel doesn't make a lot of power. You really could use 14+ volts in the Winter in Ontario.

I'd suggest to either charge the battery with a 120V battery charger or have it tested at an auto parts store.

Battery University is a good source of battery information.

I have a cheap solar on my vechile battery which stays in and is in working order when spring comes. I have no load on the rv battery and its junkville in the spring. I know the better solar is putting out more voltage and it has its own shutoff installed in it. So I may have to assume that the new rv battery was******to start with... But any who... Theologically I should be able to leave a deep cycle battery on the solar over the winter months?

You need to be close to 15 volts at least once a week.
Do you have a battery cut-off switch?

How old is the battery?

What is the voltage coming from the panel (it may not be high enough for winter time charging).

What charge controller do you have?

mgfiest wrote:
I check the voltage at least 1 a month and it ranges from 12-13 volts, so it appears to be keeping it charged. I go and check the voltage on the battery and it still states 12 - volts.

Is there somehting missing in my charging?

Yes, & I suspect the battery is shot. Check the water levels, check SG, & attempt charging it with a portable smart charger. Or you can take is somewhere & have it tested.

Take the above advice concerning Solar charging.

I have to ask the obvious, why not remove the battery for winter storage?
Also, do you run the gen set once a month, under load for 30-45 min? ( if you have one)
I find that my healthy battery, when re- charged by the generator periodically, stays in good shape all winter!

30 watts is barely 2 amps at 15 volts (the charge rate while running from a solar panel).

If your CO meter is still on, that can use 0.8 amps per hour, 24/7. That can use more power than that tiny solar panel is collecting in the short winter months.

I would suggest a pair of 120 watt panels and a 20 amp charge controller.

SunElec.com sells a 140 watt panel for $229. At least one of these will save your battery all winter, if you can keep the snow off of it!

Fred.