Battery Storage between trips
I'm hoping that someone can tell me the best way to store batteries between trips. Do I take them out after every trip....or disconnect the batteries? 3-4 weeks at a time
Forum Discussion
IF camper has parasitic loads then disconnecting will make the charge last longer, so a disconnect switch (disconnect the positive from the battery to the camper) will help, but even then batteries will lose charge just sitting. You should always keep a trickle charger on it. Typically they hold at about 13.6 volts and this is not enough to over-charge the batts and is fine to just leave on all the time. A smarter charger will monitor the condition of the battery and charge as needed.
Unless you have cold winters where you will no be using the camper there is no need to take batteries out.
Ways to trickle charge:
Solar is the favorite of many. You need a few hours of sunlight to help the batteries - not every day all day for just trickle, but several hours per week. You can get a small portable panel or attach a small panel on the roof, or just take the plunge and get a full solar system (200 watts or more). The charge controllers will do an excellent job keeping your batts topped off. MPPT controllers are the favorites of most ppl here.
or
$12 plug-in trickle charger. This is about the size of a deck of cards and comes with alagator clips to attach to the battery, or you can hard-wire it in and plug in as needed. You need to have access to plug it in, but if you have shore power then likely your camper's Dc power/charger will do just fine keeping batts topped off, however, the $12 charger will do it without constantly using your much much more expensive onboard charger all the time.
Unless you have cold winters where you will no be using the camper there is no need to take batteries out.
Ways to trickle charge:
Solar is the favorite of many. You need a few hours of sunlight to help the batteries - not every day all day for just trickle, but several hours per week. You can get a small portable panel or attach a small panel on the roof, or just take the plunge and get a full solar system (200 watts or more). The charge controllers will do an excellent job keeping your batts topped off. MPPT controllers are the favorites of most ppl here.
or
$12 plug-in trickle charger. This is about the size of a deck of cards and comes with alagator clips to attach to the battery, or you can hard-wire it in and plug in as needed. You need to have access to plug it in, but if you have shore power then likely your camper's Dc power/charger will do just fine keeping batts topped off, however, the $12 charger will do it without constantly using your much much more expensive onboard charger all the time.
