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Old 10-31-2016, 11:56 AM   #1
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Plug or unplug

Camping season has came to an end for me this year, camper is winterized and ready, I store my camper at home and keep it plugged in during season to keep the refridge cold. Here is my question (opinions wanted) do you keep your camper plugged in during the winter and let the unit keep the batteries charged, as I understand the newer campers have smart chargers, or do you unplug and take your batteries in the garage and put them on a tender? There is nothing on in the camper during the winter, other than the typical energy hogs (i.e. Tv, radio, clock on microwave)
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:12 PM   #2
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I put the battery in the garage on a Battery tender and switch my rat (mouse) zapper to battery mode (D batteries).
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:18 PM   #3
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I leave my trailer plugged in. Even when we get our 'cold snaps' (usually November and January for some reason) and the temperatures fall well below zero for sometimes a couple weeks straight, I have never had an issue with the batteries on the trailer freezing while the trailer is plugged in.
I have had batteries which were not on a charger or tender freeze though. When someone says "a charged battery won't freeze", they have never had a charged battery sitting overnight in 42 below zero under the hood without any sort of charger or tender hooked to it. (As in I had a battery which was less than a year old and I had driven to the location, arrived around 6PM, shut off the vehicle, and when I went out the next morning, there was barely enough power to turn the vehicle over and get it started. When we checked the battery it was bulged, so we opened the top and it was obviously frozen.)
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:29 PM   #4
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I remove my battery and bring it in my garage on a tender. I leave it plugged in all season and just think its better to give the converter / charger a bit of down time during the off season.
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:34 PM   #5
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I just think its better to give the converter / charger a bit of down time during the off season.
That's a good point, I never thought about the converter, my thoughts were focused on the batteries. I think you just made my decision for me.

I live in southern Ohio so weather is a grab bag, was in the mid 70''s this weekend, in the low 60''s today (unseasonabe warm), we can see some sub zero days but nothing like 40 below. I don't think freezing the batteries is an issue.
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:36 PM   #6
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We camp year round and leave the motorhome plugged in while in storage year round to maintain the batteries and keep the fridge ready.

We also exercise the generator for an hour a month with a 50% load.
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:38 PM   #7
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I actually take my battery out and put it in my basement for the winter. Too worried about freezing.
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:41 PM   #8
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IMO if I stored my Eagle at home I would probably have it plugged in just because I could. But I wouldn't have the breaker on all winter just to keep my battery charged. I see it as unnecessary use of an expensive converter to maintain the battery. I would have my batteries in a location above freezing and on a tender. It won't hurt anything if you have your unit plugged into shore power and no batteries onboard as long as the battery terminals are not touching anything. Tape them up and you should be fine. Like I said this is just my opinion.
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Old 10-31-2016, 12:41 PM   #9
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That's a good point, I never thought about the converter, my thoughts were focused on the batteries. I think you just made my decision for me.

I live in southern Ohio so weather is a grab bag, was in the mid 70''s this weekend, in the low 60''s today (unseasonabe warm), we can see some sub zero days but nothing like 40 below. I don't think freezing the batteries is an issue.
I tend to baby my vehicles and equipment - I don't have the throw away mindset so I try and do what I believe will extend the useful life of things I own.
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Old 10-31-2016, 01:30 PM   #10
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I stay plugged 365 and run an eletric heater to help with freezing water lines and such. As for the batteries I let the converter do the work. (I also stay over nite in it sometimes just to let the critters know I haven't moved out)

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Old 10-31-2016, 01:36 PM   #11
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We disconnect everything. -40 or close to it would not be good for the batteries. They sit on my bench on a tender from October to when I set up for the following season in the middle or late April the following year.
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Old 10-31-2016, 01:49 PM   #12
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Up until this year, I left it plugged in with the battery connected. That way all will be in readiness when the cover comes off.


However, sometime last winter the plug was disturbed and I had a totally flat battery this spring.


So, this year is an experiment. Battery disconnected and cord stowed just before putting the cover on. Total dormancy. I'll going to top up the battery every month or so to make sure it is OK for the start of camping.
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Old 10-31-2016, 06:46 PM   #13
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We have a permanent campsite. The last trailer was set up there for 28 years, and I hope our 2015 Jayco will sit there for another 28.

We are there on weekends only. When we go home the battery disconnect switch to the trailer is turned off, the solar panel to the battery is turned on, and the 30 amp 120 V plug is unplugged. When we return, and turn everything back on, the battery is always at 100%.

Mid December, when we close for the winter, I remove the battery, take it home and store it in the basement, and then charge it monthly.

Don't know if this is the best method, but haven't had anybody tell me it is wrong.
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Old 10-31-2016, 06:50 PM   #14
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If the plug is available, I use it.
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:07 PM   #15
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Those removing batteries remember not to keep them on the cold concrete floor over the winter. They can discharge. Put them on small piece plywood.
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:18 PM   #16
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Those removing batteries remember not to keep them on the cold concrete floor over the winter. They can discharge. Put them on small piece plywood.
Sorry, but that's an old, unproven, belief.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/battery.asp

"Car batteries used to be encased in hard rubber, a substance that was porous enough that battery acid could seep through it and create a conductive path through the damp concrete, draining the battery. The cases of today’s batteries, however, are made of sturdier stuff that far better contains their contents than those of yesteryear. As well, time has brought technological improvements to the seals around the posts and the vent systems.

These days, the problem of car battery electrolyte seepage and migration has been all but eliminated. Says battery manufacturer Yuasa, "Nowadays, containers are made from a solid plastic that does not allow any current to flow through it, so the batteries do not discharge, even if they sit in a few inches of water."

Interestingly, some experts (including Car Talk's Click and Clack) believe that storing car batteries on concrete floors might actually be a better idea than keeping them on shelves or other surfaces because the cold of the floor works to slow the self-discharge (leakage) rate."
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:34 PM   #17
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Plugged in 24/7/365. Never disconnect the battery. Have not had a battery problem yet. (That I know of!)

Do you disconnect your auto battery in cold weather?

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Old 10-31-2016, 07:40 PM   #18
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Sorry, but .........
guess I'm dating myself.... Ha!
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:45 PM   #19
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guess I'm dating myself.... Ha!
That's okay. I wouldn't want to disclose my real age.
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Old 10-31-2016, 07:53 PM   #20
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Don't laugh. Spare battery. Sitting in the shop office.
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