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Old 04-23-2018, 10:07 AM   #1
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Long Term Storage - Keeping Battery Charged...

When we leave our seasonal site, our TT stays in the campground. Although we have electric available, I don't want to leave it plugged in while it is unattended for 7 months.

I was thinking of getting a solar trickle charger for the battery like this one:



I am wondering if it would be safe to use something like this unattended for long term or should I just bring the battery back and forth each year? That wasn't an option when we left last year, but we will have more room this year since we will bring 2 vehicles.

Thanks in advanced for your help.

-Michael

Edited to add: I thought I was posting in Tech Talk, feel free to move this thread there if necessary.
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Old 04-23-2018, 10:57 AM   #2
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If I was leaving unattended for 7 months I would pull the battery and take home with me. That way you can keep it charged and check water levels periodically.

It also serves as protection...without a battery the trailer jack cant be raised or lowered and no passer by can flip the light on and run the battery down.

That being said I think the solar charger would maintain a fully charged battery. We use them on wildlife feeders with great results. They are also used to maintain batteries on remote gate openers. You should be ok doing the same.
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Old 04-23-2018, 11:18 AM   #3
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X2.

The biggest issue I would foresee is leaves, snow, and other debris covering the cells, and loosing a lot of capacity.

I remove my battery, place it in my garage for the winter, about 7 months, and it still has the same charge in the spring.

If you do not want to bring it home, I would disconnect the battery, and leave it in the box. Fyi, some battery disconnects switches do not 100% isolate the battery.
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Old 04-23-2018, 11:53 AM   #4
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Old 04-24-2018, 06:58 AM   #5
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Thanks all. Sounds like just leaving it with the camper is the way to go, after disconnecting it.

Last year, I removed it and put it in the shed. If it has enough a decent enough charge when we get there this year, I'll keep doing the same.

Thanks again,

-Michael
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Old 05-03-2018, 05:22 PM   #6
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Best advice is bring the battery home and charge it every month or two to keep it from sulfating up.
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Old 08-08-2018, 01:13 PM   #7
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I connect a Battery Tender solar charger on April 1st and remove it on November 1st every year. The trailer battery charge indicator always shows 3 lights on November 1st. The trailer is parked outside in Central Texas.
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