Batteries while in storage

rkymntsno · 10-07-2019, 03:32 PM

I have two lead acid batteries in my 5'er. I have the Duravolt 8.3 watt battery charger/maintainer connected while it's in storage. Will the batteries be ok left in the 5'er and connected up to the maintainer this winter? Or do you guys normally remove the batteries while in storage? San Antonio winters are not too bad, gets below freezing but not a lot.

freetime58 · 10-07-2019, 03:36 PM

A healthy, fully charged battery will never freeze regardless of how cold it gets. Some folks choose to keep maintainers on them to make sure they stay fully charged.

Grumpy · 10-07-2019, 03:56 PM

Why not just plug the rig in? It should have the smart charger/converter.

rkymntsno · 10-07-2019, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Why not just plug the rig in? It should have the smart charger/converter.

Plug it in to what?

Grumpy · 10-07-2019, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkymntsno

Plug it in to what?

What do you have the maintainer plugged into?

rkymntsno · 10-07-2019, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

What do you have the maintainer plugged into?

It has two alligator clips to clip onto one of the batteries. It has the battery connectors, I just haven't put them on yet. The 5'er is solar prepped. I need to look into getting a connector to just plug it into that if that's possible.

Grumpy · 10-07-2019, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkymntsno

It has two alligator clips to clip onto one of the batteries. It has the battery connectors, I just haven't put them on yet. The 5'er is solar prepped. I need to look into getting a connector to just plug it into that if that's possible.

Misunderstood your original post. It sounded like your maintainer was 110v powered.

DonaandDon · 10-07-2019, 06:15 PM

I have used this for many years.

**JFlightRisk** · 10-07-2019, 06:31 PM

Our battery gets to live down cellar, with a Tender on it. The Goldwing battery is next to it, and I swap the Tender every month between them. They are safe, and warm down there.

rkymntsno · 10-07-2019, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Misunderstood your original post. It sounded like your maintainer was 110v powered.

Sorry. I left out the most important word. It's a solar charger so I'm hoping it'll maintain the batteries over the winter. The panel has magnets to mount it on the kingpin.

2edgesword · 10-07-2019, 06:47 PM

I'm guessing the temperatures in the battery compartment down in SA are not going to be worse then what my batteries sees in my garage in the winter in NY. I've found that a fully charged battery will hold the charge during the winter months as long as you're 100% sure there are no parasitic loads, even small ones, draining the battery during your off season. I've checked my battery periodically during the winter and there is almost no loss of voltage even over 5 or 6 months.

rkymntsno · 10-07-2019, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2edgesword

I'm guessing the temperatures in the battery compartment down in SA are not going to be worse then what my batteries sees in my garage in the winter in NY. I've found that a fully charged battery will hold the charge during the winter months as long as you're 100% sure there are no parasitic loads, even small ones, draining the battery during your off season. I've checked my battery periodically during the winter and there is almost no loss of voltage even over 5 or 6 months.

Yes, I turn the battery disconnect switch so there's no load on the battery whatsoever. I'm gonna monitor it during the winter and if I have to bump up to a slightly bigger solar panel I will.

freetime58 · 10-07-2019, 07:00 PM

It is fact that healthy batteries self discharge slower in the cold than the warm. Also fact, AGM batteries self discharge slower than Lead Acid. I have 4 group 31 NorthStar AGM batteries in my boat, 2 group 31 North Star AGM batteries in my TT, they get fully charged in the fall (October), they are totally disconnected so no drain at all and sit in unheated covered storage till the spring (May) and come out of storage still almost at a full charge, 12.7v to 12.8v.

PS Live in Manitoba Canada, it gets cold up here!!!!! EH!!!!! LOL

rkymntsno · 10-07-2019, 07:05 PM

Thanks for the responses. This solar charger is a test this winter. Think it's gonna do fine. Storage lot is close by so I'll be checking on it periodically.

Mopar_Earl · 10-07-2019, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkymntsno

Thanks for the responses. This solar charger is a test this winter. Think it's gonna do fine. Storage lot is close by so I'll be checking on it periodically.

Disconnect the batteries from the unit. Some items are still powered even with the disconnect turned off. Otherwise your solar charger may not keep up.

Earl

rkymntsno · 10-08-2019, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

Disconnect the batteries from the unit. Some items are still powered even with the disconnect turned off. Otherwise your solar charger may not keep up.

Earl

Can I check that with a voltmeter when it's switched off? If so how do I do that?

freetime58 · 10-08-2019, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

Disconnect the batteries from the unit. Some items are still powered even with the disconnect turned off. Otherwise your solar charger may not keep up.

Earl

Not possible, battery disconnect interrupts the circuit by severing either the positive or negative connection to the battery......impossible to have some items still receiving power!

rkymntsno · 10-08-2019, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freetime58

Not possible, battery disconnect interrupts the circuit by severing either the positive or negative connection to the battery......impossible to have some items still receiving power!

That's what I thought but I'm new to all this so I'm relying on experience here in the forum. Usually I'm learning the hard way.

TCNashville · 10-08-2019, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freetime58

Not possible, battery disconnect interrupts the circuit by severing either the positive or negative connection to the battery......impossible to have some items still receiving power!

On some types of Jayco 5th wheels the battery disconnect does not cut power to certain systems because it's not directly wired to the batteries themselves. It seems that they bypass the disconnect and not sure why Jayco did it this way. Lots of folks on here have experienced this and have installed a disconnect directly to the battery[s].

Mopar_Earl · 10-08-2019, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freetime58

Not possible, battery disconnect interrupts the circuit by severing either the positive or negative connection to the battery......impossible to have some items still receiving power!

Sure is! Definitely possible and is! Pretty common thing. Look around on the forum. I had to rewire my 2017 Eagle 293RKDS as it didn't kill all items. The factory leaves some items powered even with the disconnect off. You will find out when your batteries are dead with the disconnect off. You will become a believer! Lol

Earl

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