Pinnicle winterizing and Batteries

[pawags45]

When winterizing a Pinnicle 36SSWS

1) Do you need to remove the batteries and put them some place warm if you keep it plugged in to 50amp the entire winter. ?

2) Are the 2 low point drain valves in the front basement behind the panel the only low point drain plugs or are there some in the back of the camper since both places have low point drains.?

[jimp]

IMO, I would use a quality trickle charger to maintain the batteries during storage periods. I prefer the Battery Minder brand myself. Check the water levels on a periodic basis, plug it in and forget about it. I don't remove the batteries from the TT, but my climate may be different than yours. We get cold weather, usually above 20* most of the time, but we do get brief cold snaps down to 10* at times, and a few highs just in the 30's but again, short lived. No damage or frozen batteries from following this for years.

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by pawags45

When winterizing a Pinnicle 36SSWS

1) Do you need to remove the batteries and put them some place warm if you keep it plugged in to 50amp the entire winter. ?

2) Are the 2 low point drain valves in the front basement behind the panel the only low point drain plugs or are there some in the back of the camper since both places have low point drains.?

i have always removed the batteries and kept them in the garage, putting a trickle charger on them every so ofter to keep them topped off. That also gives me the opportunity to properly clean and service them, something that's very hard to do when they are installed. That said though, i ended up leaving them in last winter as we were taking the rig in to have the crack repaired in mid-February, and the batteries were fine. in the long run it's probably personal preference.

As far as the low point drains, we have four. The two in the basement, the other two behind the rear axle, one on each side. The right side is the FW tank drain, the one on the left for the fridge water lines.

[pawags45]

Thanks everyone.

[DonaandDon]

I do disconnect the ground on the battery. Then use this trickle charger throughout the winter.

[Madwinger]

I prefer the BatteryMINDer, It has a third process that de sulfates the battery which is the biggest enemy of a storage battery in long term storage status.
I am now wondering what charger is built into my Eagle HT? Need to look into that. I would not think the factory charger has that process. Any way I too will take my batteries out, put them in my shed and on the BatteryMINDer for the winter. I have done this with Deep Cycle Batteries with success for many years.



Archie

[DonaandDon]

Have you drained the plastic suction strainer cap, on the FW pump? Not sure if your winterizing will put antifreeze into it.

[pawags45]

Originally Posted by DonaandDon

Have you drained the plastic suction strainer cap, on the FW pump? Not sure if your winterizing will put antifreeze into it.

I never used the FW Tank so its never had water in it. Also I never turned the water on to the residential refridgerator so I would not have to winterize it. I have as portable icemaker and I only drink bottled water when camping so no need for water to run to fridge.

[Skidawg]

pawags45; a charged battery will not freeze. If you have it plugged into a 50amp, and your cutoff switch set to ON, then you have no worries. This again is a matter of preference in most cases. Think of your truck battery. Do you worry about it freezing when sitting for a week or so without cranking it?? You will get many personal opinions however; a charged battery will not freeze. Stay warm. SKIDAWG

[pawags45]

Originally Posted by Skidawg

pawags45; a charged battery will not freeze. If you have it plugged into a 50amp, and your cutoff switch set to ON, then you have no worries. This again is a matter of preference in most cases. Think of your truck battery. Do you worry about it freezing when sitting for a week or so without cranking it?? You will get many personal opinions however; a charged battery will not freeze. Stay warm. SKIDAWG

Thznks. Thats why I had a 50amp plug installed in my driveway.