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04-19-2017, 10:27 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Highland
Posts: 474
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Winter Battery Storage
Question for you guys. How many of you remove your battery and bring it inside for winter storage? I do it, but why? Is there any difference between this battery and a car battery that is outside in the cold temps? I disconnect it every time I put it in storage. But why do we bring the battery inside? I live in NW Indiana and we see temps below zero. thoughts?
__________________
Chris Moore
2010 Starcraft/Jayco 297BHS pulled by
2009 Chevy Silverado
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04-19-2017, 10:32 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
Posts: 4,792
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I bring mine in because not being used and recharged, I believe it will discharge over time in the cold. Once discharged, the acid solution could be more suseptible to freeze.
__________________
Cape Coral, Florida
2021 Toyota Tundra SR5, 5.7 V8
2022 Jayco 240RBS
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04-19-2017, 10:41 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: McKinney
Posts: 387
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug
I bring mine in because not being used and recharged, I believe it will discharge over time in the cold. Once discharged, the acid solution could be more suseptible to freeze.
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I guess this would vary on areas of the country. Here in Texas it does not get that cold but I do put it in the garage on wood and run a trickle charge to it once a week until the charger goes into FLO mode.
__________________
2016 WH 27DSRL
2017 F250 6.7L Diesel
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04-19-2017, 10:47 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
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This was the first year I didn't leave the TT plugged in all winter.
I disconnected the battery and unplugged the TT just before throwing the cover on.
We didn't get sub-zero temps this winter. So, the battery should be fine. I'll find out in the next week or so when I yank the cover and fire the TT up for the season.
__________________
TT 2015 19RD "TheJayco"
TV 2003 F-350 "Montblanc" - Housebroken chore truck
Sitting in The Cheap Seats.
And proud of it!
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04-19-2017, 10:58 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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There probably are quite a few suggestions regarding this. When I lived at the IL/WI border, I left the battery in (with no loads attached), BUT.... I charged it every 2 months. Was I correct in doing it this way? Who knows. Doug takes his out, which is easier to do maintenance on.
So, here is what USBattery has to say about this.. you have to read all 3 to get to their thoughts (regarding low temperatures)
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
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04-19-2017, 11:09 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 499
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My PDI & service man told me if I don't take it out there are 2 lights that stay on which will run down the battery. One is for the stereo behind the unit which you usually don't see, I forgot what the other electric device is, probably the microwave.
When I dropped it off for service the first time - they had it for over a month and sure enough they didn't dis-connect the battery and it was dead. I've been having problems with it ever-since! It never holds a charge now. From now on I always dis-connect it after each use and also when I drop if off for service
__________________
2016 Jayflight 27BHS
2015 Ford F-250 Super cab LB, 4x4 6.2 L gas
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04-19-2017, 11:22 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
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OOPS I answered the same post up the page... It seems you have a double post going here...
__________________
Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS
"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
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04-19-2017, 11:29 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakterp
....they didn't dis-connect the battery and it was dead. I've been having problems with it ever-since! It never holds a charge now. From now on I always dis-connect it after each use and also when I drop if off for service
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If it is an Interstate battery you may be able to get it replaced if it is within a year since it was purchased. Tell them it doesn't hold a charge.
I recommend installing a battery disconnect switch..
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
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04-19-2017, 11:57 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,580
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701
Question for you guys. How many of you remove your battery and bring it inside for winter storage? I do it, but why? Is there any difference between this battery and a car battery that is outside in the cold temps? I disconnect it every time I put it in storage. But why do we bring the battery inside? I live in NW Indiana and we see temps below zero. thoughts?
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My battery lives in the basement of my house over winter on a couple of scrap 2x4's. It's not to protect the battery from voltage loss outside, as generally speaking, the colder it is - the less loss you'll see. I store all of my AA's, AAA's C cells, etc in my fridge for this reason.
I do it to prevent theft, over the long cold winter. That's really the only reason. It's also nice to start the camping season with a *fully* charged battery. If the camper was parked at my house, I'd never remove it, relying on the battery disconnect.
__________________
2016 27BHS Elite
2012 F-150 EcoBoost / Max Tow (Sold)
2017 'Blue Jeans' 6.2 F-250 Lariat 4.3 gears.
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04-19-2017, 11:59 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakterp
My PDI & service man told me if I don't take it out there are 2 lights that stay on which will run down the battery. One is for the stereo behind the unit which you usually don't see, I forgot what the other electric device is, probably the microwave.
~snip
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It is the CO/Propane Detector. Microwave is 110V only.
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2011 GMC Yukon Denali AWD
2017 Jayco Jay Feather 25BH
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04-19-2017, 12:02 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,740
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701
Question for you guys. How many of you remove your battery and bring it inside for winter storage? I do it, but why? Is there any difference between this battery and a car battery that is outside in the cold temps? I disconnect it every time I put it in storage. But why do we bring the battery inside? I live in NW Indiana and we see temps below zero. thoughts?
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Modern battery cases are so much better than the old wood and bake-a-lite cased batteries. Most of us in the artic north have experienced, an old car battery seam to fail in the cold winter months, when they get old and weak.
I pull my battery, in the winter. My htt takes a nice long nap in a farmers barn way up north where it can get -30 oF. I place the battery, in my unheated garage, which might get down to freezing. I place my battery maintainer on my stored car batteries and deep cycle batteries about twice a winter. The batteries do loose a charge slowly over time. If the battery loses to much charge it can freeze and become destroyed.
As for our everyday cars, that we drive regularly, they are constantly being recharged, hence they should not freeze.
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04-20-2017, 05:39 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Highland
Posts: 474
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Thanks guys, makes sense. I will keep bringing it in. I have the trailer stored in a lot about 10 min away with no way to charge.
__________________
Chris Moore
2010 Starcraft/Jayco 297BHS pulled by
2009 Chevy Silverado
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04-20-2017, 05:54 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Highland
Posts: 474
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Sorry for the double post, internet locked up in the middle of my post and somehow made it post twice
Thanks for the clarification
__________________
Chris Moore
2010 Starcraft/Jayco 297BHS pulled by
2009 Chevy Silverado
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04-21-2017, 07:22 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 113
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My one trailer is small enough to be parked at our house beside the garage. We keep the batteries in there at all times and it stays plugged in to shore power at all times.
Our other trailer is at a campground and plugged in, when they shut the power off for the winter, we pull the battery and bring it home to hook it up to a maintenance charger for the next 5-6 months. Then back out to the trailer when power is back on.
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04-22-2017, 10:02 AM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Coosada
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65
If it is an Interstate battery you may be able to get it replaced if it is within a year since it was purchased. Tell them it doesn't hold a charge.
I recommend installing a battery disconnect switch..
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
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My battery went dead between trips though I used lights in it very little and nothing else was running. The service man at Burton Campers in Calera, Alabama, said that most all batteries would run down over time if not disconnected. Like you suggested, I would like to get a disconnect switch installed, but will disconnecting the neg terminal on the battery do the same thing? Is this a stupid question?
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04-22-2017, 11:06 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Thunder Bay
Posts: 117
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Winter Battery Storage
I leave my trailer plugged in 24/7 when at home and all winter. I've never taken the battery out. This is my third season with it and the battery has been working great and I do lots of boondocking. I'm in northern Ontario, Canada and temps get down to the minus 40's.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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04-22-2017, 12:09 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BandC
will disconnecting the neg terminal on the battery do the same thing? Is this a stupid question?
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Not a stupid question and yes it will accomplish the same thing. Just make sure it doesn't ground to anything else. Installing a battery disconnect is an easy task and turning a switch is a lot easier than disconnecting the neg terminal every time.
__________________
2012 Eagle 320 RLDS
2017 Ford F-250 FX4 Crew STX 6.2l
3.73 E-locker
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04-22-2017, 02:54 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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We have no stupid questions... just a need for information.
Here is how easy you can add your own battery cut off switch.
1. Order/get the parts needed on Amazon or Automotive parts store.
(Prices vary on the switch you select, just make sure it is an enclosed case)
2. Pull the 30 amp main fuse on the (+) POSITIVE battery cable.
3. Disconnect the ground cable from the frame bolt (other end is connected to the negative battery terminal)
4. Sand the frame around the bolt hole to insure a good connection
5. Connect the short (BLACK) cable you purchased to the ground bolt and tighten back to the frame.
6. Connect the other end of the short cable to the end closest to the ground bolt in the Disconnect Switch
7. Connect the cable you just removed from the bolt to the new Marine Battery disconnect Switch.
8. Mount the Marine Disconnect switch to the frame
9. Install the 30Amp main fuse
10. Turn on the TT interior lights and hit the switch, if all works as planned continue to item #11, else (put the fuse in)
11. OK, now you can open that beer and admire a "JOB WELL DONE
This project should take you about 30 minutes.... an easy job!
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
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04-22-2017, 07:24 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Coosada
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65
We have no stupid questions... just a need for information.
Here is how easy you can add your own battery cut off switch.
1. Order/get the parts needed on Amazon or Automotive parts store.
(Prices vary on the switch you select, just make sure it is an enclosed case)
2. Pull the 30 amp main fuse on the (+) POSITIVE battery cable.
3. Disconnect the ground cable from the frame bolt (other end is connected to the negative battery terminal)
4. Sand the frame around the bolt hole to insure a good connection
5. Connect the short (BLACK) cable you purchased to the ground bolt and tighten back to the frame.
6. Connect the other end of the short cable to the end closest to the ground bolt in the Disconnect Switch
7. Connect the cable you just removed from the bolt to the new Marine Battery disconnect Switch.
8. Mount the Marine Disconnect switch to the frame
9. Install the 30Amp main fuse
10. Turn on the TT interior lights and hit the switch, if all works as planned continue to item #11, else (put the fuse in)
11. OK, now you can open that beer and admire a "JOB WELL DONE
This project should take you about 30 minutes.... an easy job!
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
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Thanks. will do this
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04-22-2017, 08:34 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: NE Colorado
Posts: 311
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701
Question for you guys. How many of you remove your battery and bring it inside for winter storage? I do it, but why? Is there any difference between this battery and a car battery that is outside in the cold temps? I disconnect it every time I put it in storage. But why do we bring the battery inside? I live in NW Indiana and we see temps below zero. thoughts?
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I have an old battery box that I put in the basement and put the battery on a Deltran battery tender.
__________________
Rick
2016 F-150 XLT 4x4 Super Crew 3.5L Ecoboost
2017 Jay Feather X213
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