Winter is coming, Question about cover & solar

[Mongo1]

Couple of questions for everyone. With winter approaching our 242BHS has been winterized...we are going to cover the rig and take out the battery to trickle charge. We have installed solar so my question is, do we need to do anything else specifically with respect to the solar controller as the panels will not "read any sunlight". Or, should we keep the battery in the rig and hook up the trickle charger while it is covered?

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

Couple of questions for everyone. With winter approaching our 242BHS has been winterized...we are going to cover the rig and take out the battery to trickle charge. We have installed solar so my question is, do we need to do anything else specifically with respect to the solar controller as the panels will not "read any sunlight". Or, should we keep the battery in the rig and hook up the trickle charger while it is covered?

If the panel will be completely covered, it's like it's not even there. Any kind if sunshine hitting it could damage your charge controller, over time. I like to take my battery off the tongue and bring inside for winter.

This year I'm going to have to cover my panel. I didn't last year b/c I had a 'dummy' lead acid battery on the tongue. It was my dealer battery that could never hold a charge. So, I didn't have problem leaving it outside. This year the lithium comes inside for storage and the panel gets a piece of corplast as a cover.

 

[CHERV]

in 30+yrs we have never covered our numerous tt/coach that sit level in our driveway for the refrigerator use. always plugged in to shore /garage power, never removed batteries. do initial check of batteries for water and cover tires.

 

[Redhawk 26M]

This will be our 1st winter since buying the Redhawk. I was schooled to NOT cover the RV and create a moisture trap.

 

[TowPro]

On my last truck campers i had in PA i would cover them and leave agm batteries installed. Left solar hooked up. Even with cover on as long as not snow covered solar would trickle charge. But My battery switch would turn off all load on truck camper. Than every 2 months i might throw a 15a charger on batteries untol fully charged. Agm only lost like 10% charge per month with no load..

 

[RogerR]

I don't cover my panels. The line to the MPPT is shut off prior to removing battery for the winter. Even though lithiums aren't supposed to suffer low temp damage they are harder to steal inside the house.

 

[JFlightRisk]

We put a Dri-Z-Air in a plastic tub in our TT before covering it up. That'll pull any moisture out of the inside, and deposits it into the bottom cup. On one occasion it hailed here after we winterized it, and the cover kept it from damage. Got lucky that year.

https://www.amazon.com/Dri-Z-Air-DZA-U-Dri-Z-Air/dp/B000PDUV60?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[gonzor57]

Read up on your solar setup. I bought some panels and controller from Renogy. The setup info indicates to connect the battery to controller first or damage may occur. I would disconnect the panels from the controller. One wire disconnect is all that's required, wherever you see a connector accessible.
In sum, disconnect panel first, battery second.

 

[TowPro]

When you bought your RV I bet the builtin Gopower solar controller was already turned on displaying a number (showing how many times it tried to restart a lithium battery).

it came with the solar wires already connected to the controller in order to be in that mode. Next the dealer install a batttery. Than every time I take my RV into the dealer they disconnect the battery when it sits waiting for service. so again, the battery keeps getting disconnect and reconnected while roof solar input stays connected.

 

[Glamper64]

I would remove the battery and put it on a battery tender not a trickle charger for the winter. Not sure about the solar stuff, but why keep it connected if not needed?

 

[gypsmjim]

I won't ever cover a trailer. In fact, my roof vents (equipped with vent toppers) are kept cracked open all Winter to keep the trailer vented.

My solar panel keeps the battery charged all Winter. Of course, the switch that connects the battery to the electrical system is always turned off when the trailer is not in use. Only the solar is connected.

My panel is operational as long as there is LESS than 1 inch of snow on it, although it generates a lower charge. With thaws in January and March there are only a few months that the panel is covered.

My current Trojan lead acid battery is now 9 years old.

If you insist on covering the trailer, disconnect the solar panel from the charge controller. If you remove the battery use a tender not a trickler.

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

in 30+yrs we have never covered our numerous tt/coach that sit level in our driveway for the refrigerator use. always plugged in to shore /garage power, never removed batteries. do initial check of batteries for water and cover tires.

Last year I didn't cover (first year) and I don't think I will this year either. I left it in the level side yard, plugged into shore power, but I had my lead acid battery then. I liked visiting my camper every few weeks in the winter. This year I have lithium. I can keep it plugged in and leave everything intact or remove my battery for indoor storage and cover my singe solar panel. I've not yet decided.

 

[Glamper64]

It's a little weird...I hooked up my battery to my tender the other day and the red light is still on indicating it's charging. I brought it home and let it sit for a month in my garage before plugging it in just like I did with my other RV's battery...but after less than a day on the other battery, the tender went green indicating it's now tending. Not sure how old this battery is, it could be the original 7 year old. It was plugged into shore power at the site all season...maybe not holding it's charge and should be replaced? I just reminded myself to check the water levels.

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

I won't ever cover a trailer. In fact, my roof vents (equipped with vent toppers) are kept cracked open all Winter to keep the trailer vented.

My solar panel keeps the battery charged all Winter. Of course, the switch that connects the battery to the electrical system is always turned off when the trailer is not in use. Only the solar is connected.

My panel is operational as long as there is LESS than 1 inch of snow on it, although it generates a lower charge. With thaws in January and March there are only a few months that the panel is covered.

My current Trojan lead acid battery is now 9 years old.

If you insist on covering the trailer, disconnect the solar panel from the charge controller. If you remove the battery use a tender not a trickler.

I do the 'crack the vent(s)' thing, too.