Battery Maintenance While in Storage

[Redshift]

I am new to RV'ing and have recently purchased a 2018 R-Pod 180 with solar. I recently built a garage for it at our place in New Mexico. Considering that I may have to store it in this garage for 3 or 4 months unattended over winter, would it be better for me to plug my R-Pod 180 into a 110 outlet to maintain a constant battery charge or would it be better to disconnect both batteries (I have two - one is for solar)? If I do leave it plugged in, should I put it on a timer so it will only charge a few hours a day? I am not sure if this R-Pod 180 has a trickle charger or whether even if that would still be safe to leave plugged in unattended for 3 months. I have googled this topic and have gotten a lot of varying answers. Some say even trickle charging causes the fluid to dry out and get sulfate deposits. Also, does this R-Pod have a battery disconnect switch somewhere or is removing terminals the only way to disconnect power if I decide to go that route? Any insights would be appreciated.

[TitanMike]

I'd start by finding out what brand/model of Converter you have. Some quick net searching will tell you if it's just a converter (doubtful) or if it has a multi-stage charging circuit (probable).

If it has a multi-stage charger I'd just leave it plugged in and check the fluid levels monthly.

Not leaving it plugged in can be worse as most batteries will self discharge a given amount even if nothing is connected. Depending on age and condition, this self discharge can leave you with totally dead battery(s) and that's usually the end of their life.

I leave mine ( equipped with a Progressive Dynamics 9260 converter that has "Charge Wizard" built in. Charges in three phases and when in storage mode every 20+ hours of no use it gives the battery a 10-15 minute "goose" of higher voltage to keep the electrolyte from stratifying and lessen sulfation.

I haven't had to add water for over a year now and I leave my trailer plugged in whenever I'm not on the road. Longest time was while I was recovering from heart surgery, last September til this last April. As I said, ZERO water use.

[mcarter]

Hello,

First, a pod does not have a battery disconnect installed from factory. Many of us have installed them. I would never put a charger on a battery and leave it unattended. The timer is a non-issue. The convertor is the pod is a 3 phase charger, it will charge battery accordingly. I know I do have to adjust my fluid levels here at house for a pod that is connected 24/7. For the period you are talking about I would remove the battery's and maintain them at your residence.

[bikendan]

Don't think Rpods have a factory battery disconnect switch. But your dealer should've shown you it, if it did.
I put one on our HTT and I could store it with no electric hookups for 4 months, with very little battery drainage.
If i do have shore power available, I leave it plugged in.

[Splitshaft]

In a garage, I would forget the converter and just connect a small “good quality” battery maintainer like a Battery Tender or similar. I have left them connected for years on my vintage vehicle batteries and never damaged a battery. They will keep the battery(s) charged without overcharging and boiling the water out. If there is a battery disconnect switch, open it. If there is no such switch, pull the fuses for things like propane detectors and radio. I find that a lot easier and safer than disconnecting battery cables. There is no sense powering a large converter to maintain a battery charge in storage. I cannot wait to read converters don’t use much power unless they are outputting a lot of power.

As batteries age, they will self-discharge faster. And unless the sulfate that forms on the lead plates from storage is broken down through an equalization charge of some sort or other means, the battery will lose capacity even faster than keeping it on a safe maintenance charge.

[ScottBrownstein]

3 Stage converter would be fine. Most TTs and RVs are connected to shore power for weeks and months with no issue what so ever. A charged battery will be fine for 3 or 4 months if you disconnect the negative lead as well. Self discharge is no more than 5% so after 4 months you would be still over 80% SOC. No problem there either.

[MR.M]

just un hook the batteries and put a charge on them after a couple months . they will not lose that much in a couple months and most battery tenders are junk . no need to keep the battery at 100% all the time . if it drops to 80% in a couple months that's fine . just charge it up