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Old 10-23-2016, 01:13 PM   #1
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If you could leave your th plugged in during winter storage. Would you ?

I store my th in the same spot all year. After I winterize and cover it would it be better to leave it plugged in to keep batteries charged or remove batteries and trickle charge all winter


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Old 10-23-2016, 02:38 PM   #2
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If you are in a freezing zone, you better bring your batteries inside. Then hook then up to a trickle charger.
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Old 10-23-2016, 02:47 PM   #3
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Charged batteries don't freeze.
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Old 10-23-2016, 02:59 PM   #4
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I plug mine into my pool outlet and set the timer for a few hours every day. I have been doing this for years always a fully charged battery come spring.


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Old 10-23-2016, 03:35 PM   #5
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Absolutely. I would leave it connected. If you are using a 50 to 30 to 20 amp set of converters, you could as someone else wrote use a 24 hour timer and set it to 4 or 5 hours a day.
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Old 10-23-2016, 03:40 PM   #6
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I bring mine in along with the riding mowers, hooked up to a Battery Tender all winter.
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Old 10-23-2016, 03:46 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
Charged batteries don't freeze.


^^^This.

Everyone's cars are subjected to freezing temps and their batteries are fine, because they remain charged.

If you leave your rig plugged in, the converter will keep the batteries charged. If you don't trust the converter, you can hook up a tender with the battery still in the rig -- you'll want to turn off the disconnect to isolate.

Physically removing the batteries is the last thing I would do... but that is just me. I avoid unnecessary work. [emoji846]
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Old 10-23-2016, 05:32 PM   #8
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I haven't taking the batteries out the last two winters but I put a 30 amp plug in over the summer. I'm just going to leave it plugged in. I'll let ya know how it works out in the spring


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Old 10-23-2016, 06:56 PM   #9
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Mine under a carport is plugged in 24/7. In fact, the only time it's not plugged in is when it's being towed somewhere.
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Old 10-23-2016, 07:32 PM   #10
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Well...A lot of interesting points here. My plan was to leave it plugged in and place a tender on the toy stored in the back. I like the timer idea although I think plugging in the TH every Sunday for 24 hours should be OK.I did buy some of those electronic rodent and bug deterrents so I may need to think about not disconnecting power to it. I will plant some special mouse food here and there to see if there are any takers.

I will winterize it this week and it will set until we head to Florida the end of January.
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Old 10-24-2016, 04:56 AM   #11
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I have put a whole box of dryer sheets. I place one in every place I can for last two winters and haven't have any mice problems.


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Old 10-24-2016, 07:54 AM   #12
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I use a battery disconnect and this. http://showroom.windingroad.com/listings/product/360/ I set the alarm for 12.2 volts. It takes about 30 days in the dead of winter for the voltage to drop to 12.2. When I hear the alarm I turn on the battery disconnect and flip the breaker on for 3 days. After that I shut it back off. This system works well and keeps from over charging my batteries. Battery converters do a poor job of maintaining batteries. I added solar this year and will still use the disconnect and alarm.
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:50 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by FrankG View Post
Well...A lot of interesting points here. My plan was to leave it plugged in and place a tender on the toy stored in the back. I like the timer idea although I think plugging in the TH every Sunday for 24 hours should be OK.I did buy some of those electronic rodent and bug deterrents so I may need to think about not disconnecting power to it. I will plant some special mouse food here and there to see if there are any takers.

I will winterize it this week and it will set until we head to Florida the end of January.
We have always left our's plugged in. As for mice, we have had good luck with Shake Away Rodent Repellent.
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Old 10-24-2016, 12:54 PM   #14
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Plugged in

I live in Iowa, I store our SUNSEAKER 3010ds at my sister's in law's in the winter. It is plugged in there &also at home in the summer. We have not had any battery problems, our SUNSEAKER is a 2013…
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Old 10-24-2016, 01:11 PM   #15
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Plugging in all winter, as previously mentioned, fully charged batteries will not freeze,
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Old 10-24-2016, 01:35 PM   #16
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Nothing good can come of staying plugged in all winter.
Simply charge the batteries fully...this will protect them to MINUS 90 degrees.
Disconnect the negative wire....this will ensure ONLY self discharge is at work while unconnected.
Self discharge in freezing temps is LESS than 10% per month. Go back and plug in and put a full charge on every 90 days OR in the case of older batteries...monitor voltage once a month and plug in when it falls below 12.3V.
This will maximize battery AND converter life and bulk charging when needed is vastly better at preventing sulphation than constant low level trickle charging.
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Old 10-24-2016, 02:48 PM   #17
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I am another one that leaves mine plugged in 24/7. I pull the water pump and drain the water heater since they are in outside compartments but leave a ceramic heater inside that keeps the interior around 50 degrees. My converter/charger has an auto anti-sulfate cycle (equalizing charge) that runs 15 mins. every 21 hours. Never have had a problem with my battery.

And removing the battery because it is winter? Do you remove the battery in your car just because it is winter? I know lots of people (including me) that have a vehicle that is used only once in a while ... pickup truck ... extra car ... whatever. The thing can sit for a month between uses but no one ever takes the battery out. The idea that a battery has to be removed just because it is winter has never made sense to me. Keep it charged and you should have no problem.
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Old 10-24-2016, 03:03 PM   #18
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Our Lexi stays plugged in 24/7 via a 30 amp dedicated outlet I installed.
4 winters as of now, and still on original 2 house and one under hood chassie battery, all still showing a good charge ( I check them monthly)
Have never removed them for winter "storage", and their just fine.
Will probably change them out next season due to their being 5 years old at that point, more of a preventive maintaince thing than them going bad.
Just my opinion and 2 cents worth.
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Old 10-24-2016, 03:32 PM   #19
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Mine is plugged in 24/7 been that way for over 25 years with no issues. I also run a big dehumidifier 24/7 inside with a drain hose feeding outside. Come spring its nice and dry.
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Old 10-24-2016, 03:34 PM   #20
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I also leave mine plugged in 24/7 no issues. Later RJD
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