Winter battery charging question...

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by 5picker

A properly charged and then disconnected battery will last many months without needing any kind of charge.

X2...Use your converter to put a full charge on your Batt...then physically disconnect the negative terminal. Check voltage every few months and don't let it get below 12.4 if you're way up north. Should be good for 3 months at least...maybe the whole winter.

[Tom48]

Yes but be sure your main battery shut off is ON. AND UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD 3 OR 4 PHASE Converter CHARGER I wouldn't leave it hooked up full time

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Tom48

Yes but be sure your main battery shut off is ON. AND UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD 3 OR 4 PHASE Converter CHARGER I wouldn't leave it hooked up full time

I believe you want it to be OFF. Not on.

Mine looks like this:


Shown in the ON position.

OFF is disconnected.

It would make more sense to mark them "Connected" and "Disconnected" but they don't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4SDxIXhvOc

[Velosprout]

I remove the Interstate batteries from my boat, Rockwood Roo and lawn mower. They are all on a plastic shelf in my unheated garage. I first check levels and add distilled water if needed. Then I use an vector smart charger to top off the charge on each. Subsequently throughout the winter, I will occasionally charge each again to assure full charge whilst working on some other project in the garage or snow-throwing.

[Carlosrod]

Don't you run the risk of your battery freezing if left on the Roo all winter long?

[njfishing]

Originally Posted by Carlosrod

Don't you run the risk of your battery freezing if left on the Roo all winter long?

A charged battery won’t freeze. I’ve got a boat as well and leave the batteries in the boat disconnected from Nov to May. Been doing this for years without any issues.

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by Carlosrod

Don't you run the risk of your battery freezing if left on the Roo all winter long?

A fully charged wet cell battery freezes at MINUS 92 degrees. Even a 60% charged one is still good to -20 or so.
ONLY a discharged battery freezes easily because discharging means WATER separates out of the ACID formulation.
If you start with a fully charged FULLY DISCONNECTED (not just the switch!) battery in cold weather...self discharged will typically be just a few % per month and certainly not more than 10%. So fully charge em and you're good to go for a few months.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by njfishing

A charged battery won’t freeze. I’ve got a boat as well and leave the batteries in the boat disconnected from Nov to May. Been doing this for years without any issues.

Unless you live in Antarctica or Siberia, a CHARGED battery won't freeze.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Carlosrod

Don't you run the risk of your battery freezing if left on the Roo all winter long?

If it did, our friends in Ontario (or even here in northern Illinois; -7 deg F yesterday morning) wouldn't be able to leave their cars outside at night!

[Nurek]

Originally Posted by Charger

Good point, wish I could do this, but I'd have to drive over the cord.

What's the problem with that?

You could put 2 2x4's on each side if you are so worried about damage.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Charger

Good point, wish I could do this, but I'd have to drive over the cord.

Originally Posted by Nurek

What's the problem with that?

You could put 2 2x4's on each side if you are so worried about damage.

Or get something like this...

Driveway Cable Protector

[quick83]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I put mine in the basement along with the one from my John Deere. I put a Battery Minder on one of them, then swap it every few weeks until spring.

Sounds like a lot of you keep bat outside in winter in the Rv. I though that u r suppose to take inside so it does not freeze. It’s not really much to remove mine so I take it out and put in garage on a trickle charge/tender during the winter. Sounds like I do not need to do this.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by quick83

Sounds like a lot of you keep bat outside in winter in the Rv. I though that u r suppose to take inside so it does not freeze. It’s not really much to remove mine so I take it out and put in garage on a trickle charge/tender during the winter. Sounds like I do not need to do this.

No you do not as long as you start the winter storage with a fully charged and totally disconnected battery. (terminal removed/disconnected)

I've done this for more years than I care to remember with not only R/V batteries but also those for tractors/mowers/log splitters/golf carts/atvs you name it and never had one freeze.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by quick83

Sounds like a lot of you keep bat outside in winter in the Rv. I though that u r suppose to take inside so it does not freeze. It’s not really much to remove mine so I take it out and put in garage on a trickle charge/tender during the winter. Sounds like I do not need to do this.

Did you read post #27?

[Charger]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Or get something like this...

Driveway Cable Protector

Agreed , I could get something like that or use the 2x4 trick. But I have been purchasing so many things for this camper (Roo 19) that its beginning to develop the boat syndrome , you know the adage, " a boat is a hole in the water that you just throw money into" I already have 2 trickle chargers and I pull the battery out of the boat in the winter, so doing the same for the camper isn't that big of a deal. Still would like to get mattress covers, PUGS ,and others stuff. Besides, winter is coming to an end

[Skyliner]

Some battery myths:

a. RV batteries must be removed and kept indoors during winter months or they will freeze.
b. RV batteries that are removed must not be put on concrete floors.
c. Lead acid batteries do not have to be charged regularly while in storage

Back in the day before I had solar, I would do a monthly RV check for water intrusion, mice, etc..etc . I'd fire up my cheap 2 stroke 700 watt harbor freight generator and it would run about 7 hours on a tank of gas. Lead acid batteries can self discharge up to 5% a month though about 3% is what I've experienced and a monthly checkup is a good idea. The majority of people who use campers use them at campgrounds and don't really use their batteries to full capacity or need their batteries to do nothing but provide lightening until the power cord is plugged in. People like this can get away with not charging their batteries ever during prolonged periods of storage because they never notice the reduce capacity from plate sulfation that occurred from self-discharge. However, if you rely on your batteries as a boondock camper to provide all of your power between generator recharges, then don't listen to these people!

As long as your converter is a multi-rate converter (not constant voltage), you can leave it plugged in forever without any worries.

For some odd reason my heater has a problem running after being stored all winter. I've found that running my heater once a month has fixed the problem. My blower fan gets a little cranky if I don't run it regularly.

[jaymemiller]

Originally Posted by 5picker

A properly charged and then disconnected battery will last many months without needing any kind of charge.

Maybe in warm climate

[ebcobra93]

Originally Posted by jaymemiller

Maybe in warm climate

Even in very cold climates

[deartruc]

My tt batt and the tractor batt sit on the garage floor with battery tenders. But, this is the first year both have had their own. I used to pull the batts and had them sit in the basement. that method had me buy only 1 batt for three trailers in 18 years. And one tractor batt in 14 years (though I do have to admit jumpstarting that guy for a couple of years before I replaced it). I did do the "leave it plugged in over the winter" thing once. Yup, had to throw out that extension cord due to wear and tear of the winter.