What to do with battery and propane tanks over the winter

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by TTnewbie

I didn't use the camper since the end of Aug. I had the battery inside the trailer. When I did the winterization I hooked the batter up I noticed that battery meter showed 11.34. While using the camper the battery was always around 13.6. How do I go about charging the batter? Do I charge it with one of those batter tenders or am I supposed to hook the batter up to the battery tender when it is fully charged?

Probably the fastest way to recharge your battery, which is quite low, is to plug the camper into an appropriate power source or put the battery a battery CHARGER. Once it is fully charged disconnect the negative lead on the trailer, it will be fine come spring. Only reason I would remove the battery is if I thought it could get stolen.on


Here's a link that has some specifics on cold weather battery status based on tests by the US Army Corp of Engineers. According to the chart on page 6, a 50% discharged battery will freeze at temps below about -40C (which happens to equal -40F). Self discharge rates decrease to negligible levels as the temps drop. The colder it is, the longer the battery will maintain charge. A battery likes cold weather for storage until you get somewhere near -90F where a fully charged battery will freeze.

The document states: "Batteries should be stored in a COLD place, say, about -15C (+5F), although when charged to a specific gravity of 1.280 or greater, they can be stored at -1C (+30F) indefinitely without deteriorating."

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a239115.pdf

[Dirt Sifter]

Two different trailers and our temps get into subzero range in my area. First with two batteries, I put it under the hay shed and hooked up a battery tender to them thru the winter. All was good come next season - BUT you must monitor the water level in the batteries. With solar on one battery stored in the same place, enough sun light gets in to keep the battery charged. Used the battery disconnect in each trailer when winterized. While I left the terminals connected and water levels monitored with both trailers I did not have a problem. Like Alaska Eric, I've not spilled acid when moving or changing a battery, but I have when over filling one. Be careful and you'll be fine.

[grangalo1812]

And, what about a Marine battery....? I read they are subject to freeze and should not be left in the trailer...in Canada we get to -30c in the winter.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

Probably the fastest way to recharge your battery, which is quite low, is to plug the camper into an appropriate power source or put the battery a battery CHARGER. Once it is fully charged disconnect the negative lead on the trailer, it will be fine come spring. Only reason I would remove the battery is if I thought it could get stolen.on


Here's a link that has some specifics on cold weather battery status based on tests by the US Army Corp of Engineers. According to the chart on page 6, a 50% discharged battery will freeze at temps below about -40C (which happens to equal -40F). Self discharge rates decrease to negligible levels as the temps drop. The colder it is, the longer the battery will maintain charge. A battery likes cold weather for storage until you get somewhere near -90F where a fully charged battery will freeze.

The document states: "Batteries should be stored in a COLD place, say, about -15C (+5F), although when charged to a specific gravity of 1.280 or greater, they can be stored at -1C (+30F) indefinitely without deteriorating."

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a239115.pdf

X2

There is no technical reason to remove a fully charged FLA (flooded lead acid) to protect it from the cold almost every one in North America sees.

Once fully charged and totally disconnected you are good to go until spring. There will be no harm to it regardless of what the nay-sayers tell you.

Those that disconnect their batteries for months in the summer (think snowbirds that go back north over the summer months and store their R/V in the south) actually do more harm to their batteries (because the temperatures are warm) than those not using them over the cold winter months up north so why would you want to replicate that scenario by bringing them inside where it is warm?

If you want to bring it in and tuck it in bed every night, you certainly can. Once in the warm you WILL need to put it on a maintainer but unless you are concerned about theft, both the battery(ies) and the LP tank(s) are perfectly fine left dormant, right where they are.

[JanFMiller]

Originally Posted by Briorick

Also not to mention, depending on where OP stores his TT, and how his battery is secured, he may be subjected to thievery. Just pointing that out. We live in a less than honest world these days. And our campers are easy targets to those looking to make a quick buck.

+1 on this. Both my LP tanks and battery were stolen a few days ago. Had the trailer parked for years in the same spot, just didn't occur to me to lock removable things up, just had a lock on the hitch. About $280 to replace, less than the insurance deductible of course.

So.. Hide 'em or lock them up... I sure will after this...
( and I would use a battery tender for sure )...

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by grangalo1812

And, what about a Marine battery....? I read they are subject to freeze and should not be left in the trailer...in Canada we get to -30c in the winter.

A marine battery is no different, in this case, than an auto battery. They both are lead acid wet batteries. Where did you read that they are subject to freezing? If they are low in charge, then they can freeze.

[Skocan]

We store the batteries in the detached garage on a battery tender. Ditto for the propane (without the tender of course). We have a good secured storage lot but theft is always a consideration

[doanshop]

Originally Posted by TTnewbie

I didn't use the camper since the end of Aug. I had the battery inside the trailer. When I did the winterization I hooked the batter up I noticed that battery meter showed 11.34. While using the camper the battery was always around 13.6. How do I go about charging the batter? Do I charge it with one of those batter tenders or am I supposed to hook the batter up to the battery tender when it is fully charged?

I have a Cherokee 26dbh that comes with a solar battery charger. Do any of you leave the battery fully hooked up when not using your rig? I pull out the disconnect key after every time I use the trailer.

I leave my batteries on trailer . But I don't have to store my trailer some where else parks in my driveway plug in to house converter keeps batteries that way I can do mods when not camping .Propane stays on trailer .If I lived in a state that theft was a problem and not stored at home I would take batteries and propane home with me and store in basement or shop . I have two 100 amp Lithium batteries so if theft was a problem I would pull batteries . As far as your battery it will louse 5% charge every month older batteries more should be charged every 3-4 months to maintain charge .

[doanshop]

Originally Posted by D W

X2.

go with Lithium 100 amp 26 lbs. and more power .

[timfromma]

Batteries come inside and get placed on a trickle charger. Propane tanks are shutoff and remain on the camper.

[Bhrava]

Be careful on the maintainer. Make sure the one you use stops charging at a set level and only charges as needed. I had maintainers on a pair of batteries in my old F350, and it fried the batteries. They seriously overcharged the batteries and boiled the acid out.

On my old Coleman I had it parked in the barn and plugged in all winter, so no worries on the battery. My 5th though I make sure it is 100% then disconnect it from the trailer.

My Kubota B2410 is stored in the barn, and usually not used in the winter, no maintainer was ever used, and the battery lasted 16 years.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

Leaving a battery unattended for the winter is never a good idea, even without any parasitic drain.

Why is it not a good idea?

A fully charged, disconnected lead acid battery will be fine over the winter. Especially in cold weather, discharge will be minimal or non-existent.

Read post #21 about cold battery storage and how cold storage minimizes or eliminates self discharge.

I would never recommend bringing a lead acid battery into a warm environment for storage when it would be better left cold.

[Mike134]

Originally Posted by BehindBars

Why is it not a good idea?

A fully charged, disconnected battery will be fine over the winter. Especially is cold weather, discharge will be minimal or non-existent.

X2.
In fact a lead acid battery stored in the cold will have less "self discharge" than one you store indoors and have to keep a battery tender on it because it self discharges so much faster in a warm environment.

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by doanshop

I leave my batteries on trailer . But I don't have to store my trailer some where else parks in my driveway plug in to house converter keeps batteries that way I can do mods when not camping .Propane stays on trailer .If I lived in a state that theft was a problem and not stored at home I would take batteries and propane home with me and store in basement or shop . I have two 100 amp Lithium batteries so if theft was a problem I would pull batteries . As far as your battery it will louse 5% charge every month older batteries more should be charged every 3-4 months to maintain charge .

My batteries are old (9 years) and lose less than 2% per month outside through the winter (6 months disconnected).

[LI Guy]

Having just put away the 5th wheel for most likely the winter( never know though) I removed my battery even though it's stored in a gated lot with cameras. I found that even when the the battery shut off is in the off position because of the solar panel all my 12 volt items that are connect remain on. That includes my 12 volt fridge,all usb outlets and radio.So I remove the battery and brought it home to be put on a tender in my basement.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by LI Guy

Having just put away the 5th wheel for most likely the winter( never know though) I removed my battery even though it's stored in a gated lot with cameras. I found that even when the the battery shut off is in the off position because of the solar panel all my 12 volt items that are connect remain on. That includes my 12 volt fridge,all usb outlets and radio.So I remove the battery and brought it home to be put on a tender in my basement.

You need a battery cutoff that is 100%, not the factory install....

[LI Guy]

Actually there is a 3rd setting on the battery cutoff switch.. " actuator off".. can someone tell me what it is?

[Bama Rambler]

Originally Posted by LI Guy

Actually there is a 3rd setting on the battery cutoff switch.. " actuator off".. can someone tell me what it is?

You turn the knob (Actuator) to that position and then you can pull the knob (Actuator) off to keep someone from turning it on when you don't want it on.

[LI Guy]

Interesting..thank you

[NJKris]

If you don't have to store it somewhere scumbags will steal your crap, I just leave everything in place with valves shut and put a smart charger on the batts to keep them topped off. Charger is on a board beneath the camper to protect it from direct precip, plus it's weather resistant.