Another Winter Storage Question

[DrJAG]

I have my Legacy RB stored in an indoor but unheated facility for the winter. Currently have the house and chassis battery disconnect switches set to the disconnect position. I would appreciate comments regarding taking care of the batteries. Dealer suggested just leaving them alone til Spring. Power is available so I could plug in and use the on board charger or I could buy a battery tender and leave the batteries disconnected. What are others doing? Thanks.

[bob caldwell]

Battery tender.....will still be minor battery draws

[conceptumator]

Is it winterized? The water heater is not going to work without 12V power.


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2015 Legacy SR340 360RB with 2014 Wrangler Unlimited Toad
Gigi, Poppy and Sadie the Jack Russell (all 14 lbs of her)

[DrJAG]

Yes it is all winterized, including washer and ice maker.


2015 Forest River Legacy RB. Soon to be 2013 Honda CRV toad. Retired USAF.

[youroo]

Battery Tender! Youroo!!

[UltraV]

What will happen if you disconnect the battery and wait to charge it in the Spring?

[Flybob]

X3 Battery Tender not a trickle charger.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by UltraV

What will happen if you disconnect the battery and wait to charge it in the Spring?

I've done exactly that for many years with no problems.

[bob caldwell]

You'll find out in the spring...

[bend302]

X4 battery tender

Bill

[aeroshots]

I plug in and use the onboard charger. This is my first time storing, so not sure if this will create issues.

[bob caldwell]

Get the model number off your convertor and look up to see if it's a 3 or 4 stage unit.....the 4 stage, no problem

[Bluepill]

My 4 stage unit boiled my nearly new batteries when stored for 6 months. The small battery tenders are too small to ever do that. Make sure that the batteries are fully charged before storage, as the tenders are just maintainers and not chargers.

[bob caldwell]

Have had good luck here....but like everything, some good, some bad

[gasman94]

X5 on battery tender. Have one for each battery.

Rich

[aeroshots]

Interesting. So, what if everything is left on just as if you were at a campground? Would there be a risk of damage to anything?

[gasman94]

Originally Posted by aeroshots

Interesting. So, what if everything is left on just as if you were at a campground? Would there be a risk of damage to anything?

I don't understand the point leaving everything on while you are gone. Products do have a limited lifespan, so I would not want to waste that time while I am not getting the desired use from them. To me it makes more sense to keep battery maintainers (battery tenders) on if that is a possibility.

Rich

[aeroshots]

Originally Posted by gasman94

I don't understand the point leaving everything on while you are gone. Products do have a limited lifespan, so I would not want to waste that time while I am not getting the desired use from them. To me it makes more sense to keep battery maintainers (battery tenders) on if that is a possibility.

Rich

I guess the point is that my inside storage is 200 feet from my home and in a building I'm in and out of several times a week. It freezes here maybe once or twice per year in the dead of the night. In which case the heater kicks on. I use the outside TV and sound system while working in the building. I do not like stinky refrigerators. The "camper" is idle for 4 to 6 weeks then I use it. Which is no different during the rest of the year, so I guess I'm not really storing for the winter--more like temporary storage. But, I still want to evaluate my process. Since it is still new to me, I tend to tinker with it adding things like LED lighting, sound systems, vacuum system.....etc.
Your point of limited lifespan is valid, but some would say things tend to break if not exercised. Battery tenders are great, I have them hooked up to my Jeep, Can Am side x side, Can Am Spyder, and mini truck.

[gasman94]

I guess going back to your original point, there should not be a problem as long as the electrical source matches the needs of the coach. If you think about it, I guess it's the same as being a full timer without using all of the rv's systems.


Rich

[Blacknchromehd]

well during the winter I have inside storage and 20 amp 115 v I use to keep small items running...building is heated...in the summer I have outside storage with a 50 amp and keep the coach running just like camping...AC and everything...Bad?