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10-13-2012, 09:13 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 54
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leaving battery in
Thinking about leaving the battery in the trailer for the winter. The trailer can be plugged into 30 amp service. I cant see what the downside would be. I would think the battery would stay charged instead of sitting in the garage and not being charged all winter. We live in Canada where it can reach -25c.
Any thoughts!!
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Kevin and Joanne
06 wildwood 27le fbss
08 dodge ram 4x4 5.7 quad cab
07 kawasaki brute force 650i
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10-13-2012, 10:53 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 664
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I plan on doing the same thing, but living in Texas our winters are balmy compared to your location. Monitor the battery voltage and check your water level.
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10-14-2012, 06:25 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Independence, Kansas
Posts: 755
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I was wondering about this the other day. Is it better to leave your camper plugged in continuously or should you just plug it in once a month or so? What gives the longest battery life?
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10-14-2012, 06:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 274
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Quote:
Originally Posted by comfun1
I was wondering about this the other day. Is it better to leave your camper plugged in continuously or should you just plug it in once a month or so? What gives the longest battery life?
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can't give you a comparison but I swear by a Battery Tender.....Bill
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10-14-2012, 08:01 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Roanoke, VA
Posts: 233
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I've been doing it for years....never been a problem. If you have a 3-stage converter, it will maintain the battery at approximately 13.2V, which would be a trickle charge. The freezing point of a fully charged battery is something like -92 degrees F, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Bob
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Bob & Doris
Roanoke, VA
2009 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4x4 - 5.7L - 6 Speed Auto - 4.30:1
2013 Rockwood HW296
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10-14-2012, 08:09 AM
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#6
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by comfun1
I was wondering about this the other day. Is it better to leave your camper plugged in continuously or should you just plug it in once a month or so? What gives the longest battery life?
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The downside to plugging in occasionally is forgetting to do it. A discharged battery will freeze. A partially discharged battery will still freeze; just at a much lower temperature that a discharged one.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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10-14-2012, 08:10 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 54
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ok im leavin it in!!
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Kevin and Joanne
06 wildwood 27le fbss
08 dodge ram 4x4 5.7 quad cab
07 kawasaki brute force 650i
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10-14-2012, 08:16 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NEPA
Posts: 1,477
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I left mine in last winter, turned the battery disconnect off and just ran a light grade outdoor extension cord with a 1 amp battery tender from TSC. I tucked the tender up underneath the propane tank cover so it's out of the weather. I figure the converter only has so many hours of use in it, and I'd rather blow up a $20 battery tender in a few years than my converter. The converter rests over the winter. 
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2015 XLR Hyperlite 30HFS5 (mods being performed regularly)
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2011 Ram 2500 CC 4X4 CTD, B&W Companion (toy hauler hauler)
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10-14-2012, 09:20 AM
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#9
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Taranwanderer
The converter rests over the winter. |
I am sure it appreciates it. Mine likes to keep busy.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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10-14-2012, 09:33 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,370
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I have a different point of view on battery maintenance for the winter. The 3-state chargers are certainly an improvement over the older chargers but they are not smart chargers; it is a trickle charger. You can't leave even a trickle charger on a battery indefinitely as it will ultimately "boil" the water out and your battery will be over-charged. IMO, a better strategy is to unhook the battery from the trailer and hook it to a smart maintainer; like a Battery Minder. It is smarter than the 3-stage converter and it also has anti-sulfation technology. I've used this kind of product for years with great success. My batteries last me for years. My motorcycle battery finally needs replacement but it is 10 years old; maintained by a Battery Minder.
If you do leave the battery hooked to the 3-stage converter, I would make sure to regularly visit the battery (ies) to check the electrolyte level. You can use this strategy but you can't just walk away until spring IMO.
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10-14-2012, 09:40 AM
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#11
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by acadianbob
If you do leave the battery hooked to the 3-stage converter, I would make sure to regularly visit the battery (ies) to check the electrolyte level. You can use this strategy but you can't just walk away until spring IMO.
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Could not agree more. I do a monthly walk through check that includes water levels in the battery and any signs of leaks or bug infestations.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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10-14-2012, 09:42 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 56
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I live in Northeast PA. Last year I disconnected my battery and left it on the trailer. No charging. All was good.
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10-14-2012, 09:47 AM
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#13
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarcon
I live in Northeast PA. Last year I disconnected my battery and left it on the trailer. No charging. All was good.
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Last year we had 1 major snow (and it was early).
Temps highest in 100 or so years.
I would not try it again this winter. Just my opinion here....
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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10-14-2012, 12:24 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 145
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I was planning on leaving the battery in all winter and having the whole camper plugged in while home to keep the battery charged.Would this be okay?Im new to all this.
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10-14-2012, 12:40 PM
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#15
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grey9712
I was planning on leaving the battery in all winter and having the whole camper plugged in while home to keep the battery charged.Would this be okay?Im new to all this.
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That is what I do. 4 years; so far so good.
Just remember to check the water level in the battery every month or so when you do your leak check. Wear old clothes. 
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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10-14-2012, 12:43 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 145
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Ok thanks.
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10-14-2012, 12:46 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Metro Atlanta
Posts: 160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whisky
can't give you a comparison but I swear by a Battery Tender.....Bill
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X2 My batteries never lose water & last much longer.
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"But, oh that magic feeling, nowhere to go." -- The Beatles
2015 Flagstaff 8528RKWS fiver
2013 Ram 2500 CTD Laramie CC SB 4WD Auto
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10-14-2012, 12:49 PM
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#18
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Steve Jackson
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Holyoke, Ma
Posts: 382
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I've never had to deal with water levels in batteries before, is there special water that needs to be used in the battery? Distilled maybe?
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2011 Dodge Ram 5.7 HEMI
2011 Flagstaff Classic 29bhss
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10-14-2012, 12:52 PM
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#19
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sideout1961
I've never had to deal with water levels in batteries before, is there special water that needs to be used in the battery? Distilled maybe?
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Yep. Distilled water. (NOT spring water! - lots of junk in that)
I keep plenty on hand since I use distilled water in the Tassimo coffee maker.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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10-14-2012, 01:23 PM
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#20
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Steve Jackson
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Holyoke, Ma
Posts: 382
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Just one more question, what level am I looking for on the water? I haven't looked inside a battery in years
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2011 Dodge Ram 5.7 HEMI
2011 Flagstaff Classic 29bhss
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