Lithium Battery - Winter Storage

Witness_Protection

Advanced Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2020
Messages
36
Location
North Carolina
Installed a new lithium battery in the Spring and have been very satisfied.

I was wondering how a lithium battery should be managed during the winter. My battery manual says it should be maintained at 50% SOC.

Should I remove it from the trailer tongue and store in my garage or just leave it outside on the tongue?

Thanks!

WP
 
Moved thread from the Rockwood sub-forum to the Electrical, Charging Systems and Solar sub-forum since the OP's questions are specific to that particular sub-forum and not just Rockwood.
 
How cold does it get in your area. Mine sits on the tongue year round. LiFePO4 doesn't like to be charged below freezing but can discharge down to almost zero degrees. Some BMSs have low temp protections built in but its overkill for my needs.
 
I have had mine sitting on the tongue for the last 3 years with no negative effect. It has constant solar charging (Which isn't ideal) but it doesn't seem to care much. As already mentioned, much is determined by the kind of BMS you have. It should take care of it as needed.



You should indicate your location as Michigan and New York would require different considerations than Georgia and New Mexico.
 
It has constant solar charging (Which isn't ideal) but it doesn't seem to care much.

turn on a constant load if you want to exercise the battery
at night the battery will discharge . and during the day it returns to 100%


I leave my fridge on ... it's at my house and can use it as a second fridge
costs me nothing to run it too!
 
Sorry about not mentioning my location.

I'm located in North Carolina where the winter nights are typically in the low to mid 20s but has been known to drop to single digits.
 
is it secure at the place you want to leave it?

might walk


mine is located INSIDE pass through so it is fairly secure... if I need to store it will disconnect and leave it in place
 
I just installed it on the tongue after mounting a double battery box. Not secured but I figured that someone would have to know that it's a lithium.

At first look, it just looks like a double box.
 
I just installed it on the tongue after mounting a double battery box. Not secured but I figured that someone would have to know that it's a lithium.

At first look, it just looks like a double box.

Theives will steal any type battery if it's not secured. I had two brand new group 31 deep cycle batteries stolen once from my fenced back yard.

As for LiFePo4 batteries, they have very low self discharge rates. I'd charge it fully so cells are balanced and then just disconnect them completely by disconnecting one cable or the other (as long as the circuit is broken the batteries won't know if it's a Positive or Negative cable). Won't freeze and you won't have to worry about over-charging.
 
I have 5 lithium batteries in my under bed storage compartment.. In the winter, I unplug the camper, flip the battery disconnect switch and just leave it until spring.

The only caution when doing this is to make sure the battery has sufficient charge to make sure it doesn't self discharge below the low voltage disconnect by it's bms.

When that happens even the very low current used by the bms could discharge the battery low enough to damage it.

Their self discharge rate is. Low, but NOT non-existent.
 
and if you got solar... disconnect battery from solar
lithium is suppose to not to like being charged at real cold temps

something I am not planning on testing any time in the future
 
I've always pulled our battery after every trip. No logic in it (propane tanks are worth almost as much as battery) other than if someone steals the battery then I'm hosed because our trip is delayed (TT is stored in RV storage facility 25mins from house) or cancelled. I just purchased a Lipo battery (and inexpensive lithium battery charger) couple weeks ago to replace the dealer installed battery in our 2018 TT (purchased Oct 2017). I got my money's worth out of my original battery. I'm sure that storing the battery in my basement and checking water levels periodically added to the battery life.
 
Greetings from the Great White North; Really (It is – 22C or -2 F and we got a foot of

I bought a LiFePO4 100ah. It has been in a plastic battery box in my storage area which is an insulated but not heated garage for the last 19 months. When I pulled my 2 deep cell 12v 90ah batteries out of the MH for the winter I also checked my LiFePO4. I was AMAZED after 19 months of non-use it was at 13.2. In case you don’t know our weather can and has gone and will continue to go from 90 F to -40F. This is not a typo! It does get cold in Calgary Alberta Canada. I think you should be good to go in North Carolina.
Best wishes for the T-giving and Xmas Holiday Seasons.

Cheers .

:canada-flag-waving::canada-flag-waving::canada-flag-waving:
 
Lifepo4 does not self discharge much
so it can last a long time disconnected...

What you need to do is make sure it gets a nice LONG full charge so it can go through a couple of balance cycles

If your battery has bluetooth you can see the in-balance of the cells (if any)


PS... they recommend not to charge it when it is too cold
warm them up first
 
Thanks everyone!

I think I know that my battery will be ok on the tongue so long as I have a good charge on it before I switch the battery disconnect to the off position.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!

WP
 
Thanks everyone!

I think I know that my battery will be ok on the tongue so long as I have a good charge on it before I switch the battery disconnect to the off position.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!

WP

Better make sure...
Many battery disconnects DO NOT disconnect everything.
You are better off removing the cable(s) from the negative post.
 
Next month I will press the like button on 5 Pickers reply

I like what he said ... disconnect it to be sure
you ONLY need to disconnect the negatives
If in parallel with a second battery disconnect the parallel negative as well just to be totally sure nothing will charge them
 
Installed a new lithium battery in the Spring and have been very satisfied.

I was wondering how a lithium battery should be managed during the winter. My battery manual says it should be maintained at 50% SOC.

Should I remove it from the trailer tongue and store in my garage or just leave it outside on the tongue?

Thanks!

WP

no garage... baby it and bring it into the house
put it in the lounge area so you can keep an eye on it
assure it once in a while that winter will be over soon

baby it.... they are worthy of more affection :trink39:
 

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