Battery Issue...always need to be plugged in

[grob]

I was told by the Lifeline rep that if you cannot plug in your vehicle while in storage, the alternative is to fully charge the house batteries prior to storage then disconnect the negative lead from each battery. I'll be doing that this fall.

[73shark]

Originally Posted by grob

I was told by the Lifeline rep that if you cannot plug in your vehicle while in storage, the alternative is to fully charge the house batteries prior to storage then disconnect the negative lead from each battery. I'll be doing that this fall.

Is that even if your solar panel can keep them charged?

[lewster]

Originally Posted by 73shark

Is that even if your solar panel can keep them charged?

That depends entirely on what type of solar charge controller you have. If it is not a 3-stage solar controller, I would not leave Lifelines connected to it.

Any charger that will not provide an automatic 13.2 VDC float charge when full will damage Lifelines.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[Marks71]

Originally Posted by lewster

That depends entirely on what type of solar charge controller you have. If it is not a 3-stage solar controller, I would not leave Lifelines connected to it.

Any charger that will not provide an automatic 13.2 VDC float charge when full will damage Lifelines.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

is the solar charge controller with my 2015 AI a 3-stage? (sorry ... I'll go read the manual but thought I might as well ask knowledgable folks here while I"m signed in). I plan to leave it in LA area for 6 months this winter, uncovered (i.e. lots of sun) and unplugged. I plan to be out there at least once / month for a weekend trip, although I suppose with "...best-laid plans" etc it could stretch out a bit from time to time.

[Boxster1971]

Airstream does not install 3-stage solar charge controllers. You will need an upgrade for that.


- - Mike
2013 Interstate Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[Titus]

Weirdstuff/Lewster: "swapped batteries for two 6v golf cart batteries"
Do you use two 4CT in series (12 V, 220 A vs 12V 160 A for two 24T in parallel) and did they fit in the existing battery box? I thought I might go for that upgrade when my current batteries need to be replaced.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Titus

Weirdstuff/Lewster: "swapped batteries for two 6v golf cart batteries"
Do you use two 4CT in series (12 V, 220 A vs 12V 160 A for two 24T in parallel) and did they fit in the existing battery box? I thought I might go for that upgrade when my current batteries need to be replaced.

I generally don't keep the existing steel battery box when installing Lifeline AGMs. And because you get a lot of additional space with no box, I use the GPL-6CTs at 300 amp/hours. Same footprint.....just a bit taller.

And remember, Lifelines don't have to be positioned terminals up. I lay them on their sides on a lot of installations.

[Marks71]

Originally Posted by lewster

That depends entirely on what type of solar charge controller you have. If it is not a 3-stage solar controller, I would not leave Lifelines connected to it.

Any charger that will not provide an automatic 13.2 VDC float charge when full will damage Lifelines.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

So summing up here, and hoping for affirmation from knowledgeable people on this thread:
1) I will store for 6 mos in LA area this winter. Unplugged and uncovered, so lots of sun. "Plan" on being out there once / mo to take a 3-5 day trip. However, it could stretch to every 5-6 weeks I guess
2) from experience in Chicago this summer, my 100 watt solar panels have no trouble keeping the batteries topped off while stored, uncovered and unplugged, with us using the van once/month for 3-5 days at a time.
3) however, and this is new info to me, the solar charger could over-charge the batteries in SoCal since it's not a 3-stage. how serious of a concern is this?
4) therefore, may be better to disconnect the neg terminals of the house batteries while parked out there?
5) how to access the house batteries? I've read and re-read the manual and all I can get is that they are located in the rear on curbside (2015 AI Grand Tour Ext). Since it's currently on the storage lot, I haven't gone out to visit and look. Do you access them from underneath? or through the coach? Is it difficult to get at them and disconnect the neg terminals? I also read on another post a while back that there's a "switch" you can put on the neg terminals and just turn it to off when needed.

I know there are a lot of battery threads in this forum, and I've read just about all of them to get this far. Sorry if this is a redundant question.

Thanks for any help.

Mark