Preventing battery from dying

[DaddysBus]

My apologies if this is a stupid question or in the wrong forum. We are coming off an Interstate and moving into a 27FB Serenity. The rig will be used around once a month and otherwise stored indoors with just a simple power outlet available.

I was well versed in keeping the batteries fresh in the AI, but not at all sure if I'm supposed to do anything special with the 27FB while it's stored to ensure the batteries don't die.

Thank you in advance for any tips and advice!

[alano]

Not a dumb question. If your converter has been upgraded to a three/four stage battery charger, then you have nothing to worry about. If it hasn't, then be careful to not leave the batteries connected to the converter while on shore power for a month. Better to buy a Battery Tender or upgrade your converter if you intend on keeping your batteries topped up during the month that they're in storage.

[OTRA15]

As an experienced Airstreamer, the best solution might be to glance at the long list of threads in this sub-forum about batteries dying from bad storage practices.



Yes your batteries will probably die prematurely if you leave the new trailer for a month without doing something like installing a multi-stage charger as just suggested.

[AnnArborBob]

For your circumstances I (and most others here) highly recommend that you get a new multi stage charger. Progressive Dynamics makes one that is plug compatible with the POS unit that Airstream uses on their new trailers and costs around $300 (plus install if you don't DIY.) It will be the best $300 you ever spend on this hobby.

[jamieb1086]

Hi

I took delivery of my 2016 25' FC April 20 2016. It was sitting on the lot outside here in the northeast from December 2015 until I took delivery and have nothing but trouble with them. They go from a full charge to 9.5 volts in ten days, essentially dead. I never left them connected for more than a few days to shore power.
Last winter I bought 2 NOCO smart chargers and left them in my garage on the trickle until I reinstalled them in April. Even so, this season they barely last the night boondocking with just the refrigerator on propane.
So hopefully my dealer will replace them on warranty later this month so I can care for them properly and maybe get 2 years out of them until I can get my multi stage charger installed. That is the only solution.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by DaddysBus

. . .
Thank you in advance for any tips and advice!

This Battery School material is great reading for general background and advice on RV batteries:

http://www.batteriesnorthwest.com/ba...hool.cfm?TID=0

Happy Trails!

Peter

[DaddysBus]

Awesome. Thank you for the tips. More items added to the shopping list and weekend to do list.

[PSU1981]

I have upgraded to a Progressive Dynamics multi stage charger - so I could leave it plugged into a 120 outlet -- however this would leave my 50 AMP cord exposed for theft at the storage facility. I simply remove the neg terminal connections & battery stays fine.

[OTRA15]

How long do you leave the trailer that way, and what is the battery voltage when you go back?

If the only 120-volt use is the battery charger, you could use a 50' #12 extension cord (or smaller depending on where the outlet is) and adapt to the trailer with this:

https://www.amazon.com/Furrion-FP301...amp+rv+adapter

Still can be stolen but the loss would be less.

Thanks,

Peter

[uncle_bob]

Hi

How old / new is the trailer? There are a surprisingly large number of variations in how these things are wired up between 2018, 2017, and previous years.

Bob

[Mollysdad]

There are things in an RV that can't be turned off (legally). The propane detector and the CO detector. So, even with the power off, the batteries will still be discharging.
Yes, a battery tender is probably the easiest solution, or a master disconnect such as boats have.

[DaddysBus]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

How old / new is the trailer? There are a surprisingly large number of variations in how these things are wired up between 2018, 2017, and previous years.

Bob

It'll be a 2018 International Serenity 27FB. Arriving next week. It'll be stored indoors at a secure space with 120v outlet readily available.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by DaddysBus

It'll be a 2018 International Serenity 27FB. Arriving next week. It'll be stored indoors at a secure space with 120v outlet readily available.

Hi

So it has (yet another) unique disconnect process for the battery / shore power. Grab a Battery Tender, plug it into the 120V and hook it to the batteries via the connector for the Zamp solar stuff. Put the unit in "store / disconnect" mode whenever it's in storage ...

Bob

[Caffeinated]

I was under the impression that all the new ASs had multi stage smart chargers? Or is it just the Classics?

Mike

[DaddysBus]

Thanks Bob!

Mike, this one (the international line) does have a new multistage charging for 2018.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Caffeinated

I was under the impression that all the new ASs had multi stage smart chargers? Or is it just the Classics?

Mike

Hi

All AS models have had "multistage" chargers for quite a while. The ongoing debate has been about how effective (or not) those chargers actually are. It's sort of a "how stupid can it be and still be a smart charger" thing.

Many of us are looking for real details on the "new" chargers. There's been enough contradictory yack that digging into an actual trailer is probably the only way to sort it all out. Yes, a good detailed owners manual would sort part of it out. I'm not expecting one on the web for a while.

Just to be clear, no, I don't expect a super duper charger to suddenly appear on the 2018's. I'm pretty sure that aftermarket chargers will still beat whatever they are using. The question is - how tight a race is it this time?

Bob