Battery not used for at least 1 month

[Mike400AS]

We're the second owner of a 2017 Airstream Sports 16. The batteries (2) seem to be the AGM type (see attached photo). The unit is parked at an RV storage place having no access to AC. Some suggests to disconnect the negative cable (probably 1 of the 2 batteries to disconnect the circuit) when we don't use the AS for longer than a month or during winter storage of up to 4, 5 months in Colorado winter. Other recommend to take the batteries home [can be moderately hard to life them out of their boxes] and trickle-charge them every other week. Advice, please.

[Mike400AS]

Thank you again for your expert advice. Ours is a 2017 Sports 16. I've emailed Airstream Customer Service with the VIN number to see if the ball bearings would require re/packing or not.

Michael

[wulfraat]

I’d recommend you disconnect both wires and bring the batteries home with you. Definitely for the winter.....

Put them in your garage and connect them to a battery charger specifically designed for keeping floating them / them gently topped up / trickle charged while in storage. I use the batteryMINDer 128. Works like a charm. You’ll get 3-5 years out of them if you keep a quality charge on it when not in use.

Btw - that’s a Duracell SLIGC110 - a 6v golf cart battery sold by batteries plus.

It is not sealed agm- it is a wet cell deep cycle lead acid battery. You need to make sure you keep the water levels correct using distilled water. The caps on the top are where you check / add water. Just pop them off. Check water every 2-3 months. If water gets too low you’ll do them harm....

Also - because it’s 6v - that means you have a second one somewhere! (Maybe right next to it, hard to tell from the photo) You need two 6v batteries in series to make 12v to power your trailer........ watch the wiring! Series means the negative from one battery is wired to the positive of the second battery..... you need to replicate this when you put them on a 12v Charger........

https://www.batteriesplus.com/batter...ic/na/sligc110

[PKI]

You have received good advice.

Batteries that are discharged, freeze in cold weather. That is why you are being told to take them home.

A voltage of 12.2 is 50% charge. Below that, the battery is being damaged. The number of recharge cycles is reduced and if continued, a cell may fail.

The LPG detector sensor, an inverter, some electronics and similar loads are not disconnected with the use/store switch in the store position. Not all coaches have the same electrical configuration, but you can be certain that removal of the batteries is a very good idea.

If you can not lift the batteries out of the box, you need a friend, RV technician, or lifting device to help you.

Note that if the coach is stored where solar can be used, that is an easy way to keep the battery charged when stored. You do need to keep the solar panel clean, so a trip to check on status will be worth your time.

Good luck with your research. It does pay to learn everything you can about how your rigs systems work. Pat