Winter battery storage

[Ssmookler]

I have just purchased an '86 25' sovereign with two batteries. Do folks recommend removing batteries as part of winterization? If so, do you recommend a trickle charge system for the batteries over the winter months?
Thanks
Steve

[TinTin]

I remove my batteries during winter. I store them in an attached garage, which stays above freezing during the coldest weather. They sit on a piece of 2x12 on the garage floor attached together in parallel, and are charged with a smart battery tender.

[terryV]

For many years I have just left them in the unit, hooked up to a Battery Tender. It seems to work just fine that way.

[aftermath]

I have to store my trailer in a lot without access to power. It gets very cold where I live so I put mine in the basement and monitor them. I charge them about every 4 to 5 weeks.

If you can plug yours into a trickle charge you should be fine. A charged battery will not freeze, or so I have heard.

[idroba]

I have said this many times in the past, but here is another repeat. All you need to do is this for winter storage is:

1. Be sure the batteries are fully charged.

2. Clean the tops of the batteries.

3. Disconnect the wires from the negative terminal(s) so that there is absolutely no way the batteries can be connected to anything and be discharged.

There is no need to remove them. There is no need to trickle charge them. They will not freeze if it is above -40 F. Battery self discharge is increased by them being nice and warm. When cold, the rate of self discharge is decreased.

In the spring, re connect the negative terminal, and use the built in converter/charger in the Airstream to bring what little discharge that has occurred back in.

I have had Airstreams since the late 1970's and this technique has worked very well for all of those years. I have never had any battery damage. My battery life is in the range of 8 to 10 years.

And others will disagree with me. But charge, clean, then fully disconnect will work just fine in any cold climate. No need to break your back removing batteries.

[Ssmookler]

Thanks for your comments. Leaving them in the AS seems so anti-intuitive.....

[philrush]

Does this work for lead-acid batteries? It won't go below minus 40 where I am (very unlikely)

Originally Posted by idroba

I have said this many times in the past, but here is another repeat. All you need to do is this for winter storage is:

1. Be sure the batteries are fully charged.

2. Clean the tops of the batteries.

3. Disconnect the wires from the negative terminal(s) so that there is absolutely no way the batteries can be connected to anything and be discharged.

There is no need to remove them. There is no need to trickle charge them. They will not freeze if it is above -40 F. Battery self discharge is increased by them being nice and warm. When cold, the rate of self discharge is decreased.

In the spring, re connect the negative terminal, and use the built in converter/charger in the Airstream to bring what little discharge that has occurred back in.

I have had Airstreams since the late 1970's and this technique has worked very well for all of those years. I have never had any battery damage. My battery life is in the range of 8 to 10 years.

And others will disagree with me. But charge, clean, then fully disconnect will work just fine in any cold climate. No need to break your back removing batteries.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by philrush

Does this work for lead-acid batteries? It won't go below minus 40 where I am (very unlikely)

Yes, lithium batteries were not common in RVs back in 2014.

[thewarden]

I have had all manner of RVs over the last 25 years, including my AS for the last 6 years. I have never removed the batteries during winter storage, about 6-7 months here in northern Alberta. Temps are often -15 to -30F.

Before storing for the winter, I make sure the batteries are fully charged and then I disconnect the negative lead to ensure there are no power draws on the batteries. This is key because many built-in battery disconnects do not actually disconnect all power draws.

I have never lost a battery in all this time. They will discharge some over the winter, but I have not seen much more than 10-15% over the 6-7 months of storage. A battery at 80-85% charge will not freeze at even -30F.