|
|
09-12-2019, 09:55 PM
|
#1
|
Silver Condo III
2015 30' International
Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 264
|
Winterizing - Battery Question
We haven't had to winterize the trailer since we bought it 6 years ago. Now that we have a permanent place in Arizona the Airstream won't be going south with us. So my question is should we disconnect the batteries, but leave them connected to the solar panels? This would keep them topped up over winter and prevent them from freezing.
As always we look forward to your input.
__________________
Malcolm & Randy
WBCCI # 12523
|
|
|
09-12-2019, 09:59 PM
|
#2
|
The Aluminum Tent 3
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Park City
, Utah
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,157
|
As long as everything goes according to plan...yes should be OK. But you would be better served to take them out and put them on a trickle charger indoors somewhere if you can. If solar goes down and batteries drain, they won't be happy in the freezing weather.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 06:29 AM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
2019 30' International
Pennsylvania
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,241
|
I would remove the batteries from the airstream, put them in a heated space, and put them on a trickle charger.
__________________
If you ain't havin' fun you ain't doin' it right
2017 Ford CCSB F250 XLT 6.2L Gas 4x4 4:30 rear Leer Topper Ruby Red
2019 International Serenity 30 Rear Twin
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 07:24 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
2017 16' Sport
N/A
, N/A
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,789
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kamadeca
We haven't had to winterize the trailer since we bought it 6 years ago. Now that we have a permanent place in Arizona the Airstream won't be going south with us. So my question is should we disconnect the batteries, but leave them connected to the solar panels? This would keep them topped up over winter and prevent them from freezing.
As always we look forward to your input.
|
If it’s an AGM I would charge it up before you depart for Arizona, that should hold them for 3 months if there in good shape to start with. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving them on a trickle charger for 3 months without some supervision. Maybe a local garage can look after them while your away in their shop.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 08:34 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
KW
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 997
|
Seeing that you live in Saskatchewan I would make sure the batteries are charged and then store them inside. You shouldn't have to put them on a trickle charger since there is no load and they are being stored in the warmth. I leave mine in, but remove the snow from the panels after every snowfall, which you won't be able to do since you're in Arizona.
A properly charged battery should endure the winter without any issues if it is stored in doors.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 09:29 AM
|
#6
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,735
|
Hi
Ok, so why store indoors?
As the battery discharges, the electrolyte will freeze at a higher temperature. The colder it gets where you store, the higher the charge percentage needs to be to keep the battery from freezing.
https://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP...orage_0512.pdf
If you can hold > 85% charge, there is no problem with storing outdoors. Since self discharge drops as temperature goes down, a fully charged / healthy battery should do pretty well for a number of months. Yes, this assumes you disconnect the battery from any loads ....
Bob
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 09:39 AM
|
#7
|
2 Rivet Member
2016 19' Flying Cloud
Scarborough
, New York
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 43
|
...all of the above plus do not leave your batteries parked on a concrete surface...use an old piece of 2x4.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 09:47 AM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
2019 27' Globetrotter
McHenry
, Illinois
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,196
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Little
...all of the above plus do not leave your batteries parked on a concrete surface...use an old piece of 2x4.
|
Bob, that use to be the case but modern plastic case batteries are no longer susceptible to discharge if let of concrete :-)
https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/freq...ete-floor.html
__________________
2019 27’ Globetrotter FBT Walnut/Dublin Slate
2018 FC23FB
2019 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi Laramie Blue Ox 1000#
WBCCI# 10258
RETIRED!
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 10:09 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
2017 16' Sport
N/A
, N/A
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,789
|
Of course you are right. I like to keep them off the concrete they look prettier longer.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 10:28 AM
|
#10
|
Married with Airstream
2004 25' International CCD
Vancouver Island
, British Columbia
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 934
|
We leave our Trojan T-105s in the AS with 200w of solar - however, we live on Vancouver Island different climate -eh!
__________________
La Dolce Vita Brick & Mona
We're Married With Airstream dot com
2004 International 25CCD Registered Name "Blue Streak"
2013 F-150HD FX4 SuperCrew Lariart (MaxTow) "Red Dragon"
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 12:56 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
I'm In
, Kentucky
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,251
|
I have a solar panel on top and it keeps the batteries charged. Well, there was last winter when I parked in a new spot next to a building which cast a shadow over the back half of the AS and prevented the sun from reaching the panel. It wasn't as efficient but it still kept them mostly charged. I pulled the AS out a little further and it was OK again.
My boat is kept in the garage, it has 3 batteries; 2 deep cycle and 1 starting. I have an onboard charger that cuts off when they are fully charged but I still put the charger on a timer to kick in daily for 15 minutes then turn it off. It has worked very well, the batteries last a long time. I figured it's like starting your car and driving 6 miles to work on a daily basis. Car batteries seem to last a long time, so there's my logic.
__________________
-Rich
Rich & Yvonne
2006 Safari SE -Dora-
2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 01:25 PM
|
#12
|
3 Rivet Member
2013 28' Flying Cloud
Penn Yan
, New York
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 138
|
Winter battery storage
I have a battery disconnect that I installed 3 years ago on my battery. I have a Battery Minder that i connect to the batteries. The Battery Minder floats and does a maintenance cycle where it desulphates the batteries. Works well. If the trailer is not under a cover I would pull them out also and put them inside a garage hooked to a battery Minder.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 03:28 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
2017 28' International
Jim Falls
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,308
|
I live in Northern Wisconsin. My AS is in a pole barn. I just put the trickle charger on them all winter and don’t mess with it. Just check them from time to time. Don’t take them out of the AS. They did just fine. But I have a plug in. It would have to get pretty darn cold to freeze a battery.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 03:32 PM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
KW
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 997
|
Have you ever been to Saskatchewan in winter? I've seen-50C. And some places it can get colder than that. Personally I'd err on the side of caution.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 05:05 PM
|
#15
|
3 Rivet Member
2005 25' Safari
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 159
|
It depends on a number of factors, including where in AZ you are storing your AS (i.e., how cold it gets), charging capacity of your panels, how much sun your AS gets, and the rate of power drain from your AS systems (not a consideration if you have a true battery disconnect).
I store my AS over the winter in Albuquerque, with batteries installed, no disconnect. Temps routinely drop below freezing at night Nov - Feb, sometimes into the teens. My AS is outdoors, on the north side of a warehouse, and receives no direct sun from late Nov - early Feb. It stays pretty cold in there! My 340W of solar keeps the batteries at 100% all winter, even in indirect sunlight. However, I live only a few miles from my AS storage location and am able to check on her from time to time over the winter.
YMMV.
|
|
|
09-13-2019, 06:33 PM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
2017 28' International
Jim Falls
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,308
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gator.bigfoot
Have you ever been to Saskatchewan in winter? I've seen-50C. And some places it can get colder than that. Personally I'd err on the side of caution.
|
So here are the facts: A weak battery will freeze at 32 degrees F, while a fully charged battery will freeze at -76 degrees F. So if you keep it fully charged on a trickle charger there is no reason to take it out of the AS unless you live in the arctic circle.
The average low January Temp in Saskatchewan is just below zero at night. It has never gotten to -76 degrees. The record is -70 degrees F. So I would say if you think it is going to be really really really cold then take them out of the AS and put inside.
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-t...charger-534853
As for me I won’t begin to see -76 F so I will leave them in on the trickle charger.
|
|
|
09-14-2019, 02:40 PM
|
#17
|
1 Rivet Member
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
Woodstock
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 18
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silvr_Bullet
If it’s an AGM I would charge it up before you depart for Arizona, that should hold them for 3 months if there in good shape to start with. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving them on a trickle charger for 3 months without some supervision. Maybe a local garage can look after them while your away in their shop.
|
I installed AGMs 4 years ago to avoid the battery removal and replacement hassle. When disconnected, the AGMs measure almost no voltage drop during 6 months of cold storage in Ontario. The temperature rarely drops below minus 30c.
|
|
|
09-14-2019, 04:48 PM
|
#18
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,735
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by terrythomts
I installed AGMs 4 years ago to avoid the battery removal and replacement hassle. When disconnected, the AGMs measure almost no voltage drop during 6 months of cold storage in Ontario. The temperature rarely drops below minus 30c.
|
Hi
It's a good bet that your battery leakage at least doubles for every 10C the temperature goes up. If you are at 30C running around in the summer and they don't go crazy with a month's storage, They should be fine for > 16 months at
temperatures around 10C.
Bob
|
|
|
09-19-2019, 07:53 AM
|
#19
|
2 Rivet Member
2009 25' FB Flying Cloud
Fair Play
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 21
|
In SC I disconnect the batteries (just the main negative cable, I have it loose enough to twist off) after each trip in the AS and on the pontoon boat only for the winter. Each person has their own story, but I have not had any charge issues yet and been doing this for 9 years.
|
|
|
09-20-2019, 10:04 AM
|
#20
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,735
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drewkonopka5
In SC I disconnect the batteries (just the main negative cable, I have it loose enough to twist off) after each trip in the AS and on the pontoon boat only for the winter. Each person has their own story, but I have not had any charge issues yet and been doing this for 9 years.
|
Hi
If you have an inverter *and* put a full load on it .... the "twist off tight" approach probably is not a good idea.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|