Community Forums

dickschaak · 08-15-2017, 10:14 AM

When I store my motorhome I always switch off all of the batteries. Is there anything wrong with doing this?

BFlinn181 · 08-15-2017, 10:41 AM

No, especially if you don't have shore power or solar panels. Only question is, is that enough? Often even with disconnect switches off there are phantom loads that can draw batteries down. In my RV, the chassis disconnect does an adequate job for up to 5 months at a time, but the house disconnect will still drain batteries after a month or so. My house batteries have knife switches that further disconnect them for long term storage.

dickschaak · 08-16-2017, 07:15 AM

Bob,
Thanks for the input. I shut off all three battery disconnect switches. The longest I have left it is a month and no problem. However, I plan to leave it from November to the middle of January when temps get well below freezing. Just hope the batteries will start it.

BFlinn181 · 08-16-2017, 08:51 AM

Dick,
Fully charged batteries should be fine in cold weather. It's when they are discharged you have damage from freezing electrolyte. To see how large your phantom drains are, you can disconnect one battery cable. Bridge the gap with a 12v bulb and see if it lights up. If it does, imagine that bulb being on for the duration of your storage. You can also use a multimeter to measure the load across the gap, but I really don't know what a safe level would be O.K.

In my case, I get no electrical drain on my chassis batteries, but some current on the house batteries. I have knife switches on the house batteries that are easy to turn on or off, just the disconnect solenoid on the chassis batteries. I've left if for as long a 4 months when we were in Australia one Nov. - March period.

dickschaak · 08-17-2017, 07:18 AM

Bob,
I have four battery disconnect switches in my Bus. I would think each one of those switches breaks a circuit just as your knife switch does. Is it true that with all circuits broken, or open, I could still have a phantom drain?

BFlinn181 · 08-17-2017, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickschaak

Bob,
I have four battery disconnect switches in my Bus. I would think each one of those switches breaks a circuit just as your knife switch does. Is it true that with all circuits broken, or open, I could still have a phantom drain?

You could, according to what's been wired directly to the batteries, by-passing all the switches. If you are sure all the wires from the batteries go through one of the switches, then you might be good. A simple test would be to turn all the switches off, then disconnect a battery terminal and bridge the gap with a voltmeter or 12v bulb.

dickschaak · 08-17-2017, 02:37 PM

That is a simple solution. I will try it. I won't be going to storage for a few weeks but I will let you know.

luvlabs · 08-18-2017, 09:22 AM

Don't forget to turn off your inverter first. It is not wired through any of the disconnect switches and will still draw about 5-7 amps/hr until your batteries are dead.