Community Forums

Gdlow · 09-11-2019, 02:22 PM

I have a pair of 6-volt batteries that I am contemplating putting on a maintainer battery charger for 6 months...
better to do this or just charge and disconnect them?
thanks

NRR · 09-11-2019, 03:14 PM

If they are in series I would put them on a “Battery Minder Plus” or whatever they are called today. Mine is very old. It is simply a smart low current charger that will not deplete the water in the batteries. I use it every year on the chassis battery in the winter.

I am past removing batteries for the winter. The house charger is smart also. So I just keep AC to the rig all winter.
Never had a battery problem so far.
I do add water during the summer months.

twinboat · 09-11-2019, 03:46 PM

Since it makes sense to disconnect them anyway, to stop phantom loads from draining them if the charger goes off, I would just leave them sit without a maintainer.

No need to remove them or maintain them for six months, just store them after charging them fully.

With 6 volt batteries, you can simply remove the jumper between them. Then there is no multiple cable ends laying around.

153stars · 09-11-2019, 05:20 PM

But be careful many"cheap or not so cheap" maintainers will drain batts if they loose power or internally die. Some over charge.These may still have green light when unplugged or if charger is dead. Read many of the reviews.

Mark_K5LXP · 09-11-2019, 06:49 PM

If you have the option to connect a maintainer, this is best for long term storage. Leaving them sit disconnected with periodic (monthly top off) is 2nd best, sitting disconnected and idle 3rd best.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

keymastr · 09-11-2019, 08:12 PM

I have a 10 watt solar panel that came on my trailer and it keeps my 2 6volts charged all winter. The sun is pretty reliable and so far it has never gone out.

I am thinking of replacing it with a 100 watt panel to lessen the need for the generator.

Arch Hoagland · 09-11-2019, 08:36 PM

I have a spare 6 volt battery and a spare 12 volt battery at my house that sit outside on a board covered up with plastic.

About every 6 months I check them and put a trickle charger on for a few minutes. They hold their charge pretty good.

So I suggest charging your batteries and then disconnect them.

Sonic · 09-11-2019, 09:37 PM

I find it simpler to use battery maintainers - no monitoring charge levels during storage, or recharging and equalizing before using my coach again. Not a big deal, it's just preference.

I use Battery Minders that test the state of charge every 12 hours and supply the appropriate current, plus they perform full time pulse desulfation to help keep the plates clean.

The maintainers are hard wired to the battery banks - one to the eight 6v house batteries and one to the two 12v chassis batteries, and the cords are run so that I have only a single extension cord to plug in to activate both at the storage lot.

Soppy · 09-12-2019, 07:01 AM

Make sure they are fully charged , then disconnect them. They will self discharge up to 5% per month just sitting. After 6 months, the batteries will only have been discharged 30%. Cold will not hurt a battery and actually slows the ageing process. With the batteries disconnected you don't have to worry about water levels.

Gdlow · 09-12-2019, 07:43 AM

Thanks, everyone for your thoughts on this...
Two questions for all:
1...for those that just disconnect, is it just the main negative or?
2...for those that use a maintainer..what brand do you use..
thanks again

153stars · 09-21-2019, 07:50 PM

Battery Tender brand 1.5amp best bang for buck. Won't drain your batts if it dies on you or looses power nor cook them with too high of voltage.
A lot of poor maintainers out there .

Gdlow · 09-22-2019, 08:21 AM

thanks for feedback

theoldwizard · 09-22-2019, 08:52 AM

A friend of a friend maintains township equipment that included auto start generators for sewage pumping stations. All batteries have "maintainers", but battery life was typically only a few years (these were full size flooded automotive batteries and there liquid level was checked once per month). After replacing too many batteries, he decided to connect the battery maintainer to a cheap mechanical lamp time that only allowed the maintainer to operate a few hours per day. Battery life more than doubled !

Gdlow · 09-22-2019, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoldwizard

A friend of a friend maintains township equipment that included auto start generators for sewage pumping stations. All batteries have "maintainers", but battery life was typically only a few years (these were full size flooded automotive batteries and there liquid level was checked once per month). After replacing too many batteries, he decided to connect the battery maintainer to a cheap mechanical lamp time that only allowed the maintainer to operate a few hours per day. Battery life more than doubled !

That is interesting...Was it just a few hours a day for the maintainer. Reason for asking is that I was under the "assumption" that in order for maintainers to work they never really had to add a charge...just maintain...