1998 Intrigue 40 Battery Maintenance

[tgr1605]

Cold Climate Battery Maintenance Feedback
Considering investing @ $ 60 on a Schumacher SP-400 Solar Battery Maintainer and a SPC-7A 12 volt Solar Charge Controller. Storage location Northern Ohio with no accessible 110 VAC. (3) 1300 CC batteries stored with coach battery switches in the off position. Worth the cost and effort to extend battery life and best hook-up method. Better choice?

[BFlinn181]

First, northern OH has limited solar exposure, especially in winter. the Schumacher SP-400 Solar Battery Maintainer is only 4.8 watts, that might handle one battery but you're planning to maintain 3 or more? (chassis batteries)

Either invest in more solar panels or just physically disconnect all fully charged batteries during storage. I imagine phantom drains on your batteries plus natural discharge will exceed that solar set up.

North Olmsted is well within the lake effect region of Lake Erie, a solar panel doesn't work well under snow cover.