Battery cutoff switches during storage

[Florainer]

Our 2003 Holiday Rambler Imperial is in storage for six months. The site is outdoors, with no electric plugin available. We have four working solar panels on our roof. What position should the battery cutoff switch that's just inside the door be left in, and what positions should the two big battery cutoff switches in the electric panel on the passenger side rear be left in so the solar panels can keep the house and chassis batteries charged? We want to be sure the four Lifeline batteries don't go dead during storage. Thanks for your help!

[Podivin]

Ultimately it's going to be determined by where the wires for the solar tie in the batteries. If they go direct to the battery then turn off the switches so nothing drains the battery. If the solar connects somewhere after the switch, and must flow through the switch to charge the batteries, then your stuck leaving the switches on.

[creativepart]

Normally, the solar panels are connected to a solar charge controller that is connected to your house batteries directly. Your battery cutoff devices do not usually have any role to play in this process. Keep the cut off switches OFF and your solar charge controller will keep your batteries charged up.

If you leave your battery cut off in the ON position various parasitic draws will drain your batteries and it's doubtful your solar panels will keep up with this draw.

Short answer. ALWAYS turn off your batteries via the cut off when you store your RV unless you have plugged the RV into a shore power source in storage.