Community Forums

graydond · 09-24-2018, 08:33 AM

i'm in upstate NY and wondering if after winterizing our camper I should leave it plugged into a 120vac receptacle thru the winter or remove the batteries and bring them inside?

Skip426 · 09-24-2018, 09:06 AM

If making sure the batteries stay charged is the only reason to plug in the RV ; bring the batteries inside ; do not place them directly on a concrete floor ; hook them to a trickle charger , that can be on a timer so it only runs once a week for six hours.

wrvond · 09-24-2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graydond

i'm in upstate NY and wondering if after winterizing our camper I should leave it plugged into a 120vac receptacle thru the winter or remove the batteries and bring them inside?

I leave mine plugged in all the time. I also have an electric heater running inside the camper. However, even through winter, hardly a day goes by without me spending time inside the camper.

Bob_C · 09-24-2018, 09:18 AM

Mine stays plugged in along with a lamp left on.......no negative issues here..

Slapshoot · 09-24-2018, 10:11 AM

Leave ours plugged in and put a couple of those sonic thingys (that’s the technical name) to keep away rodents.

IC2 · 09-24-2018, 10:36 AM

I did until I ran the tractor mounted snow blower over my expensive 100 foot long 12 gauge extension cord then spent an hour untangling the remains from the auger in a snow storm.

Now I just pull the battery.

It is a good idea if you don't pull the battery but you should at least check the water a couple times over the winter

**JohnRR** · 09-25-2018, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IC2

I did until I ran the tractor mounted snow blower over my expensive 100 foot long 12 gauge extension cord then spent an hour untangling the remains from the auger in a snow storm.

At that point I think I would have had to sit down and contemplate having a good cry.

V3600 · 09-25-2018, 04:39 PM

If you were a full-timer you'd be plugged in 24/7.

LETMGROW · 09-25-2018, 05:04 PM

I store mine 10 miles from home in a storage facility with no power hookups. I remove the house and chassis batteries and bring them home and store them in my garage where I can check the charge and if needed give them a trickle charge overnight when necessary.
Even if there was power available I'd still remove them. The MH isn't going to come out until early to mid May, so why run the converter all that while just trying to wear it out?
Lynn

twinboat · 09-25-2018, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

If making sure the batteries stay charged is the only reason to plug in the RV ; bring the batteries inside ; do not place them directly on a concrete floor ; hook them to a trickle charger , that can be on a timer so it only runs once a week for six hours.

The concrete floor concern is from the days of battery cases made of tar.

Modern battery cases are made of plastic and do not conduct thru the case.

Some recommend it, because it helps keep the battery temperature stable.

https://northeastbattery.com/do-ceme...car-batteries/

tcg · 09-25-2018, 05:44 PM

Just another opinion.

As with my boat, I store the batteries in the boat and RV with a full charge and disconnect them.

In the spring I hook them up, start the motor, and off I go.

I work in several large storage facilities, heated, unheated, and outdoors with hundreds of boats stored. The majority leave the batteries in and disconnected.

I rarely see one not starting in the spring at launch time.

My motorcycle gets stored the same way, charged disconnected battery. In the spring I just hook it up and off I go.

60sumtin · 09-27-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graydond

i'm in upstate NY and wondering if after winterizing our camper I should leave it plugged into a 120vac receptacle thru the winter or remove the batteries and bring them inside?

As you can see there are different opinions about the matter. As we have no idea what kind of batteries you have (you didn't say) I'd follow the manufacturers instructions.

graydond · 09-28-2018, 05:02 PM

thanks for all the ideas.
I think I'll just bring them in after winterizing and closing up
and put them on a weekly trickle charger thru the winter.
I'd feel doing that then leaving to cord laying all thru the yard thru the winter.

Thanks for the thoughts!!

Soppy · 09-28-2018, 07:35 PM

If you bring them in, make sure you keep them in a cool dry place . Leaving them out in the freezing temps will not harm them as long as they are fully charged , then disconnect the pos or neg terminal. That way in the spring ,all you have to do is connect the cable and your ready to go . There is also less of a chance that the battery will be improperly reconnected .