Community Forums

BrewdogMN · 10-11-2017, 10:15 PM

I am wanting some advice on whether to remove batteries and store indoors or park the coach, use the battery disconnect and wire them so I can put a maintenance charger on them for the winter in Minnesota. They are quite heavy and I have 2 chassis batteries and 4 6volt coach batteries. I do know how to wire them for charging but am not sure if this is appropriate to do in the cold weather. I guess I know the indoor storage is ideal but can I get away with the other method. Thanks in advance for any advice.

60sumtin · 10-12-2017, 05:04 AM

You should be fine keeping the batteries installed with a maintenance charger attached. The charger will keep them from discharging over the winter. Before storing just check the water levels in each cell and top up as necessary and you should be fine. Its not the cold that will hurt them during winter storage, its allowing them to become discharged either through a parasitic draw or self discharge.

Lv2Roam2 · 10-12-2017, 05:20 AM

Its important to start with the batteries fully-charged and watered up (if not AGMs). I remove the negative cable from my batteries to ensure there's no parasitic loads. And it certainly won't hurt to charge them back up about once a month with a good multi-stage charger.

38Chevy454 · 10-12-2017, 09:56 AM

Assuming fully charged when put into storage, just leave them connected and with a battery maintainer. They will be fine.

alberrt · 10-15-2017, 07:24 AM

To use a maintainer, do I need to disconnect the batteries. What about a disconnect switch and then fasten the maintainer to the batteries? Also related to the batteries, what do you do between trips? Mine will go dead in a few days unless I plug into the house.

BrewdogMN · 10-15-2017, 08:35 AM

To answer 2nd question first you have something drawing on your batteries or your batteries are going bad. You should take batteries out and have them tested. If they are fine then you have to find what is drawing them down. I assume you shut everything off when you put it away. I had the same trouble and I just go into my engine compartment and hit my battery disconnect switch and I am fine. Your switch may be somewhere else. Make sure your everything else is off also. This is just for your chassis batteries. I am not home right now but will take picture of proper wiring for hooking up your maintainers and post this tomorrow.

winniman · 10-15-2017, 09:10 AM

Freezing is your batteries enemy and will ruin them. A charged battery will not freeze under normal conditions. This is why you must keep them charged. I would suggest disconnecting them, and use a maintainer if they discharge quickly .or leave the coach plugged in if you dont want to disconnect them.

dennis45 · 10-15-2017, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewdogMN

I am wanting some advice on whether to remove batteries and store indoors or park the coach, use the battery disconnect and wire them so I can put a maintenance charger on them for the winter in Minnesota. They are quite heavy and I have 2 chassis batteries and 4 6volt coach batteries. I do know how to wire them for charging but am not sure if this is appropriate to do in the cold weather. I guess I know the indoor storage is ideal but can I get away with the other method. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Your Newmar is, or should be unless someone changed it, equipped with a charging system that will maintain your Chassis and house batteries as well or better than any off the shelf maintainer.
It sounds like you have access to a 15A service plug so, the coach in, leave the chassis and house disconnect switches ON, turn the gas detector off and your in business.
Check the water level of the house batteries every 6-8 weeks to make sure they don't go dry. Check the battery voltage while plugged in. It should not exceed 13.8VDC.
My coach has been plugged in 24/7, unless we are traveling, for years. The batteries are approaching eight years old.