Battery Type and Management Advice

[Tim McGann]

Our MH will sit idle indoors for three to four months at a time (thanks Schengen). It has solar panels but they will be useless indoors. Electricity for a trickle charger is not available. The facility's employees park the vehicles so obviously I won't be able to disconnect the engine battery. I could disconnect the house batteries if that's the best way to leave them. Winter temperatures can get to 4 degrees and the facility is not climate controlled. Suggestions?

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes you could disconnect the habitation batteries if fully charged they should survive 3 months. The engine battery 3 to 4 weeks is normally the absolute limit and if you have an alarm & tracker a lot less.
When not using our van I always take it for a good drive every few weeks as leaving them standing is not good for the mechanicals.

 

[the1andonly]

Odd idea but this is a remote control relay to turn batteries off.
Would need the parker to use it.

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[autorouter]

Do you have any access to the MH? Can you visit maybe once a week or once a fortnight?

 

[Tim McGann]

Do you have any access to the MH? Can you visit maybe once a week or once a fortnight?

No, unfortunately. I live in South America and it will be located in The Netherlands.

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[Tim McGann]

Odd idea but this is a remote control relay to turn batteries off.
Would need the parker to use it.

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That's an idea, but will the battery hold a charge that long even with no external drain?

 

[the1andonly]

If all fully charged before put to sleep three months may be doable ,but fully charge before starting or connecting starter battery (thinking of Airbag ECU) specifically thinking of Ducato ECU.

 

[Just smiffy]

I’d find another storage that you can park it yourself and sort it otherwise you’ll have the cost of a new battery and possibly other stuff every time you want it…..

 

[Tim McGann]

I’d find another storage that you can park it yourself and sort it otherwise you’ll have the cost of a new battery and possibly other stuff every time you want it…..

Wish it was possible but I've been looking for months. I need it to be near a major airport, preferably Amsterdam's. They are all full and all operate the same way.

 

[Just smiffy]

Are you dependent on Amsterdam…? Not another country…?

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[Tim McGann]

Are you dependent on Amsterdam…? Not another country…?

Not necessarily but my daughter lives there and it's convenient for European travel. Also I can get nonstop flights there. I also can get them to Madrid but then it's a long haul to the rest of Europe. I have looked at Spain but it seems that most storage there is in the south making it even farther.

 

[Just smiffy]

Not necessarily but my daughter lives there and it's convenient for European travel. Also I can get nonstop flights there. I also can get them to Madrid but then it's a long haul to the rest of Europe. I have looked at Spain but it seems that most storage there is in the south making it even farther.

Ah, that’s difficult for you then, does your daughter know someone with a bit of land or a drive you could park on…. Your daughter could keep an eye on it, or get your daughter to get the van out of storage and take it for a drive every couple of weeks if she’s able…
Just thinking aloud solutions for you…

 

[Tim McGann]

Ah, that’s difficult for you then, does your daughter know someone with a bit of land or a drive you could park on…. Your daughter could keep an eye on it, or get your daughter to get the van out of storage and take it for a drive every couple of weeks if she’s able…
Just thinking aloud solutions for you…

I don't think that's a possibility, she's very busy and I don't think either of us would be comfortable with her driving it. I'll continue to look around Europe trying to find something that offers electricity. That would solve all of my problems.

 

[autorouter]

The storage people presumably have keys to the MH. If you had one of those lithium 'power station' things that have a built-in charger and inverter, it could be hooked up to the EHU inlet and could trickle charge the starter battery that way. Could you persuade/pay them to connect it up every couple of weeks, and then recharge the power station? Or maybe your daughter might be able to do that, or someone else you know.

 

[Tim McGann]

The storage people presumably have keys to the MH. If you had one of those lithium 'power station' things that have a built-in charger and inverter, it could be hooked up to the EHU inlet and could trickle charge the starter battery that way. Could you persuade/pay them to connect it up every couple of weeks, and then recharge the power station? Or maybe your daughter might be able to do that, or someone else you know.

Best thought yet! I'll look into it. I knew I'd get some good ideas here. Thanks.

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[Golfingmuso]

I have stored my MH here from Sept to May for several years (cost €405/yr) Storage is in a dry old wood factory with skylights in the roof. So with a solar panel, my batteries were always ‘trickled’ and useable when I returned. The nearest airports are Biarritz or Bordeaux, which I guess flights from Amsterdam would be available, mainly in summer schedules ?
The camp site in same location as factory and can recommend it.
The factory holds about 50 English caravans, for Brits to travel there without towing & cost of ferry’s for their vans. & a couple of MH’s !
The location is ideal for Southern Europe.
Just a thought , as it has served me well.