Winter Storage

[Sunseeker]

Hi

We park our Motorhome up for about 4 months through the winter time. Over last couple of years, when we are ready to use it again I’ve given it a jump start, washed and freshen thing’s up ready to use again.

Just recently I’ve had to replace the Vehicle battery, which got me thinking, is it good to let it go flat or should I disconnect it as it is flattened by the Alarm, we have it stored on a secure site so the alarm becomes irrelevant.

What do you do with yours please !

Thanks

 

[Nirvanauk]

We take ours for a decent run every few weeks

 

[mikebeaches]

Letting the battery go flat will wreck it.

I reckon you need to try to take it for a decent run every few weeks. Good for the rest of the vehicle too - the tyres, the brakes, the clutch, the exhaust and getting the oil up to temperature is all best for it. Additionally, if you choose a bright fine day, it will 'air' the interior too.

Can't beat going out for a picnic on a crisp winter's day.

 

[Brains]

We have a solar panel and a battery master which trickle charges both batteries, so our batteries are always fully charged, even in the middle of winter.

I also make a point of taking the van for a run every few weeks, I never leave it longer than a month.

 

[autorouter]

Just recently I’ve had to replace the Vehicle battery, which got me thinking, is it good to let it go flat

When a battery discharges, the plate materials inside turn into sulfate, as part of the normal discharging process. When it is recharged, the sulfate turns back into the plate materials again. This is the standard chemical process inside any lead-acid battery.

If the battery is left in the discharged state for a long time. the sulfate slowly crystallizes, and the crystals are difficult to turn back into the plate materials again. So the battery gradually loses capacity.

A lead-acid battery needs to be brought up to 100% charge regularly, once a month for example if a battery is on the shelf in storage.

There are all kinds of ways to charge a battery like this. Apart from the obvious mains electric hookup, a solar panel, even a small one, will be enough to keep most batteries charged. You may need a dual solar controller if the solar is intended primarily to charge the leisure battery. Or a device like a BatteryMaster that gives the starter battery a trickle charge from the leisure battery, which can be charged by solar or mains.

If those don't work for you, one of those power packs, with a battery and inverter, plus a small mains trickle charger, can be used occasionally to top up the batteries.