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09-25-2022, 05:17 PM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Bloomington
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #22743
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Batteries for Dummies
Is there a simple, foolproof type of battery to buy and maintain for a 5th wheel? Due to family health issues, my trailer is only getting used once or twice a year for a few days each. I think I've ruined a good pair of 2-year-old Interstate lead-acid batteries by allowing them to drain completely, not realizing I had maybe a couple options available to me to keep that from happening, I only know about those options now because a recent acquaintance who is an RV mechanic was nice enough to come out to my storage location to help with a different matter.
I would like to get away from having to maintain battery water levels.
I would like to be able to park the trailer and not have to worry about the batteries. Is that possible?
I am capable of hooking up a trickle charger if I have to. BUT, is there a way to do so which doesn't require checking things every so often? It would be really great if there was a means of monitoring the system remotely, without having to visit the storage facility to see if the power's still on, if the charger is working, etc.
I believe I am now capable of disconnecting the batteries if I have to.
I do not want to have to remove the batteries from the trailer.
I live in Illinois, so cold winters are a reality.
We don't dry camp much/at all. We would possibly stop overnight at a Walmart or Cracker Barrel, but only if weather conditions are so ideal that we wouldn't have to use the HVAC. The couple of times we've tried it, the batteries have been insufficient to get us through the night.
What is the simplest, most foolproof, most reliable solution? TIA!!
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09-25-2022, 05:34 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,190
M.O.C. #1920
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Add a simple battery disconnect on the ground OR remove the ground wire when not using it. Or, leave a Solar/shore trickle charger on it.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames plus Meg - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar+ Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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09-25-2022, 06:16 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,702
M.O.C. #2283
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I have several batterie maintenance changers I got from Interstate battery. They are Ctec. They have never boiled the water out of a battery and have never had a battery go bad while on one. My camper and truck like yours sets for months at a time. Ctec chargers are expensive about $90 and up but you get what you pay for.
Lynwood
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09-25-2022, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,758
M.O.C. #4831
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The best solution for your situation, where you can't depend on the power in the storage facility and don't want to make trips to it to check, is to install AGM batteries (no maintenance, so no water level worries), and as Rames14 wrote, a disconnect switch on the negative terminal.
The batteries will hold their charge all winter assuming they are close to being fully charged when put away.
The disconnect switch stops the parasitic 12V drains. You could just disconnect/connect the negative cable but that gets old. A disconnect switch is easier and not expensive.
The AGMs eliminate checking water levels. Lead acid batteries will work in place of AGMs and shouldn't loose water in storage but still need to be checked once placed back into use.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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09-25-2022, 07:20 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: woodstock
Posts: 565
M.O.C. #8174
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There is a battery disconnect in the water hook up area
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Ed
Montana Master
Woodstock Ga
2020 3931 FB Legacy
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09-25-2022, 08:58 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,108
M.O.C. #20477
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Concur with Carl.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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09-25-2022, 09:27 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 3,056
M.O.C. #5651
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Wed, No this isn't a disconnect. The things like propane detector and a few other things will still drain a battery in a few weeks. You must disconnect the battery itself.
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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11-13-2022, 07:49 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Aptos
Posts: 430
M.O.C. #11462
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The 5er battery disconnect leaves a battery drain to the CO detector in kitchen.
Best solution is to get a battery disconnect switch at your local auto parts store. This is a positive battery disconnect without having to remove batteries. Works great for me.
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11-13-2022, 05:25 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,928
M.O.C. #24086
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wed
There is a battery disconnect in the water hook up area
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Yeah, that doesn't entirely disconnect the batteries from the loads.
The Propane detector and CO detector are hard wired into the batteries.
The best way is to disconnect the negative battery terminal.
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11-13-2022, 10:04 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Aptos
Posts: 430
M.O.C. #11462
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The switch works better for me. No wrenches to look for, just lift disconnect arm to disconnect, drop lever arm to reconnect.
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11-14-2022, 09:36 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,836
M.O.C. #22835
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I'm still using the same factory installed (or dealer installed) lead batteries after, over, 4 years now. I have NEVER added a single drop of water to the batteries. My camper has been plugged in 24x7x(almost 365)... The only exception is when actually driving on the road. My on-board converter keeps mine charged, never had an issue ... and did I mention ... I have never had to add a drop of water!
Sometimes, because of my good fortune, I just don't understand battery problems.
For the OP... owning an RV requires maintenance. It's like having kids. Kids are not just something you bring into the world and once they are here, you set them on a trophy shelf and that's it. They require 7x24x365 attention.
Your camper is a high profile maintenance item too. It cannot, nor will it NEVER be a "plug and play" item. Like kids, they demand 24 hour 365 days attention if you want to keep them nice. There's no short cut. When this becomes too much of a burden, then it's time to sell it (unlike your kids that you just "wish" you could send them off for adoption!)
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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11-14-2022, 09:38 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: LYNDEN
Posts: 286
M.O.C. #30751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl n Susan
The best solution for your situation, where you can't depend on the power in the storage facility and don't want to make trips to it to check, is to install AGM batteries (no maintenance, so no water level worries), and as Rames14 wrote, a disconnect switch on the negative terminal.
The batteries will hold their charge all winter assuming they are close to being fully charged when put away.
The disconnect switch stops the parasitic 12V drains. You could just disconnect/connect the negative cable but that gets old. A disconnect switch is easier and not expensive.
The AGMs eliminate checking water levels. Lead acid batteries will work in place of AGMs and shouldn't loose water in storage but still need to be checked once placed back into use.
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I agree 100% but use caution buying the AGM's. Buy good quality and expect to pay a reasonable price for them. My next purchase along with a disconnect switch.
__________________
2003 Holiday Rambler Navigator 43PKD 500HP 11L Cummins ISM
2005 Keystone Montana 2955RL (sold)
1999 F350 SC (sold)
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03-05-2023, 05:31 AM
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#13
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Chilhowie
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #32322
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My recommendation is to replace lead-acid batteries with Lithium. A 100 amp-hour lead acid battery should only be discharged to 50%. This gives you 50 amp-hours of capacity. A good lithium battery can be discharged to 10%, some even lower. This gives you, effectively, 90 amp-hours of capacity. Also, the lithium batteries have a much longer life; as much as 10 years or more. You may pay more for the lithium batteries but over time you may end up spending the same but have twice the capacity.
2022 Montana High Country, 295RL, 200 watt solar, dual 100 amp lithium, 2019 RAM 2500 6.7 Cummins, retired Air Force
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