Battery winterizing

[Davkat]

I plan to store my Montana 3121RL in an unheated building with 120vt outlets. Will the battery stay charged plugging into 120vt using an adapter with my 50 amp power cord. Thanks Dave

[Foldbak]

Yes they will continue to charge on 20 amps. Are they lead acid or lithium? The new converters are smart chargers but I'm not sure how smart. Meaning if you have LA batteries you run the risk of over charging them. If it were me I'd turn off the battery disconnect if you're storing for extended periods of time.


If their lithium you can leave them on and plugged in as long as it doesn't get below 32 degrees.

[mlh]

Yes. I do that all the time winter and summer.
Lynwood

[Davkat]

Thanks for the replies, i have two LA deep cycle batteries that does the job for us. Here in the midwest we can have some -0 temps days but most winters can be pretty mild (we'll probably get smacked since I said this) ��

[RMcNeal]

For the Lead Acid batteries, you can store them fully charged even in freezing temps with no ill effects. You can also keep the converter charging them, just be sure to check them from time to time to top off the electrolyte. It's possible over time that too much can boil off when charging. If the plate inside is exposed, add distilled water to cover it and you should be fine.

[rames14]

Dave, we have done it both ways without issue. Very good suggestions already, but just a caution. If you do not plug it in, remove the ground wire from the battery and it removes any parasitic loads that could discharge your battery. If you leave it plugged in, make sure water in batteries stay topped off and that the battery switch is on (can’t pull the key out). That would turn the charger off. We had service done one winter at a dealer and 4 golf cart batteries ruptured. Enjoy the rest from camping season.

[Davkat]

Ron, good points. I do plan to keep plugged in to 120vt through winter months and not worried about over charging. I do have a question, if I would decide to disconnect the negative terminal I heard I would have to do a reset procedure on the Level Up system that I really don't want to mess with is this true.

[rames14]

If your system is working correctly, it should have non-volatile memory to maintain the settings. Otherwise, every time someone changed a battery they would need to reset the level up system.

[MandK]

As Ron said, you do not need to reset anything after disconnecting the battery. I store my 3121 at a storage yard when not using it and power is not available. I installed a battery shut-off on the negative cable so that the battery is completely disconnected from all loads. If I visit the yard to do something, it's just a flick of the switch. I have left my coach for months at a time this way (it's actually my preferred way to leave it, nothing to think about in my absence) with no problems. Healthy charged batteries will not be damaged by freezing (within reason). As said, no problem leaving it plugged in either, but remember to periodically check the batteries to be sure the water isn't depleting.

[J.Fish]

I'm in the minority here. Depending on where you live and how cold it gets I pull my Trojan batteries. I store inside unheated in WI. Plugged in and charging I have froze and bulged batteries before.