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10-30-2019, 02:59 AM #1
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Are cheap solar battery chargers safe over Winter
I won't use my tt for a couple months and I am afraid the battery will discharge. I don't have an outlet close and prefer not to remove the battery.
I have seen the little mini solar panels for car batteries sold at Harbor Freight. Are these safe for my battery?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk2016 Ford F-150
2020 Grand Design 2500RL
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10-30-2019, 07:01 AM #2
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Probably not big enough to do any harm or good. The 1.5W version will supply about 100mA in bright, direct sun. The 25W panel will give you 2A, but no charge controller.
How far are you from power?John & Kathy
2014 F250 Lariat FX4 6.2L SBCC
2014 Reflection 303RLS
SW Indiana
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10-30-2019, 07:03 AM #3
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Maybe 50 feet. Trying to not have an extension cord sprawled across my driveway. If it has to be that I would rather pull the battery and keep it on a charger in the garage.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk2016 Ford F-150
2020 Grand Design 2500RL
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10-30-2019, 08:16 AM #4
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For a couple of months, your battery will probably retain charge if you just disconnect it - remove at least the negative cable from the battery.
If you don't do that, and your trailer is like a lot of other Grand Designs, it will be drawing a power even when the battery kill switch is turned off. Some things such as smoke and propane alarms are wired to stay powered even when the kill switch is off and will often drain the battery flat in a few weeks.Mark - 2018 Solitude 310GK - 2017 F-350 diesel SRW short box - Pullrite Superglide hitch
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10-30-2019, 08:26 AM #5
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I'd think a kit that comes with a controller would be better for the battery, maybe something like this one
Marcy & Gary
2014 Grand Design - Reflection 303RLS
2022 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax Longbed SRW
2015 GMC Denali 3500 - Retired
2003 F350 - retired
Michigan
We're in trouble now, the dog are bloggin'!
https://3dogsandatrailer.wordpress.com/
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10-30-2019, 08:56 AM #6
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Cold weather is not that hard on batteries. Hot weather actually is the killer of batteries. Rob has posted on here several times of leaving the battery out in the cold and how it will hold up. He has a boat in Canada that he leaves outside for the winter and has never had it die on him.
Last edited by WhittleBurner; 10-30-2019 at 04:09 PM.
Marcy & Gary
2014 Grand Design - Reflection 303RLS
2022 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax Longbed SRW
2015 GMC Denali 3500 - Retired
2003 F350 - retired
Michigan
We're in trouble now, the dog are bloggin'!
https://3dogsandatrailer.wordpress.com/
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10-30-2019, 09:10 AM #7
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When we were recreational RV'ers and still had our house, I pulled the batteries and stored them in the garage on a trickle charge. Having said that boyscout's reply has merit and worth considering.
Regards, Bruce, Lin An, Kenji & Suki (Our two Akitas)
2019 Solitude 310GK-R
2015 Ram 3500 Big Horn CC, TD, Aisin Tranny, DRW
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10-30-2019, 09:26 AM #8
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John & Kathy
2014 F250 Lariat FX4 6.2L SBCC
2014 Reflection 303RLS
SW Indiana
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10-30-2019, 10:13 AM #9
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Absolutely true.
Just make sure that if you go with a (cheapo) charge controller, you monitor that it's functioning all winter long. As others have said, there are parasitic loads in the RV that will drain your batteries in a matter of weeks. A non-lithium based battery that is discharged more that 50% will likely be damaged. My first solar charge controller was a cheapo, made in China thing. It failed and I didn't know it had happened. I had damage.
Now, I completely disconnect the batteries all winter (below zero Minnesota temps) and re-activate the solar charging a few weeks before our first trip in spring.
-SteveSteve and Renee
2018 Solitude 310GK, disc brakes, Morryde SRE4000/XFactor with heavy duty shackles
2012 Ram 3500 SRW 6.7 Diesel, air bags
18k B&W Companion, non-slider
640 watts solar, 400 amp-hour Lion Safari UT 1300 battery bank
Aims 1500 watt inverter/charger with ATS
Somerset, WI
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10-30-2019, 11:24 AM #10
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I just put in a disconnect switch right at my battery. It cuts off everything.
As has been stated the battery can take the cold months very well. Summer months not so much.Jim T.
Broken leafspring. Another….
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