Winter and Batteries

[docque]

We are going to store the TT in the back 40 this year and I know the battery will lose its charge over time. So, I am going to remove it for the Winter and place it in the basement along with the other batteries (mowers). But here are the questions.

This is a deep cycle battery, do I need to put it on a trickle charger for the Winter? Is there a size/rating for that trickle charger?

Do I just shut of the battery disconnect or do I need to do other things? Like turn off the solar?

Should all the batteries be treated the same? Lead Acid, AGM, etc?

[jkwilson]

A conventional flooded cell will need to be topped off a couple of times over the winter. An AGM can be left sitting over the winter if it’s disconnected from any load. Cold temperatures are good for the batteries as long as they are fully charged. Warmer temperatures accelerate self-discharge.

I wouldn’t put a trickle charger on a battery. The term is too vague. If it’s a charger than shuts down completely or drops to 1A upon completion of charging, it would be acceptable, but constant charging can result in loss of electrolyte.

[docque]

A conventional flooded cell will need to be topped off a couple of times over the winter. An AGM can be left sitting over the winter if it’s disconnected from any load. Cold temperatures are good for the batteries as long as they are fully charged. Warmer temperatures accelerate self-discharge.

I wouldn’t put a trickle charger on a battery. The term is too vague. If it’s a charger than shuts down completely or drops to 1A upon completion of charging, it would be acceptable, but constant charging can result in loss of electrolyte.

I think I am throwing it in the basement and hope for the best.

[sande005]

Depends on where you live. I'm a strong advocate for doing nothing. Check water levels, fully charge it, disconnect at the terminal, and just leave it. Been doing so for my flock of 6 batteries for almost 20 years now. Never do they come out of storage at below 85% full charge, and usually at 90 or above. Typically Oct-April. Most boat owners here in Minn. do the same. Had one I forgot about that went an entire year outside in storage, and still had 80%. Still use that one, at the 5 year mark now. My back thanks me, especially for the GC2's and the Grp 31 AGM's. Attached is a typical chart for the rate of self discharge for Lead Acids according to average temperature. Batteries love the cold. Fully charged, they don't freeze until -73F.
Worst is in hot climates - the high temps can greatly accelerate the self discharging. If I was in Arizona in the summer, I would take them inside.
There are good trickle chargers available, if one must. But most of the time, they are an additional expense, problem for making sure you have power, needing to make sure the batteries are not low on fluid periodically, and an off chance they could be hurt if the charger over charges....so why bother with the complication unless really needed?
Lithiums are even better, but it is kinder to store them in a state of discharge if not in use for a long period.

[Ynot4me2]

I second what @sande005 just said. Most of our summer toys are stored in shelters outside. I'm actually in the winterizing process as we speak. I make sure the LA gets a final full charge and are fully disconnected. TT, tractor, boat, lawnmower (electric start), DW Solstice..... Never had an issue. Come April/May they are all good.

[Hokensalem]

We are going to store the TT in the back 40 this year and I know the battery will lose its charge over time. So, I am going to remove it for the Winter and place it in the basement along with the other batteries (mowers). But here are the questions.

This is a deep cycle battery, do I need to put it on a trickle charger for the Winter? Is there a size/rating for that trickle charger?

Do I just shut of the battery disconnect or do I need to do other things? Like turn off the solar?

Should all the batteries be treated the same? Lead Acid, AGM, etc?

I remove my battery's when I winterize. I take them inside and keep them on a trickle charger. Really no reason to leave them on the trailer and they will last a lot longer.

[Hoopy Frood]

I remove my battery's when I winterize. I take them inside and keep them on a trickle charger. Really no reason to leave them on the trailer and they will last a lot longer.

You'll get a lot of arguments about that.

[docque]

You'll get a lot of arguments about that.

There are tons of opinions here. I live in Upstate NY and I know from experience that if I leave the battery outside and disconnected, it will be dead come Spring. I would prefer not to go through feet of snow and freeze my butt off to check levels. That is why they invented basements. Heck, I had a daily driver that the battery froze in when it dropped way below freezing.

I don't know about trickle chargers and do not see if there is a difference so I will just throw it in the basement and hope for the best.

[Hitsman3]

Just winterized ours for the year. Doesn't get super cold here like other parts of the country or Canada. I set the heater @ 40 degrees & fill the propane a couple times through out the winter months. For the past couple of years I have just left the batteries connected. Trailer is plugged into shore power. Should I be disconnecting them & bringing them into the garage? Not sure how that would be any different than leaving them on the trailer? Should I just disconnect them by using the battery disconnect switch? Or just leave as is?

[sande005]

There are tons of opinions here. I live in Upstate NY and I know from experience that if I leave the battery outside and disconnected, it will be dead come Spring. I would prefer not to go through feet of snow and freeze my butt off to check levels. That is why they invented basements. Heck, I had a daily driver that the battery froze in when it dropped way below freezing.

I don't know about trickle chargers and do not see if there is a difference so I will just throw it in the basement and hope for the best.

One definition of "opinion": "An opinion is a person's belief, feeling, or judgment about something. It is a subjective or value judgment, and it cannot be proven." "A fact is a statement that can be tested by experimentation, observation, or research and shown to be true or untrue."
We can disagree about how much and what kind of observation or research is needed to accept something as a fact.
Your observations are counter to mine, so we disagree about the facts.
I wonder, however about your details - was the battery outside completely disconnected? Or was there a bit of draw that accelerated its loss? Was it fully charged and otherwise in good condition to begin with? If completely disconnected, there is never a need to go through feet of snow to check levels. Electrolyte doesn't just evaporate to any measurable degree in a season or a year (a fact). Fully charged batteries cannot freeze until they get to -73F. (a fact). But if it was heavily discharged (cranking an engine for long periods in the cold) and not then fully charged...it could freeze. Storing in a basement WILL accelerate how fast it self discharges, if the basement is warmer than outdoors. But likely not to any critical point - depending on the temp of the basement, and the length of time. So no harm, just not any help. And a hassle to disconnect and lug back and forth.