Battery over the winter

RSWO

Guest
I am running a humidifier in the van to prevent any dampness. Would it be better to keep my battery in the van if Im plugging my van into the mains over the winter or take it out and store/service over the winter?
 
Leave it in on charge as long as the battery is inboard and you are running some kind of trace heating to keep things above freezing. Batteries don't like getting frozen or discharged. The longer for either condition, the worse for the battery.
 
Firefox said:
Leave it in on charge as long as the battery is inboard and you are running some kind of trace heating to keep things above freezing. Batteries don't like getting frozen or discharged. The longer for either condition, the worse for the battery.
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I was worrying about the same thing, could you tell me what you mean by trace heating so I can make sure I do it ?

Thanks Andrew.
 
Mostly depends on what sort of mains charger you have installed. A quality multistage unit will keep the battery fully charged without overcharging and that will mean the battery electrolyte won't freeze unless you live in a very cold place.

Still needs monitoring though - the battery may discharge quickly if the electric panel is on and once it is flat, the water will quickly freeze..
 
Trace heating is some low wattage background heating to keep the van above freezing. You could use for example one of those 400W oil filled radiators on a timer switch if you've got power. This will also help keep condensation and damp down, basically protecting your asset.

I know vehicle batteries get very cold but if used every day they don't freeze for months on end like caravan batteries. If possible try to run the engine every week for 15 mins to keep the engine battery topped up. I can charge my engine battery from my caravan side charger when stationary, but most people won't be able to do that as they will be using a split charge relay.

As for checking your vehicle is charging off the mains, wait till night. Use some lights for 30 mins and then check the voltage across your battery. It should read 13.5 to 14 v or so if your mains charger is topping up as it should be after using some power.
 
Measure battery voltage at night with no power connected, then with power connected, you should see a voltage increase.

Unless you are parked under VERY bright street lights, the solar won't be generating any power. If the street lights are causing the solar panels to generate - Yipee, you're getting something from the council for free!!
 
Bigpeetee said:
Measure battery voltage at night with no power connected, then with power connected, you should see a voltage increase.

Unless you are parked under VERY bright street lights, the solar won't be generating any power. If the street lights are causing the solar panels to generate - Yipee, you're getting something from the council for free!!
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Cheers Ive got a slight problem at the moment: house.jpg

my house

:wacko::wacko:
 
Firefox said:
I know vehicle batteries get very cold but if used every day they don't freeze for months on end like caravan batteries. If possible try to run the engine every week for 15 mins to keep the engine battery topped up. I can charge my engine battery from my caravan side charger when stationary, but most people won't be able to do that as they will be using a split charge relay.
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Oh dear: this thread has got me worried as I had no idea cold weather could do so much damage to batteries. My car didn't get used much at all last winter: got snowed in in November, ended up with flat battery, and by then I was so ill I didn't feel like driving/ had started to lose confidence. By June the battery was getting seriously ill (I had the alternator replaced as that was the problem that was diagnosed, but now not so sure.....?) and in August I had to get a new one (together with a new one for my camper, which had also died a death (though I didn't own it last winter so bear no responsibility for that!), and a leisure battery for the camper (it came without one)). Having borne the expense of three batteries in a month, I obviously want to look after them now.

Does what you have said mean that as long as I drive my van for 15 mins every week (must get back onto it: haven't driven it since the Farndon meet!) then my batteries will be OK through the winter, Firefox (and I can ignore all the complicated discussions about other things above ;-))?
 
Keep it charged

The freezing point of the sulphuric acid electrolyte varies with the concentration. The freezing point of the electrolyte in a discharged battery is high enough to be significant during normal winter weather, while that of a fully charged battery at 1.250 specific gravity is low enough to be safe under all weather conditions. These points are of importance in the storage and operation of battery under severe cold weather conditions.

Message - keep it charged

IanM
 
iwm said:
The freezing point of the sulphuric acid electrolyte varies with the concentration. The freezing point of the electrolyte in a discharged battery is high enough to be significant during normal winter weather, while that of a fully charged battery at 1.250 specific gravity is low enough to be safe under all weather conditions. These points are of importance in the storage and operation of battery under severe cold weather conditions.

Message - keep it charged

IanM
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I disconnect my battery(fully charged) when I am away for 3 months or more. To date, after returning back from holiday, I connect it and it starts up first time. Question is, Is it correct to disconnect when not in use for long periods? So far I may have been lucky.
 
I was trying to be very careful this winter and have had my van on trickle charge from the mains ala campsite fashion. However, today all batteries are flat as flat. It would seem that some days ago my son had disconnected the mains lead. So - my question is, if the van's electric panel has been on for some days, though no electrics running in van, would that be enough to drain the leisure and the engine batteries? Ideas, anyone?
 
bigkat007 said:
I was trying to be very careful this winter and have had my van on trickle charge from the mains ala campsite fashion. However, today all batteries are flat as flat. It would seem that some days ago my son had disconnected the mains lead. So - my question is, if the van's electric panel has been on for some days, though no electrics running in van, would that be enough to drain the leisure and the engine batteries? Ideas, anyone?
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Its not just the electric panel, its the radio and anything that is live when you are not using the MH.

these voltages are quite small, but over time, they do drain the battery, a good conditioned battery will last longer than a battery that has been abused by previously letting it go flat.

Solar can help the situation, as can leaving on mains hook up and occasionally charging the battery, no need to have it on 24/7 365 days of the year.
 
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