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Old 10-26-2013, 07:06 AM   #1
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Winter and battery

Hi,
My uhaul has the original (10 watts?) solar panel.
Panel still works fine and does a good job of keeping the battery charged in the summer....would this be enough to maintain my battery if i leave it in my trailer during winter?
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Old 10-26-2013, 08:14 AM   #2
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Same sun, just not there as long!
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Old 10-26-2013, 08:33 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by tartosuc View Post
Hi,
My uhaul has the original (10 watts?) solar panel.
Panel still works fine and does a good job of keeping the battery charged in the summer....would this be enough to maintain my battery if i leave it in my trailer during winter?
I think it would, especially if there is no draw on it at all. Maybe just check the voltage once in a while.
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Old 10-26-2013, 09:38 AM   #4
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Same sun, just not there as long!
A little further away and at a slightly different angle. Still probably puts out more than your average trickle charger on an unused battery.
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Old 10-26-2013, 09:42 AM   #5
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What about the cold?
Theses batteries are filled with water....
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Old 10-26-2013, 10:11 AM   #6
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And sulfuric acid. Lowers the freezing point. Think ions - like salt.
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Old 10-26-2013, 10:12 AM   #7
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A fully charged battery won't freeze. I have several batteries that don't get used in the winter, I put them in my basement where it's warm, put a charger on them for several hours every couple months. Some vintage car people, and camper owners, like to use a "battery tender" type charger and leave it on all the time. I don't like that idea as I've heard of a couple cases where the charger malfunctioned and started a fire. I don't have any type of charger connected unless I'm nearby. But it's the case of, what works for you.
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Old 10-26-2013, 12:35 PM   #8
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We left our batteries in our RV all winter outside with the convertor on and they survived NH winters without issue. We did have to add some distilled water each spring.
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Old 10-26-2013, 12:45 PM   #9
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Thanks all for your information
I just went to the local battery expert this for advise .
So my plan is.:
-get the battery charge with a charger first .
- Leave the battery in the uhaul and leave it connecetd with solar panel to maintain.
- Do a voltage check every month, and do an over night charge to top it off with the onboard generator.

Should work good
Tommorrow i'm building a "A" frame wood structure with tarps over the uhaul
I will be using old white windsails with big transparent windows. I will place one window over the solar panel .
There should be plenty of light coming into the solar panel.
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Old 10-26-2013, 02:32 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by mary and bob View Post
A fully charged battery won't freeze. I have several batteries that don't get used in the winter, I put them in my basement where it's warm, put a charger on them for several hours every couple months. Some vintage car people, and camper owners, like to use a "battery tender" type charger and leave it on all the time. I don't like that idea as I've heard of a couple cases where the charger malfunctioned and started a fire. I don't have any type of charger connected unless I'm nearby. But it's the case of, what works for you.
ANYTHING will freeze given a low enough temperature.

How to Store Batteries – Battery University
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Old 10-26-2013, 03:36 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by tartosuc View Post
Thanks all for your information
I just went to the local battery expert this for advise .
So my plan is.:
-get the battery charge with a charger first .
- Leave the battery in the uhaul and leave it connecetd with solar panel to maintain.
- Do a voltage check every month, and do an over night charge to top it off with the onboard generator.

Should work good
Tommorrow i'm building a "A" frame wood structure with tarps over the uhaul
I will be using old white windsails with big transparent windows. I will place one window over the solar panel .
There should be plenty of light coming into the solar panel.
Sounds like you are tucking it in nicely.

Your battery will winter well with that care. We all successfully keep lead acid batteries in our cars through the winter, just as we can with our trailers.
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Old 10-26-2013, 05:33 PM   #12
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Mine is still running on and on and on... the PO must have gotten a good one from wally world. I plug in the camper a couple of times during the winter is all.
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Old 10-27-2013, 03:09 PM   #13
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Heres what i've build... I plan to put sides also.
I could not get a window aligned over the solar panel, there still some light going in when the sun is above so it shuld be just enough to keep the battery active.

The setup is different than what i had plan at first, but this one will leave me enough space to paint the rv in the spring woch is a good thing.


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Old 10-27-2013, 06:34 PM   #14
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Looks good....should work for you.
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Old 10-30-2013, 02:44 PM   #15
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Reconsider that framework

Bernard,

While the concept is fine, the framework has very little lateral or snow load support. If that comes down due to heavy snow, you will have a bigger problem than just a battery. Cracked egg shell comes to mind.

May be safer just to remove the battery and store it in the garage.

Jim
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Old 10-30-2013, 02:54 PM   #16
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Bernard,

While the concept is fine, the framework had very little lateral or snow load support. If that comes down due to heavy snow, you will have a bigger problem than just a battery. Cracked egg shell comes to mind. May be safer just to remove the battery and store it in the garage.

Jim
i'm not done with it, i will add more wood to the structure and maybe tarps on the sides but i,m not sure about the tarps yet, it has nothing to do with the battery itself it has to do with storage location.(i'have instaled and maintain a lot of car winter shelter in my life, i have a good idea of what i need to do.)

The roof structre is there to prevent branches from the surounding trees to fall on the egg..we have giant trees in the back yard and pickup lots of braches during the wnter..
The snow that will fall oon the roof will be removed and i plan on maintaining(removing snow) the sides also.
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Old 10-30-2013, 05:47 PM   #17
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Just like Honda said: We left our batteries in our RV all winter outside with the converter on and they survived NH winters without issue. We did have to add some distilled water each spring.

We do the same, have done it for over 6 years and all is well. Add distilled water each camping season.
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Old 11-02-2013, 03:51 PM   #18
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Well my setup has been tested yesterday, 65mph winds everywhere in the province, broken trees, powerlines down torn roof, etc.... My cover did not move an inch,
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