wintering of battery and propane tank? - Fiberglass RV
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Old 10-20-2015, 12:01 PM   #1
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wintering of battery and propane tank?

Recommendations for how to store my new battery and propane tank over the winter months? I will be covering my Scamp with it's canvas "suit" and placing it under commercial roof-covered storage.

Recommendations for the new battery and propane tank? Do I leave them on the trailer (disconnected), or remove to an enclosed garage (not too keen on propane tank stored next to my car in tiny garage)? Weather predicted to be warmer this winter (El Nino) in Pacific NW but more rain.
Appreciate all responses. Thanks.
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Old 10-20-2015, 12:22 PM   #2
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I have a 2010 13' Scamp and never unhook the battery.

A charged battery will keep it from freezing. I highly recommend a "Smart battery charger/maintainer" such as the "Battery Tender". You can leave it plugged in indefinitely and it will not hurt the battery but will keep it maxed. Another option is to purchase the "Battery Wizard" if you have a Progressive Dynamic's converter. You will have to check it since it's a 2005. They used another brand as well. The BW works the same as the Battery Tender except you would have to keep the Scamp plugged in. That's why I opted for the Batt. Tender.

Propane? Cut it off at the bottle and leave it on the trailer. If you're not comfy with it in the garage (of course I have a natural gas water heater in my garage! ) you could always remove it and store it in an out building. I have mine in a closed-in lean-to behind my shop. NOT that I dont want to leave it on my Scamp in the winter, I just dont use propane unless I'm "boon docking".

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Originally Posted by M Scott View Post
Recommendations for how to store my new battery and propane tank over the winter months? I will be covering my Scamp with it's canvas "suit" and placing it under commercial roof-covered storage.

Recommendations for the new battery and propane tank? Do I leave them on the trailer (disconnected), or remove to an enclosed garage (not too keen on propane tank stored next to my car in tiny garage)? Weather predicted to be warmer this winter (El Nino) in Pacific NW but more rain.
Appreciate all responses. Thanks.
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Old 10-20-2015, 05:18 PM   #3
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no electricity

Battery Tender web site shows these units need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. There is no electricity where trailer is being stored,
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Old 10-20-2015, 05:42 PM   #4
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Hmmm. Propane tank got me thinking. I've already put my scamp into closed storage for the winter and never though to unscrew line from tank. Valve is closed of course. Well I could always take a little trip out to the lake and unscrew the line from the tank. I've never taken the bottle off for any storage, but perhaps I should?

Battery...I use a tender but no electricity won't work that. I think someone once told me to clean terminals really well and then put a big ziplock Baggie over them in a cold place. But I'll probably get beat up over that comment as I'm not sure how or why that helps.

Storage stuff is a lot to think about I know. Now I've got to think about propane.


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Old 10-20-2015, 05:54 PM   #5
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Propane tank can stay on the trailer. I put batteries in my basement and put them on a charger once a month or so.I do this with any piece of equipment I own that has a battery and doesn't get used in the winter.
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Old 10-20-2015, 05:58 PM   #6
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Worst thing I ever saw relating to propane tanks was when I worked for a fuel oil and propane supplier, a customer had put their 20 lb tank for their gas grill next to the furnace in their garage. And they just didn't get it when I told them that was a real bad idea.
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Old 10-20-2015, 06:03 PM   #7
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I think I've asked before, but I am sometimes easily confuzzled. My scamp battery, tractor battery are in my unheated garage all winter, sitting on workshop counter. I rotate the battery tender between each battery to maintain. Definitely get freezing temps here in Buffalo, NY area. This is OK right?


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Old 10-20-2015, 06:47 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CampyTime View Post
I think I've asked before, but I am sometimes easily confuzzled. My scamp battery, tractor battery are in my unheated garage all winter, sitting on workshop counter. I rotate the battery tender between each battery to maintain. Definitely get freezing temps here in Buffalo, NY area. This is OK right?


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A fully charged lead acid battery is good down to about -92 F. No worries as long as you keep them charged per your post.
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Old 10-20-2015, 08:24 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by M Scott View Post
Battery Tender web site shows these units need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. There is no electricity where trailer is being stored,
If you're going to pull the battery. Probably a good idea in your case. You'll need some method of keeping it charged. A Battery Minder will do that nicely in your garage or where ever you're storing the battery for the winter.
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Old 10-20-2015, 08:43 PM   #10
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battery tender

Great suggestions. What size battery tender should I get? I can store it in my garage with electrical connection. I stored another battery in garage last year, and it was totally dead this spring...had to buy a new battery.

Should I wrap the propane tank in fiberglass insulation after disconnecting?
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Old 10-20-2015, 09:29 PM   #11
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I found a deal on Amazon a few months ago where I got THREE of the "Battery Tender JRs" for $22 a piece delivered to my door....couldnt touch that price at Walmart where they were marked $34!!

The BT Jr will be fine for your application. And where there is no electricity, I would DEFINITELY remove my battery and take it to a location to where I could keep a "maintaining" charger on it. Someone mentioned a Battery Minder. I have one of the $160 ones because it "desulphates". Another conversation altogether.

Just DO NOT buy a cheap 12v "battery charger" to keep on the battery as it will FRY it. FWIW, the Battery Tender Jr. has a 5 yr warranty. That tells you something about the Deltran products.

Quote:
Originally Posted by M Scott View Post
Great suggestions. What size battery tender should I get? I can store it in my garage with electrical connection. I stored another battery in garage last year, and it was totally dead this spring...had to buy a new battery.

Should I wrap the propane tank in fiberglass insulation after disconnecting?
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Old 10-21-2015, 12:12 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by M Scott View Post
Recommendations for how to store my new battery and propane tank over the winter months? I will be covering my Scamp with it's canvas "suit" and placing it under commercial roof-covered storage.

Recommendations for the new battery and propane tank? Do I leave them on the trailer (disconnected), or remove to an enclosed garage (not too keen on propane tank stored next to my car in tiny garage)? Weather predicted to be warmer this winter (El Nino) in Pacific NW but more rain.
Appreciate all responses. Thanks.
I live a bit north of you and I have never taken the propane tank off the trailer. Most winters I also don't take the battery off the trailer either, especially since the last few winters have been very mild. Although I do try and remember to plug the trailer in for a day or two a month to keep the battery charged up. If we had an extreme weather forecast that was going to be well below freezing for a week or more I plug it in and leave it plugged in until the weather improves.

If I lived in Oregon and if no power available were I stored the trailer I would probable just put a small 5w solar panel on the battery and leave it there for the winter.
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Old 10-21-2015, 11:54 AM   #13
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Smile Watch out

Do NOT set your battery on concrete. It will cause it to go bad. Place a couple of short pieces of wooden 2x4 under it.
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Old 10-21-2015, 12:09 PM   #14
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Have you experienced this? Modern-day "plastic" batteries are not affected.

ASK THE EXPERTS: Batteries on Concrete | Home Power Magazine

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Do NOT set your battery on concrete. It will cause it to go bad. Place a couple of short pieces of wooden 2x4 under it.
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Old 10-21-2015, 01:24 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M Scott View Post
Recommendations for how to store my new battery and propane tank over the winter months? I will be covering my Scamp with it's canvas "suit" and placing it under commercial roof-covered storage.

Recommendations for the new battery and propane tank? Do I leave them on the trailer (disconnected), or remove to an enclosed garage (not too keen on propane tank stored next to my car in tiny garage)? Weather predicted to be warmer this winter (El Nino) in Pacific NW but more rain.
Appreciate all responses. Thanks.
No need to fret about the battery. As another one said, a fully charged battery will not freeze. Just make sure the top of it is clean and dry. And you can disconnect the negative cable to be sure there is no trickle load on it.
The propane bottles stay hooked up and shut off.
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Old 10-21-2015, 02:25 PM   #16
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Never store a propane tank indoors. You will find it is a violation of the Fire Codes in most states. Insurance companies will void your policy and deny claim if evidence of a propane tank is discovered after a fire loss.

Leave your propane tank on the trailer in a well ventilated location...valve off.
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Old 10-21-2015, 03:55 PM   #17
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Marilyn,
Below is a link to a 10 watt solar panel with a PWM controller and the necessary connectors to keep your battery charged all winter. Just disconnect your trailer wiring, connect this to your battery, set the solar panel out in the sun and you're good to go for the winter - and the price is right [$50 from Amazon]. Moreover, it will be available during the summer to "help" with maintaining your battery while camping.
Rick

Instapark® NEW All Black 10W Mono-crystalline Solar Panel with 12V Solar Charge Controller
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Old 10-21-2015, 05:31 PM   #18
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Darral: is this the unit you suggest? Amazon Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger @ $24.95.
I looked at Battery Tender.com and they can't ship these to CA or OR.

Would you leave it plugged in 24/7?
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Old 10-21-2015, 08:00 PM   #19
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Charge the Battery
clean the top
place a shower cap over the top
place on a shelf
retrieve in the spring.

The battery should hold a charge as long as there is no conductive path from the positive to the negative posts. Cleaning the top will pretty much accomplish this, and the shower cap will pretty much keep the battery top clean.
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Old 10-21-2015, 11:31 PM   #20
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Yes, that's the one. I own three of them. I have one on a model airplane toolbox battery (gel cel), one on my riding mower and one on my Scamp as I type. It stays plugged in 24/7. I've lost a couple of batteries (not the Scamp) because of lack of use through the winter. When these chargers are in "maintain" mode, they pull VERY little current.

In the past, I would go down about once a month during the winter and plug in my Scamp for a day or so to make sure my battery stayed topped off. But I dont with this charger. The led is red when it's charging. When it gets near the max charge, it will start blinking green. When the led is solid green, it's in a "maintain" mode. The instructions that come with them explains it thoroughly.

Alot of people will use cheaper chargers like from Harbor Freight. I personally dont trust them- I do the Battery Tender. Again, the warranty speaks very well for this product.

Quote:
Originally Posted by M Scott View Post
Darral: is this the unit you suggest? Amazon Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger @ $24.95.
I looked at Battery Tender.com and they can't ship these to CA or OR.

Would you leave it plugged in 24/7?
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