batteries

[grassy]

Folks,

After a long and hard searching starting at toy haulers ..moving to Class Cs ..we ended up buying a Travel Trailer?

I gather a re-chargable battery runs most of the electrics, etc.? This is charged when being towed or when I plug the trailer in at home or at site.?

For winter storage, do I leave it plugged it ?? BTW, it gets fairly cold here in Nova Scotia.

Thanks.
Ian.

 

[Karl]

Ian,

Most folks use deep cycle golf cart or AGM's (absorbed glass mat) batteries in their rigs. They are designed for continual discharge/charge cycles and will stand up better than regular car batteries. That being said, you need to treat them kindly with respect to how deep you discharge them. There a re separate threads on this Forum specifically about that. Your batteries will NOT be recharged while towing unless you have wired in a special charging wire yourself. It doesn't do it thru the normal trailer towing wiring, so you have to rely on shore power and a converter (charger) to charge them, or carry a small generator with battery charging capability - like the Honda EU1000 or EU2000 (also provides 110V for appliances, etc.). Because batteries will drain themselves over a period of time due to internal resistance, it's best to have them hooked up to a 3-stage converter to keep them 'topped off' during long periods of storage. A 3-stage has 3 levels of charge; it goes into 'bulk' mode for a moderately/deeply discharged battery, then switches to 'acceptance' level to bring it up to full charge at a lesser voltage/amperage. Once fully charged, it goes into 'float' mode which is just enough to keep it at full charge without overcharging it. They can be had for as little as $40-60 U.S. If it gets REALLY, REALLY cold, you may want to bring it inside to avoid any chance of it freezing up and splitting the case or damaging the plates - but still use the converter. 

 

[Carl L]

For winter storage, do I leave it plugged it ?? BTW, it gets fairly cold here in Nova Scotia.

You have two choices.? Leave the trailer on shore power, or bring the batteries into a heated garage and put them on a trickle charger.? ?If you leave them outside and not on a charger, you will not have batteries by spring.

 

[grassy]

Thanks for your help..

We have purchased a generator (4000 W enclosed) to run the air and microwave  however, for the time being, I will leave it plugged into the how..when I say cold, I mean -10 C.

Cannot wait to use it next year.

Ian.