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Old 11-18-2020, 07:12 PM   #21
Jamesb
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I disconnect the batteries and put them on a trickle and battery conditioner all winter. But leave them in place. Better for the batteries and never have to worry about adding water. I really don’t trust enough to leave the FW energized for months unattended.
 
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Old 11-18-2020, 07:15 PM   #22
MONTANA_3790
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I can't keep it plugged in all the time. So, I actually take the 6V AGM batteries out and keep on 8 stage charger. These batteries are either on the charger or the unit is plugged in 99% of the time.
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Old 11-19-2020, 05:15 AM   #23
jeffba
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If you look at your manual for the converter, it will tell you about all of the charging stages it has. Ours would be fine to leave plugged in if we could.
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Old 11-19-2020, 06:53 AM   #24
steiny93
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definitely don't leave it plugged in
charge the batteries then disconnect the negative and leave them sit

the reason,
if you have an equipment failure or damage (rodents for example) you can easily have a fire, rather common
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Old 11-19-2020, 07:36 AM   #25
beekeeper.va
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Just for info, Northern Tool has a 1 amp, 6 stage battery minder on sale for $25. About half the usual price.
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Old 11-19-2020, 10:42 AM   #26
awheeler
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We keep a dehumidifier running 24/7, so it is always plugged in.
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Old 11-19-2020, 02:02 PM   #27
Creeker
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I've read a fully charged lead acid battery has a freezing point at around -80F to -90F. Even at only 40% SOC its freezing point is around -15F to -20F.

This is the reason I unplug ours and top charge them several times during the winter. I have zero worries of freezing. However, they will slowly discharge over winter and do need top charged to keep the lead sulfate from hardening and crystalizing on the plates.

This lead sulfate is a normal process during every discharge cycle. It is easily converted back to lead and acid if the battery is recharged soon after use. The longer it stays without being recharged the less it converts back and shortens battery life.

Charge those lead acid batteries a few times through the winter!
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Old 11-19-2020, 07:24 PM   #28
Jamesb
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If I ever saw -15 or -20 F, I’d let the batteries freeze, and get the heck outta there
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Old 11-20-2020, 05:29 AM   #29
jeffba
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Well I do not have to worry about Batteries freezing in Texas
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Old 11-20-2020, 06:00 AM   #30
Drdon1057
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We keep ours plugged in 365. But when we had our other campers I had a 10 dollar Harbor Freight battery tender hooked up with battery neg. cable disconnected. I found with the AGM batteries that the trickle charger was the best way to go. Uses very little electricity and kept them from freezing.Good Luck and Happy Trails
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