I just switched storage facilities It is probably the best in the nation. Just opened at a cost of $7 million plus. BUT, to my surprise, after I paid a years worth of rent with no refund ( I didn't ask) here is my situation.
I have 3 brand new 8D Deka AGMs replacing 3 Deka Gels. I am told that all I will receive is 3 hours a day of charging from a 20 amp outlet. With the coach electrical power off, will there be enough electrical power supplied to keep the batteries at 100% charged? Te owner says that several engineers conspired to determine that there will be no issue.
Any thoughts would be helpful & appreciated.
Lou In Goodyear, AZ
No problem. 60A-H is way more than the parasitic drain. I'd be more concerned about someone tripping on the power cord and leaving you unplugged.
Make sure you add a battery tender or minder to keep the chassis battery charged.
The most safe solution is to disconnect the negative leads to both sets of batteries.
With the negatives disconnected they won't charge.
With the negatives disconnected they won't discharge either.
Actually, they
will slowly discharge, at a predictable rate, which is dependent on temperature. For example, see info linked below:
https://www.cdtechno.com/pdf/ref/41_7272_0112.pdf
Agree, have a couple of red top agm's I keep for emergencies, after 6 months they will drop from 12.6 to 12.2 volts. If you are storing the coach for a long period, would use the 3 hrs of charging and a battery combiner. Three hours a day should be more than enough. Just set your inverter/charger for 15 amp input.
20 amps at 120 volts for 3 hours (180 minutes) a day is not even close to being an issue for the batteries. LOL I think you hit the nail on the head that the engineers conspired on this project, to make a boatload of money to install the necessary components to accomplish this. Return on the investment about 1200 years +/- ^.^d
I believe simpler is better. Have a disconnect installed near both house and chassis batteries. I like to do the ground disconnects, for me, less chance of shorting out. Leave stored with these disconnected. Check in on your rv once in while and check battery voltage, charge as needed. This is the best way to know for sure they are being taken care of. Start out with them fully charged. You will be fine, with only occasionally topping off.
Of course this assumes you will occasionally be in the area of the motor home. Attached are mine I did last year. Like you, I have 3 East Penn made 8D AGM for house that I bought from Dan, (AC7880)., 2 GRP 34 AGM for chassis. For me they are too much to replace because of being careless, to just leave them unattended for the winter. Thankyou Dan (AC7880), for selling me your 8ds for the value of the core charge, made it a year now since meeting you at AM Solar, so I feel I am even at this point. Thank you also to the previous owner that properly took care of them and that now lets me continue to get the benefits of their capabilities.
Mine were stored this way thru last winter in Oregon. I did not have electricity on a post available. I would go down, check, and occasionally run my generator to charge thru my Xantrex Inverter/Charger. Yours will be easier since you actually will have electricity available to you on a post (or plug). I had the connect cables made at the local Interstate distributor. I ordered and used the following two disconnects for the house and chassis disconnects. This winter I am traveling without the rv, will charge both up to full, disconnect, and leave unattended for several months and charge to full when I return.
Amazon.com: Blue Sea Systems e-Series On/Off Battery Switch: Blue Sea... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MMC914/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) House, 350 AMP $36
Amazon.com: Blue Sea Systems HD-Series Heavy Duty On-Off Battery Switch:... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MMDLB6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) Chassis, 600 AMP $75
Simple answer is ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM.
Mannnnnny thanks to all for your comments. They were educational, insightful and most of comforting. Owning a Foretravel is a continual learning process for me. All your experiences shared are appreciated.
Thanks,
Lou De