Would love to hear back from the few Canadians that have to deal with ugly frigid temperatures (Alberta) as I am in the market for 3 new start batteries and a new isolator (200 amp). I am planning to plug the coach into a 15 A plugin for the house batteries and keep the start batteries up with a battery minder...
Any suggestions???
Peter
Get a trik l start on the isolator and let the 15 A do both and not have to have the battery minder
Mega TRIK-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer (http://www.lslproducts.net/TLSPage.html)
Keith
Peter, in general, AGM batteries will be ok when it gets cold. We are not in Canada but it has been at least -30° here in the winter. A small charge rate on the batteries will help, if they start fully charged then you only need a couple amps per battery. Use a smart multi step charger.
When it is time to start your coach at very cold temps turn on the diesel side of the Aqua Hot a day or so before starting and switch on the engine preheat loop overnight. Your engine and batteries will appreciate the much easier start.
If you disconnect AGMs or conventional batteries that are fully charged over the winter, they won't freeze. As I have used previously, the DieHard ad showed a battery frozen in a block of ice and then the ice chipped away and the battery started fine. Batteries are not as efficient when cold.
A battery only partially charged will freeze and be ruined. It takes minus 70 to freeze a fully charged batter. The colder it gets, the slower the self discharge untll the self discharge actually stops.
A conventional battery may self discharge in a month in summer.
Effect of Winter on Battery Self Discharge Photo Gallery by Compass Marine... (https://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/self_discharge)
Pierce
When my optima batteries died I replaced them with Odyssey AGM batteries I only needed two and it starts like a charm cold or warm. of course it's cold it's only been down to around 32° but it started just fine. But I did have to modify the battery box to take in the larger batterieswhich wasn't the easiest thing but I'm still glad I went with these batteries over the optimas. I also have a trickle charger AGN model to keep them topped off. Great batteries highly recommended.
I have the Redtops in right now and when they go I will look at the Silicone Batteries. I have just put in Silicone Batteries in for the
coach batteries. Are you using the coach in the winter, if not why not wait until spring for new batteries. I like the silicone batteries
as they don't lose any power in the cold and I ski so I use my coach all winter.
Link for the silicone batteries?
I am trying to get the link I will see if this works
Silicone Batteries (http://siliconebatteries.ca/) The first try didn't work I will see if this works. I'm not the greatest with a computer