Can you store a coach with a trickle charger or do you in a few months find the engine or house batteries deteriorated if you do not run the engine periodically?
I figure it can be driven a bit every six weeks, good for other parts of the coach. But may be that is insufficient for the batteries to be dependable?
New circumstances has me examining a couple of options regarding our coach
I charge my start batteries for 6 months of the year without starting the big engine. I also am plugged into 15 amp shore power for that time. I have not had that issue with my batteries deteriorating, although I use a very good charger
Mike,
Yes, a balance between parasitic load and the charge rate of your small smart charger/maintainer.
The only accurate way it to check both battery banks with your digital voltmeter. If voltage after storing is 13.2-13.4 VDC, all is well.
If below it, charger or maintainer is not sufficient to offset battery drain.
If voltage is much above that, it is overcharging the batteries and perhaps not as smart as it should be.
So just trying to clarify for myself, if I use an adapter and plug into a regular 15 amp plug for storage, that should take care of house batteries. And then use a "smart" trickle charger for the start batteries. The indoor storage unit we are moving into this week has electric available, I have not had this option, if it is one, until now...thanks
Yes, your properly programmed smart inverter/charger (programmed for your battery technology, amp-hr batter bank size and if no remote battery temperature sense, to ambient temperature) will take care of the house bank. With 15 amp shore power service, "properly programmed" also means using the "power share" or "power save" inverter/ charger setting to limit the amps of 120 VAC. I usually use the 5 amp setting. That 5 amps of 120 VAC will provide up to 45 or so amps of 12 VAC-- so clearly will be well more than needed. The reason for the low amp setting is that if batteries are deeply discharged when you plug in and have a larger inverter/charger, it can, along with any other 120 VAC load on at the time trip the shore power breaker.
And, yes a smart, separate charger for the start battery bank is one of the several good options to maintain them.
Thanks Brett for clarification...
We chose to install a second 3-stage combination charger and power supply. For more than one reason.* It maintains the proper float voltage to prevent self discharge and stirs the electrolyte every 22 or so hours for 15 minutes to prevent stratification of the solution.
*Batteries are expensive.
It's identical to the house power converter so I have a back up in case of failure.
It can replace the alternator if that should ever decide not to play nice.
I don't have to think about it other than checking the level in my flooded cell batteries every 6 months.
Brett/bigoil76
That is exactly what I do with my coach in storage in Canadian winter. Smart charger, plugged into 15 amp with the inverter set at 5 amps. No issues, never a breaker trip and starts right up in the springy