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Topic: Storage plan ok? (Read 870 times) previous topic - next topic

Storage plan ok?

I will be storing the coach for 3-4 week periods in an enclosed building with 15 amp available.  Since this is the first time doing this I want to do everything possible to not come back to dead house or coach batteries.

So after connecting to the 15 amp shore power:
1 - Power off the fridge

2 - turn off 12v DC at door (pic 1 - not turned off yet)

3 - turn off inverter (invert and standby light off) but leave charger on (ready lit) for house batteries (pic 2)

4 - turn off coach starting batteries at disconnect switch (pic 3 - not turned off yet)

Assuming that all batteries are fully charged going into storage and no power outages is there anything else I need to do? 
The selected media item is not currently available.

Mark & Mary Benko
Former coach: 2005 U295 3823
Jeep Cherokee, Honda Fit

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #1 –
Seems pretty reasonable to me. The only thing I can think of would be the microwave's clock function which might be difficult to turn off and shouldn't create enough load to matter. That 15-amps isn't much but you won't have much going on either.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #2 –
I suppose that if you wanted to you could turn off the circuit breakers to the inverter circuit to ensure no parasitic currents such as the microwave clock, bedroom radio, TV's, toaster, coffee maker etc.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #3 –
Your plan to disconnect the starting battery should work fine to minimize loss of charge. However, you may want to keep some kind of charger connected to the chassis battery. We keep a 5 amp Battery Tender connected to the chassis battery at all times. When the coach is plugged in, the Battery Tender maintains the chassis battery. We don't have to take any action other than plugging the coach to shore power. Other folk use Trik-L-Start, battery combiners, boost switch, or other means to keep the chassis battery at full charge during storage.



J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #4 –
I installed switches inline to my propane valve and CO propane alarms to drop them also.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #5 –
Also generator auto start to OFF!
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Steve & Kathy B –
Why auto start to off?  I have been leaving mine on while stored to keep the batteries charged.  That wrong?

If you are plugged in, particularly if in a building, you don't want the generator to run.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #8 –
We had someone nearly lose their coach this way - the heat buildup in the enclosed space was amazing. As it was the entire coach was smoked out with diesel smoke and soot.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #10 –
Either way, plugged in or not plugged in, I would never leave my generator set to "AUTO" while storing.  I want to be around the coach if and when the generator starts/stops. 

I only use the "AUTO" feature when we are using the coach. 

Tom & Bill

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Storage plan ok?

Reply #11 –
enclosed?
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT