Batteries

[FlyingDutchmen]

I'm taking the Batteries off the Trailer for winter & keeping them in my garage. They will be sat on my work bench untill Spring so would like to know the best way to look after them. Can i hook them up together like on the trailer & use a charger with a maintenance option, if so do i have to leave the topup caps loose. Any info will be helpful.
Thanks Col

[eRVm]

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchmen

Can i hook them up together like on the trailer & use a charger with a maintenance option, if so do i have to leave the topup caps loose. Any info will be helpful.
Thanks Col

I would recommend a slow charge at 3 amps or less for 24 hrs.(cap on)
Remove from charger and place in a 58° to 68° storage area throughout the winter.
Charge at 10 amps for 24 hrs. prior to installation.(caps on, electrolyte level 1/4" above cell plates)

[Cooper]

Col...

Given it's Calgary u may need battery blankets and block heaters..


Coops

[FlyingDutchmen]

Thanks admin, sounds like good advise.

Coops. You kill me every time man... I guess you will be camping for a while longer than me. We are still in the high 20s here at the moment but i cant see it lasting much longer . Our first camping season coming to an end & loved every minute of it.Just wish we could have done it years ago.....

[Cooper]

Col....not much longer than u guys as u folks get the odd Chinook...we are heading out on Wed. For few nights.
Will be winterizing the unit after Thanksgiving..already bought the anti freeze.
We should think of a meet and greet in Radium next year.?...invite the folks from Spokane, PG, Nanaimo the odd Albertan who isn't already their ....and who ever else would be interested....just a thought. Maybe Dave from the Badger State would come and get the Loonie I owe him.
For some of the folks in the warmer climes the adventure continues..and we will miss hockey.
Take care glad u had a good camping season
Coops

[FlyingDutchmen]

Thanks Coops. I think a meet & greet in Radium sounds like a great idea. Gives people lots of time to think about it.

[Wanderer]

Nice idea Coops but I'll be coming back from Yellowstone mid-June so may not be able to head back that way later.

[Cooper]

Thanks folks...Just a thought about the meet and greet...nothing definite re dates etc. or we could all meet in Vanderhoof BC...as it is the geographical centre of the province of BC

Gord have u made campground reservations for your Yellowstone trip? Just wondering how far inadvance reservations are needed?


Coops

[Wanderer]

Not yet but we won't be staying in the park. Probably an RV park in West Yellowstone. May is early for the rush which is why we're going then as well as the better wildlife photo ops.

[Cooper]

Thanks Gordon...based on the pics from the forum and the comments ...Yellowstone is a must trip for us sometime. If your looking for wildlife shots we are expecting the regular visit from bears in our back yard.

[stoncold17]

Hi I have a1995 Areolite travel trailer I can't find where the battery was someone took it out it has a battery tester in the bathroom it is a 21 foot trailer RHB if anyone could help I do not have a manual or have never had a trailer so I,m flying blind thank you Matt

[eRVm]

Matt,

On the model, I think you meant 21 RBH. On these older Aerolites, the battery was mounted either in the front compartment or one of the side compartments. Look for a Battery Box Vent on either side of the trailer. This should lead you to the where the battery is usually located.
I posted a few Examples of what to look for.

EXAMPLE: 21 RBH.


EXAMPLE: Battery Box in Compartment.



EXAMPLE: Vented Battery Box.



Have fun,

[FlyingDutchmen]

Can both 6 V Batteries be Linked together like on the Trailer & charged on 12v cycle ??

[eRVm]

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchmen

Can both 6 V Batteries be Linked together like on the Trailer & charged on 12v cycle ??

Yes.
Two 6 volt batteries can be connected in SERIES as in the diagram below.

[FlyingDutchmen]

Thanks. I thought so , just wanted to make sure

[Cooper]

Found this guide on line and thought it useful when charging my TT batteries stored in the garage. Normally will wait till the voltage drops to about 6.30 volts to recharge.hope this helps.

Coops

[sundancer 87]

The best way to test the state of charge and health of a battery is with a hydrometer to check the specific gravity of same.

The chart above appears to be for a normal starting battery and not a true deep cycle battery. Therefore a typical deep cycle battery might have temperature normalized specific gravity readings as follows:

100% Charged = 1.277
90% Charged = 1.258
80% Charged = 1.238
70% Charged = 1.217
60% Charged = 1.195
50% Charged = 1.172

[Cooper]

Very good information...the closest to a hydrometer I have is a turkey baster and I don't make wine or beer so haven't needed one. But I may pick one up.

Thanks again
Coops

[kodiak 2013]

I have a new AGM battery and battery box with side ports so the wires don't go in the top

[Aronious]

The first outing we had with our voltage was 2 weeks after we picked it up in May 011. It was a 4 day dry camp for a benefit motorcycle ride in western Michigan. At night the temp was cool, ----- no, ---- Dang COLD! Ran the furnace all night and in the morning the genny wouldn't crank. Seems Dutchmen had only included one little deep-draw battery. When we got home I found a post on some forum somewhere about changing over to golf cart 6 volt batteries. Here are a couple of pics of how I did ours. No problems since.