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dogsintow View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery charging - more newbie questions
    Posted: 09 Oct 2015 at 7:45pm
Continuing my battery charging newbie questions---
I'm trying to figure out what is best for keeping the battery charged between trips and in the winter. For some reason, this is one of my biggest obsessions as a newbie so I don't let the battery drain down.

Which is the most preferred method?
  • Extension cord to my house and charge via my 15amp outlets (with converter of course)
  • Take battery out and use trickle charger

I am leaning more towards the extension cord to the house method because that seems the most time-friendly and basic. 

I also picked up a charger off Amazon-- and haven't opened it yet.  NOCO Genius UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger - http://amzn.com/B004LWVEKS  Do I really need it for any reason? Is it worth keeping or worth spending money on, especially if I go the extension cord to the house method?

Thank you so much for your help.
Stephanie 

2011 R-Pod 177 aka The Pawd Pad
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2015 at 8:46pm
The built in converter/charger is a very capable unit. If your battery is partially discharged it will charge it much faster than the Amazon unit. It will also do an excellent job of safely maintaining a charged battery. No need for the Amazon unit unless you plan to take the battery inside for winter. 
Charlie
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john in idaho View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2015 at 10:03pm
plug it in every first of the month.  Keep the water in the battery up and you will be fine.
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sailor323 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 12:11am
Keep it plugged in.  Check the water level once a month.  Top up as needed.  Do not use tap water, used distilled water
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dogsintow View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 12:08pm
thank you all. this is so very helpful! 
2011 R-Pod 177 aka The Pawd Pad
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Mountainrev View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 4:44pm
If you live where it frequently gets very cold, then you should bring your battery into your house in the winter.  Your profile says you live in the Pacific Northwest.  If you're on the coast, and it rarely if ever gets below freezing, then you'll be fine doing what the others have suggested, and just leave it on the camper and maintain via the built-in converter.

However, if you live inland and experience cold winters, with extended periods below freezing, and perhaps even some single-digits or even below zero temps, I'd take it inside the garage and plug it into the maintainer you purchased. 

One other reason to consider taking your battery into your house:  How safe is your neighborhood?  Batteries are usually pretty easy to steal from campers, and can be tempting targets for thieves.  I'd be hesitant to leave my battery sitting out in the open for long periods of time like that. 
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furpod View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 5:47pm
Originally posted by Mountainrev

If you live where it frequently gets very cold, then you should bring your battery into your house in the winter.  Your profile says you live in the Pacific Northwest.  If you're on the coast, and it rarely if ever gets below freezing, then you'll be fine doing what the others have suggested, and just leave it on the camper and maintain via the built-in converter.

However, if you live inland and experience cold winters, with extended periods below freezing, and perhaps even some single-digits or even below zero temps, I'd take it inside the garage and plug it into the maintainer you purchased. 

One other reason to consider taking your battery into your house:  How safe is your neighborhood?  Batteries are usually pretty easy to steal from campers, and can be tempting targets for thieves.  I'd be hesitant to leave my battery sitting out in the open for long periods of time like that. 


Please don't take this wrong, but, as long as the battery is properly charged, it is in no danger. It's only when a SLA battery goes dead, that weather is a danger. The acid and water stratify out of solution, and the water can freeze and damage plates and case. I have lived and worked where winter night temperatures are -20F to -30F.
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 8:34pm
I agree on the freezing part. I believe Techntrek said a fully charged FLA battery would freeze at -98F or thereabouts. If it's that cold you have other problems. Leave it on the camper and keep it charged. However, that doesn't address the theft problem. If you're worried about theft you can 1) hire a guard 2) bring the camper inside, or 3) bring the battery inside as suggested Angry
Charlie
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2015 at 10:52pm
That number is close, Charlie.  Few of us live in Siberia, though.

There are two advantages to leaving it outside during the winter.  One, if you charge your battery once a month (instead of leaving it hooked up) you can get away with doing it every 2 months (or more).  Also cold extends the life of the battery - likewise heat reduces it.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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dogsintow View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:59pm
thank you all again for your responses. I am most likely going to just detach the negative from the battery over the winter. I did that this past week and it conserved the battery level fine.  I am testing out the charging now and it seems to be working great from the distance with the extension cords so I'm going to return the trickle charger to Amazon. I can rebuy it later if need be.  I live in the Seattle metro area-- and even though we usually get a few cold spells each winter, most of the time the temps are above freezing.  I live in a very safe area and my Pod isn't viewable from the street. A lot of my neighbors have RVs and trailers too. I have a lock on the hitch and I can try to lock the battery up, but it's not a big concern. 

Thank you again for all your help and replies!!


2011 R-Pod 177 aka The Pawd Pad
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