pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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The colder it is the less the self discharge. So bringing it inside creates the need to recharge.
Personally the solar charger works well for me.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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JKJavelin
Milwaukee, WI
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Joined: 12/31/2016
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dedmiston wrote:dapperdan wrote:I had 300 watts on our previous trailer and now 660 watts of solar on our current trailer, haven’t taken the batteries out since the solar went in! I haven’t had a battery issue yet, the solar keeps the batteries “full”, no freezing. Here in WI it can get below zero, maybe not as cold as Minnesota but cold none the less. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Dan
Hey Dan - Question about your solar. We store our rig in the southwest where I worry about dust and crud covering up our panels (700W), but we get enough rain in the cooler months to hose them off.
What do you do in Wisconsin with the snow? Does the snow accumulate and cover your panels?
We sure love having the batteries charged and ready to go 24/7/365.
I also am in southeastern Wisconsin. Where I store mine, the wind blows most of the snow off of the roof. Then, if you get a sunny day, the black solar panels warm up a little and the snow will melt off of them.
I've had the solar for 2 winters so far, (we don't head south until late January) and it's been fine.
JK
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie Cummins 6.7
2016 Open Range RF316RLS
Titan Disc Brakes
Trailair pinbox
Morryde SRE-4000 w/ wetbolt kit
Demco Autoslide
570 watts of Solar
2017-2022 555 Nights
2023- 75 Nights
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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dedmiston only once have I had to clear the panels since 2009.
Even then, there were 17 amp-hours going into the battery bank on Dec 21.
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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Three seasons on the boat batteries with just disconnecting the grounds and winder temp into the single digits. Same goes for my 01 RAM. They both fire off the engines with reconnecting the grounds.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"
"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600
2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable
2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD
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PA12DRVR
Back in God's Country
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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FWIW...
....my power toys primarily live in Los Anchorage. Typical winter sees regular below 0 (F) temps, frequent below -10, and often quite a few days of -20.
....For the boat and the OR Jeep and the summer ATV, I pull the batteries and put them inside; fully charged in circa October / November; trickle charged to full charge about 1x per month after that until "spring" which realistically means mid-May.
....For the spare road vehicles, I typically end up moving them around the driveway at least 1 x per month, so nothing special is done to the batteries, although I make sure the engine runs at least 45 mins during that 1x per month.
....For the PA-12 and the sno-go; trickle charge about 1x per month if not otherwise used; on the infrequent trip to cold country (where -30 is common, -50 is not unheard of), I pull the batteries every night and bring them in the tent/cabin, etc. Particularly when flying the PA-12 somewhere cold, if it doesn't start one is either faced with a very serious situation or faced with the need to hand prop...a very serious PITA.
My batteries typically last at least 8-10 years, but they're all automotive, not golf cart.
CRL
My RV is a 1946 PA-12
Back in the GWN
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Goostoff
Wisconsin
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Joined: 11/11/2012
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I just leave my trailer plugged in year round. Last battery survived 10 years. It is quite common to see -30F here in the winter
1993 Chevy C3500
2005 Cedar Creek 34RLTS
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Boon Docker
Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
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Joined: 10/30/2015
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My batteries (disconnected) sit outside all winter in -20C temp and they are going into their 10th year.
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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Same arguments about covering tires. I have never done so and never had a crack. Same with using 303, never have.
No matter the subject you can get all twisted around!
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