Re: [tabtrailers] Re: How to store for winter

3:42 PM |

x4x4, I think the tech mislead you. These converters don't come up to the full-charge voltage for a fast charge as does the tow vehicle. My battery tender puts out the same maintenance voltage (13.2V) as does the converter. I would agree it would ruin the battery if it constantly put out the fast-charge voltage of 14+V and stayed there, resulting in an overcharge. It is important to keep batteries charged in sub-freezing temperatures. They won't freeze then. If the battery voltage is allowed to run down, it can freeze and do physical harm to the plates and ruin the battery. Battery internal resistance goes down with the temperature and will self-discharge faster then, especially if they are allowed to run down over a period of months. Even if they don't freeze, the complete discharge will result in excessive sulfation, which reduces the capacity of battery, requiring replacement sooner.

Jerry J

----- Original Message -----

From: x4x4@frontier.net

To: tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 6:09 PM

Subject: [tabtrailers] Re: How to store for winter

He claimed that there's a vast difference between a "floating charge" from a tender and a converter that is constantly charging.. I tend to take his word on this as I have lost two batteries when an "automatic" charger didn't "automatically" turn off. In fact, I had a MH that was plugged into shore power and the batteries were fried. It's just easier to store all of the batteries in the shop and charge them in the spring before re-installing them. It gets real cold here in SW Colorado in the winter!

--- In tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry Jones" <jjerryj@...> wrote:
>
> x4x4(?) Did the tech give a reason for why he/she thought one was better than the other? Except for saving wear on the converter, the T@B converters do exactly the same thing as the tenders. Both use shore power (120VAC) as the input, and produce a maintenance voltage of 13.2V +/- .1V.
>
> Jerry J
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: x4x4@...
> To: tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 2:53 PM
> Subject: [tabtrailers] Re: How to store for winter
>
>
>
> I recently replaced a couple of batteries in my AirStream and was told by the tech at Hennesy that it was better to use a Battery Tender than the shore power. I remove the batteries from the ATV's lawn tractors and use Tenders on my collector cars. I now remove the AS and t@b batteries and put Tenders on them in the shop.
>
> --- In tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com, "Jerry Jones" <jjerryj@> wrote:
> >
> > Karen, that amount of time left without a charge will cause the battery to be completely discharged. It really needs to be kept charged. Deep discharges alone will shorten the battery life, even if it doesn't freeze and physically ruin the plates in the battery. I highly recommend either leaving the trailer plugged in, removing the battery and keeping a float charger on it in a dry environment. A small float charger isn't good for bringing up a battery to full charge quickly, but will keep the battery charged and ready to go when you next need it. In addition, it has the benefit of not using the converter during that time.
> >
> > Jerry J
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Karen Robinson
> > To: tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 9:37 AM
> > Subject: Re: [tabtrailers] How to store for winter
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > It seldom gets below 20 here, I just remove the ground to the battery and leave it in place, is this ok? I normally use the trailer in Oct and store until about March, when I go out with it again.
> > Karen
> > So Utah
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------
> > From: Jerry Jones <jjerryj@>
> > To: tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sun, October 31, 2010 7:14:32 AM
> > Subject: Re: [tabtrailers] How to store for winter
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Sam, either way will work. If left connected to shore power, the converter will keep it at a "float" charge level, and the battery will not be subject to freezing, resulting in damage to the battery. Some prefer to use a small inexpensive float charger to maintain the voltage when removed and stored elsewhere. This removes any possible damage to the converter in case of a voltage surge in the electrical system.
> >
> > Jerry J
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: josefsalvatore
> > To: tabtrailers@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 7:57 AM
> > Subject: [tabtrailers] How to store for winter
> >
> >
> >
> > Please can someone tell me, is it best to store my T@B, for winter, with shore power pluged in or should I remove the battery and keep it charged and unpluged?? Thanks for your help.. Sam..
> >
>