Cold Climate - Battery Tender?

Unca_T · Oct 28, 2017

Hello All-
I live in Minnesota and we are about to get some pretty cold months.
We're planning on going to the RTR but in the mean time I think I remember that it's not healthy for a deep cycle to
be in the very very cold. Right now it's hooked up to my solar array and the alternator, but I am going to bring it in
to the house to keep it from freezing up. I usually put a battery tender on my motorcycle, and was wondering if there
is a special type or way to do this with the deep cycle batteries.
Does anyone know?

All my best

Spaceman Spiff · Oct 28, 2017

Lead acid batteries sit outside in the cold all the time in Minnesota with no adverse effects. I keep my house batteries on solar all winter and after three winters in Minneapolis are still at 1.27 s.g. A fully charged FLA battery will freeze at -76ºF. I hope we don't get anything remotely close to that :exclamation:

Any LA battery will loose between 4% AND 6% per month so putting one on some kind of charger is warranted if left for a few months. Your solar, if exposed to sunlight often should be enough.

MrNoodly · Oct 28, 2017

Well, if you're still in a house and you're going to let the van, RV or whatever sit and freeze solid until you head out in January, then you might as well bring the battery inside.

Unca_T · Oct 28, 2017

Spaceman Spiff said:
Lead acid batteries sit outside in the cold all the time in Minnesota with no adverse effects. I keep my house batteries on solar all winter and after three winters in Minneapolis are still at 1.27 s.g. A fully charged FLA battery will freeze at -76ºF. I hope we don't get anything remotely close to that :exclamation:

Any LA battery will loose between 4% AND 6% per month so putting one on some kind of charger is warranted if left for a few months. Your solar, if exposed to sunlight often should be enough.

Spiff-

76 below F? Holy Cow. I hope we don't get it that cold too.
What does F.L.A. mean? I got the lead acid part.
When you're talking about the 1.27 s.g. is that a electrolite percentage thingy?

I'm glad to hear that it'll be fine out in the van hooked up to the solar to keep the juice running for sure.

T.

Spaceman Spiff · Oct 28, 2017

Unca_T said:
Spiff-

76 below F? Holy Cow. I hope we don't get it that cold too.

Ya, my limit is -20 wind chill. If it gets any colder than that I don't want to go outside let alone do anything.

What does F.L.A. mean? I got the lead acid part.

FLA = flooded lead acid (battery) which is a battery with liquid electrolyte and caps that allow you to add water when low.
The other popular type of lead acid battery is AGM = Absorbed Glass Matt. These batteries are sealed.

When you're talking about the 1.27 s.g. is that a electrolite percentage thingy?

s.g. = specific gravity. It is a very good way to approximate the condition of your battery if you have a FLA battery.

I'm glad to hear that it'll be fine out in the van hooked up to the solar to keep the juice running for sure.

T.

John61CT · Oct 28, 2017

Always good to confirm the solar's charging as it should.

Check your water levels.

While in storage turn Absorb V down to = Float, just remember to put it back when cycling.