Van being stored for three months. What to do with batteries.

bigsallysmom · Nov 23, 2018

I have two 12 volt flooded marine batteries for my solar power. They are connected to a 30-amp pwm solar charge controller model VS3024BN. I plan on disconnecting them and possibly leaving them in van. I will not be leaving them hooked up to my two 100-watt solar panels because the panels are not attached to my van. I need to know what maximum voltage I should set the charge controller to to fill the batteries before I disconnect.
I am tempted to bring the batteries inside my house in the washer area that has an electric hot water heater. The small room tends to stay relatively warm. Would that be a better plan? And if I do, should I bring in the van battery as well?
I am in Southern New Mexico. The temperatures very seldom get below freezing.

bullfrog · Nov 23, 2018

I would bring them in to a warm area and sit them on a rubber welcome mat after fully charging them. Simple and easier than a battery maintainer unless physically unable.

highdesertranger · Nov 23, 2018

yes bring them in or put them on a maintainer. also treat your gas with a stabilizer. highdesertranger

John61CT · Nov 23, 2018

You can leave them in the van

Get them fully topped up while out there every few weeks.

Via the panels, or run a trusted quality charger or maintainer out there.

Only need to bring them in if the above is inconvenient.

flying kurbmaster · Nov 23, 2018

Three months is not long enough to worrry about them as long as they are fully charged and nothing is drawing on them (disconnected) they will be fine even in cold weather. A lot of people believe that bringing batteries into a warm place helps so did I until I read a blog or an article on actual testing of this theory. It turns out it makes no difference. I leave my batteries in my vans for up to 9 months a year in the cold, my marine batteries are over five years old and I have had no issues. The starting batteries are older and have always started the vehicles, I make sure they are fully charged, disconnect them. I have also been doing this with my motorcycle battery, I used to take them out and put them inside a heated building for the winter but I no longer do that haven’t for several years and my vehicles start up fine even after 9 or 10 months. Currently I have not been to my vans or motorbike since September 2017 I am confident when I return to them in April or May 2019 they will start.

WanderingRose · Nov 24, 2018

I can’t speak to the solar, but having had a Class B nearly 12 years, and a C for 4 years before that, we turn the inverter off for the coach battery but otherwise leave everything in place in between trips.

Go to storage and start it up periodically, never a problem.

Tom_M · Nov 24, 2018

I migrate to Florida for 6 months during the winter. I have a pickup truck and two motorcycles that remain home in Minneapolis in an unheated garage. I make sure batteries are fully charged and disconnect them. Temps can hit -20F. I have had no problems. One winter I had a cheap Harbor Freight maintainer on one battery that shorted and drained the battery which subsequently froze and busted.

Doubleone · Nov 24, 2018

3 months is not long especially if it's not going below freezing. Be sure to clean any acid residue off the top because that causes parasitic drain. Top off the water, and charge them before storage. I'd disconnect them for storage.