It's time for a new house battery

[BuckBarker]

Well, our house battery finally gave up its charge after 7 years. It's time for a new one but before I install it I have a couple questions.

1. We don't use the rig very often so would I be better installing a new one now or just leave it on the bench and install it when needed? I have a battery tender so if I should leave it on the bench should I leave it charging all the time or just before its needed.

2. I also have a small solar panel on the roof to help maintain the battery and not much else. If I don't install the battery what becomes of the current that the panel generates? Does it hurt anything to have a solar panel and no battery installed?

Thanks in advance for any guidance with this issue.

[BuckBarker]

Thanks BFL! This is what I needed to know. Yes, I leave my tender connected to the chassis battery and that one lasted 6 years before replacing so I believe it was doing its job in maintaining a healthy charge.

I doubt my little solar panel has any controller at all and it is only supplying power to the house bat.

I will install a new house battery and keep doing what I always was in keeping the rig plugged in a home. I rarely if ever hear my converter run when plugged in so I suspect the solar is keeping the bat healthy.

[BFL13]

If the solar panel has a solar charge controller, then the solar panel should be disconnected from the controller *before* the battery is disconnected from the controller. On reconnecting, install the battery and connect the controller first *then* connect the panel to the controller.

The panel may be so small it does not have a controller anyway.

Perhaps that solar panel is meant to maintain the engine battery, which usually is not getting charged when the house battery is from the converter when you are on shore power.

You could use your battery tender on shore power to maintain the engine battery and leave the house battery on converter on shore power while at home, and leave the solar to do whatever it does.

If you leave the old battery in till Spring, keep an eye on things in case the battery has a fault develop that makes the converter run hard and develop problems of its own (not likely but can happen)

[pianotuna]

Hi,

No need to have a battery until the next planned use of the RV.

[ken_white]

Buy a new battery in the spring when you plan to use the camper...

[BuckBarker]

OP here. Plz let me explain further. My rig is parked at home so I can keep it plugged in. I have no knowledge of what type of charge controller it has. It is an ex Cruise America rental. I am not wanting to increase my solar capacity because what I now have + keeping it plugged in when wanted has kept this battery in working condition for 7 years, which is probably far longer than most.
Back to the original question: Should I install a new battery even though I won't be using the rig for awhile or leave it on the bench till I need it AND if so, do I leave my battery minder on it or just let it sit

[sail2liv]

If battery lasted 7 years, just replace with same one....good luck why change?

[KendallP]

1. Either way

2. Batteries love a float charge. Mine are still at baseline specific gravity after 4 years.

Depending on temperature, 14V or so is about the max you want to float them. So if your solar unit brings the battery up much above that, it might not be so great. That said... at night it will do nothing.

Battery tenders are great, but if you have a decent converter, you can simply leave the rig plugged in and let the converter do the floating work.

Check the electrolyte levels every month or so.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I'd increase my solar "farm" and let the charge controller "be nice" to the new battery. If the year is "done" then I'd wait until spring to replace the battery.

[enblethen]

There are some items that will draw power. LP detector for one.
Where do you store your rig? Is power available?
I would normally leave battery in the rig and just shut off the battery disconnect.
The chassis battery will go dead as some devices draw from there.
If you decide on removing battery, I would take both batteries and keep both charged up.