skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Since the alarm was still going off on the LP detector, your battery wasn't COMPLETELY dead. You MAY have done some damage from deeply discharging it but usually they'll stand that kind of abuse a FEW times. Doing what you did MAY have actually SAVED your battery since if you would have left the battery connected to the trailer all winter it most certainly WOULD have ruined it. My advice is to recharge the battery completely (easiest way is to just plug the trailer into shore power) then when it's fully charged, disconnect the negative lead from the battery, disconnect from shore power and you're good for at least three or four months. Check the battery every few months and re-charge as needed. If your battery won't hold a charge for several months with no drain on it then it needs replacing anyway.
Good luck / skip
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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I live up in the hills north and west of Denver. I only remove the TT battery if I'm going to replace it (which has happened once so far, it was 6 years old).
IMO charge it fully, then just plug it in one day a month to keep it charged. Charged batteries freeze at about MINUS 92 degrees F.
As far as current to keep charged. I keep several different batteries charged all winter with a 5 watt solar maintainer each. If the parasitic loads are removed, these work fine. If someone says 5 watts is too big, so be it. They work for me.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Lobo2
Georgia
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Joined: 06/15/2009
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Your LP alarm draws very little amperage so when you turned off the light it gave the battery enough extra life to operate the alarm. If your tt is plugged in all the time it will keep the battery charged. However, if it is inconvenient to leave it plugged in you should remove the battery and put a charger on it occasionally during the winter to keep it charged. Rather than leave my tt plugged in during the winter, I remove the battery and keep it charged during the winter.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Good Sam RV Club
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ECO718QB wrote:So, you're saying, just plug it into the outlet as I normally would when camping and just give it time to recharge? Am I understanding that correctly? I have a 3-stage converter.
Yes. And since it was way run down leave it charging for at least 48 hours.
Actually it is great if you can just leave it plugged in all winter. If you must unplug it would be best to disconnect a cable to prevent discharge. Then plug it in every four to eight weeks to top it off if you like.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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ECO718QB
The Road
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Joined: 08/17/2009
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Thank you. All of this information was quite helpful since I am not 'storing' my unit permanently (just staying with friends for a couple of weeks and left the light on accidentally), but intend to be living in my unit all winter. Clearly, need electricity but it sounds like most of you don't think that's a problem once I get the battery recharged. Thanks again. Much appreciated!!!
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tafische
Memphis
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Joined: 10/14/2009
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You should be good. Key is to keep it charged. If you accidentally discharge it, get it charged up right away. I keep several of my batteries on a Battery Tender, jr - $25 - pays for itself over and over again. I have ruined a couple of my riding lawn mower batteries by accidentally leaving the key on. Doing this 3 or 4 times pretty much trashed the battery. Now I plug in every time I walk away and they last considerably longer.
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ECO718QB
The Road
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Joined: 08/17/2009
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tafische Thank You
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