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Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?

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fandj

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #15 on: October 10, 2018, 05:46:44 am »
As to a trickle charger I have been using this for a couple years https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-BC6BDW-Waterproof-Maintainer/dp/B00OQ1F7PM?crid=3NZZXGQKEHQJG&keywords=battery%2Bcharger&qid=1539164005&refinements=p_89%3ABLACK%2BDECKER&rnid=2528832011&sprefix=Batttery%2Bch%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-3&ref=sr_1_3&th=1


You can either connect the alligator clips directly to the battery terminals or as I more frequently do change over to the cigarette lighter plug and plug it into the 12v outlets in the dash and let it charge the chassis battery.  I typically use a plugin voltmeter in the second dash outlet [size=78%]https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0?keywords=12+volt+plugin+voltmeter&qid=1539164478&sr=8-2&ref=sr_1_2[/size]


I do this to keep check of battery charging voltage (13.2-13.7) as well as when the at rest chassis battery drops below about 12.4 volts telling me it time for a recharge.

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Sarz272000

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #16 on: October 10, 2018, 07:15:52 am »
Fandom
Thanks for sharing.  Excellent info! I have a 2 outlet battery tender for my house batteries. I remove them and keep them at home on trickle charge. 

I am like Wayne7 in that this is first winter with our PC and we are learning and trying to find a comfortable hitch to maintain batteries.  Our PC is stored outside about 2miles away. So charging it there is not an option.  The B&D and monitor are very flexible options for the chassis battery. I did not know charging through the cig lighter plug was an option. That is really easy. Thanks for that tip.  I could just monitor battery at site and drive it home to charge. Or just remove battery and keep it charged at home.  In Michigan we get snow. My luck would have me taking out the battery in a blizzard in below zero weather to charge it because I couldn’t drive it in the snow.  I am leaning to removing battery. 

We were only able to use our PC once since purchase. The rain and bad weather is driving us crazy.  We are so excited for Spring to come!

Ron

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ragoodsp

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #17 on: October 10, 2018, 11:15:09 am »
Wayne:  I think you have hit the most important problem areas.  Like you I have always left my rig outdoors in somewhat of a protected area. I alway shovel the snow off the roof after every storm ( be very careful on the roof!  Do not put a shovel thru any of the skylights. I always use a plastic edged shovel so not to puncture the roof).  While removing the batteries is probably the best approach I find it a real pain and in case of any emergencies I always want my coach ready to go at the drop of a hat.  I utilize Battery Tenders for both the house and chassis batteries.  Just plug the units in and walk away with no worry of over charging the batteries.  I would put plywood under all the tires to reduce moisture reacting with the rubber.  See you in the spring!
Ron Goodspeed

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #18 on: October 10, 2018, 01:27:54 pm »
If bringing the batteries inside your house, I do wonder how important it is to use a battery tender on them 100% of the time.  Their residual drain will be extremely slow since they are just sitting around like they once did on a store shelf.

I do something different with our batteries in our heated garage, in our PC but ground wire detached.  I use my nice regular battery charger (the one I take on trips) on my batteries a few of times during the storage period.  I set the charger on the lowest 4 amp setting and bring them back to 100% in less than a half hour which basically means I am wasting time, doing it just for the peace of mind.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2018, 01:30:04 pm by Ron Dittmer »
Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

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Wayne7

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #19 on: October 11, 2018, 11:03:44 pm »
Great suggestions on battery tenders/maintainers...thanks!  We'll be putting our PC - which my wife affectionately calls "The Cottage" - to bed in another week and I'll be using many of the suggestions and recommendations that have been shared on this forum.  So appreciated...for someone new to RV's!

P.S.  So far, according to my wife, we have had a cottage in the mountains, a cottage by a lake, a cottage along a stream, a cottage in a church parking lot and a cottage at Walmart.

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Sarz272000

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #20 on: October 14, 2018, 08:29:11 am »
I stumbled on this tip on page 276 of the owners manual.

Because your vehicle’s engine is electronically controlled by a computer, some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery. When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the engine must relearn its idle and fuel trim strategy for optimum driveability and performance. To begin this process:

1. With the vehicle at a complete stop, set the parking brake.
2. Put the gearshift in P (Park), turn off all accessories and start the engine.
3. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
5. Turn the A/C on and allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
6. Release the parking brake. With your foot on the brake pedal and with the A/C on, put the vehicle in D (Drive) and allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
7. Drive the vehicle to complete the relearning process.
• The vehicle may need to be driven 10 miles (16 km) or more to relearn the idle and fuel trim strategy along with the ethanol content for flexible fuel vehicles.
• If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle trim is eventually relearned.
• For flexible fuel vehicles, if you are operating on E85, you may experience poor starts or an inability to start the engine and driveability problems until the fuel trim and ethanol content have been relearned.
If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed, the clock and radio settings must be reset once the battery is reconnected.

Ron Sarzynski

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Wayne7

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Re: Winterizing Tips for the First Time...Did we miss anything?
« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2018, 11:25:24 pm »
Good information, Ron.  I have even heard that some vehicles may require a computer "reboot" if the battery is disconnected though I have not verified this.  I purchased a battery tender (Deltran Battery Tender - 4 amp) and will remove the coach batteries and keep them charged in the garage.  I will not remove the engine battery but charge it in place intermittently with the Battery Tender.  The unit has both 6 and 12 volt settings and has a four-stage charging sequence, 5 year warranty  - and works on lead, AGM and lithium batteries. 

Finally, I had my new tires installed today and dealt with Discount Tires.  Best tire-buying experience ever!  Matched the best price I could find (from 200 miles away), had their own rebate program with Michelin, offer a lifetime balance/rotation, have 900 stores nationwide but best of all...incredible customer service and excellent work.  I watched the entire process and talked with the technician periodically (he was actually the manager but took on my project).  Their workers function as a team helping one another in an amazing display of teamwork.  I rarely see this level of attention to detail and customer service so I had to share my experience.

Thanks again for all the advice and recommendations...I've learned a lot.

Oh, and Ron Dittmer, thanks to your advice about putting mouse traps in the engine compartment, I caught two mice right away...yikes!