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Old 10-15-2016, 08:45 PM   #1
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Should I turn off the electrical system?

Hi, Everybody:

We picked up our new trailer this spring and went out on quite a few camping trips. Now I have winterized the trailer according to the manual (dry method). The only issues were finding a 1 1/16 inch socket to remove the anode in the hot water tank and finding some source of compressed air to blow out the system. Anyway, that's all done.

My question is: should I turn off the electrical system for the winter? We live in the central Okanagan Valley in BC, The winters here are not very cold (by Cdn standards), maybe a few lows of -10 or -15 C. I don't want to remove the batteries if that can be avoided. We do have a solar panel so that would charge the batteries if there was any sun.

Thanks for any help,

Cheers,

Phil
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Old 10-15-2016, 09:33 PM   #2
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Hi Phil, you will get lots of opinions. Were it mine, I would use the disconnect switch, which isolates the batteries from the rest of the trailer, but leaves them connected to the solar. I would also check the water in the batteries once a month or so.
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Old 10-15-2016, 09:57 PM   #3
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A thumbs up for Eric's post.
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Old 10-15-2016, 09:59 PM   #4
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Hi Phil, you will get lots of opinions. Were it mine, I would use the disconnect switch, which isolates the batteries from the rest of the trailer, but leaves them connected to the solar. I would also check the water in the batteries once a month or so.
I agree. By springtime, you can simply pack up the trailer and go. The batteries will have been maintained by the solar panel.

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Old 10-15-2016, 10:07 PM   #5
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I use the procedure described by Eric in his post above. I use a turkey baster to add distilled water to the batteries if they need it. No, I do not used the same baster on my turkey at Thanksgiving. The solar works well year around to keep the batteries charged.
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Old 10-16-2016, 02:36 AM   #6
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Were it mine, I would use the disconnect switch, which isolates the batteries from the rest of the trailer, but leaves them connected to the solar. I would also check the water in the batteries once a month or so.
Another vote for this approach... but if you need to add water after only a month or two of storage with a solar panel maintaining charge, something is wrong.
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Old 10-16-2016, 06:57 AM   #7
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Wow, everyone agrees with Eric, me too.
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Old 10-16-2016, 07:17 AM   #8
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Wow, everyone agrees with Eric, me too.
Hi: padlin... ME TOO... ME TOO!!! Alf
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Old 10-16-2016, 09:16 AM   #9
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Is probably adequate to top off the water in your batteries when winterizing, and then again in the spring when getting ready for camping again. That is what I have done and levels never drop significantly over the winter. Is good to also shutoff the master power disconnect switch.
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Old 10-16-2016, 09:26 AM   #10
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We picked up our new 5.0TA on 8-19-16. Survived 3 days/nights in Whistler Nat Park outside of Jasper with nothing but our parking spot. Two weeks later on a stop in Minnesota, I took a look at the batteries. There was "battery corrosion" around all of the battery caps, I cleaned it off. Two weeks later, at home, more of this material; is this normal? (I am not an "electrician".)
Is there any solution?
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Old 10-16-2016, 09:56 AM   #11
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Wow, everyone agrees with Eric, me too.
Wait... what?
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Old 10-16-2016, 10:02 AM   #12
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Ethan, you might want to check to make sure the caps are on tight. With lots of steep up and down driving and rough roads it's always possible to slosh a bit of acid if they are not tight. That can cause corrosion very quickly. That's also why it's important to not overfill the batteries when adding distilled water.

There are quite a few spray or paint on products available that can be used on the terminals to help prevent corrosion. Most recommend a careful cleaning before application.
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Old 10-16-2016, 01:13 PM   #13
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Is the disconnect switch the one under dining table seats? if not where is it? Thanks, Andrea
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Old 10-16-2016, 04:48 PM   #14
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Is the disconnect switch the one under dining table seats? if not where is it? Thanks, Andrea
Yes, that is it.
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Old 10-20-2016, 06:33 PM   #15
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Should I turn off the electrical system thanks

Hi, All:
Thanks so much for your very helpful responses, especially thoer (Eric & Mary) who just about everybody agreed with. I didn't know that turning off the electrical left the solar connected to the battery. Where does it say that? I looked in the Escape trailer manual and the manuals for the solar panel and could not find this anywhere. Maybe I missed it.

I will keep a close watch on the battery fluid level. Again, thanks to all,

Phil
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Old 10-20-2016, 06:54 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Valentine View Post
Hi, All:
Thanks so much for your very helpful responses, especially thoer (Eric & Mary) who just about everybody agreed with. I didn't know that turning off the electrical left the solar connected to the battery. Where does it say that? I looked in the Escape trailer manual and the manuals for the solar panel and could not find this anywhere. Maybe I missed it.

I will keep a close watch on the battery fluid level. Again, thanks to all,

Phil
Yes, solar will still work with master switch off. Don't know if they always did it that way so maybe that is why you are not finding it. You should see that little strange object in the photo on a battery for the solar.
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