Solar panel,indoor winter storage, battery?

jecdurhamx
jecdurhamx Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited October 2016 in Caravans #1

What is the best way to deal with the battery over winter when you have a solar panel and your caravan is stored indoors. Can it just be left?

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #2

    Do you have an alarm? Do you have a tracker? 

  • Dave
    Dave Forum Participant Posts: 141
    First Comment
    edited October 2016 #3

    Yes it can be left but will go flat over time. Does your caravan need the battery for an alarm or tracker? If so you will need to have two batteries and rotate them to keep the van powered. I too keep my van in a barn storage but the owner allowed me to fit an external solar panel that I plug into the van to keep the battery charged.

    Dave

  • jecdurhamx
    jecdurhamx Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited November 2016 #4

    Thanks for the responses. No tracker and no alarm but battery in tip top condition so had considered leaving it in the van over mid winter months, just wasn't sure what the implications of the solar panel would be in that situation. Anyway, have decided
    not to risk it and have removed the battery (slightly tricky in new Unicorn Madrid) so that it can be charged a couple of times at home.

  • johndailey
    johndailey Forum Participant Posts: 520
    100 Comments
    edited November 2016 #5

    Just out of curiosity Jec, why is it slightly tricky to remove the battery? Not suggesting that you are wrong but it would be interesting to hear why.

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
    500 Comments
    edited November 2016 #6

    Whipped the battery out of our Bailey today to bring home and it too was tricky...or rather ******** heavy!

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2016 #7

    If the 'indoors' is low light or dark then taking the battery home is your only option. I got rid of that chore 3 years ago when I had my SP fitted and had a special cover made with a clear panel in it. I measured it all up and sent the measurements to Specialised
    Covers. They produced a cover that allows my batteries to be fully charged all winter long.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2016 #8

    Just out of curiosity Jec, why is it slightly tricky to remove the battery? Not suggesting that you are wrong but it would be interesting to hear why.

    Probably underfloor and has to be lifted rather than slid out. I would struggle if that is the case

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited November 2016 #9

    I have left batteries in over winter without them discharging so not sure you need to remove it. We have the caravan in storage but visit it regularly and I check the charge. I am always wary of if it was stolen ringing the insurance and when asked when
    we last saw it saying two months ago. If you are checking it regularly I would just keep an eye on it.

Categories