Batteries when laid up

[Jewellbags]

Our motorhome , parked in our drive isn’t plugged into the mains but the solar keeps the engine and leisure battery topped up , I check most days . Assuming we continue getting enough bright days then am I right in thinking that there’s no benefit plugging her in and that the batteries will come to no harm ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes, never plug ours in solar works fine for us.

 

[Jev88]

If it dips below 50% charged then you have the luxury to plug in overnight and all should be good. Can't plug mine in but 200watts solar and 3x 110 batteries seem to survive the winter as they only run a small Mifi, Blink camera and the alarm.

 

[Fdhadi]

We’re fortunate, our indoor storage facility allows us to hookup so we leave ours plugged in but on a 1hr a day timer just to keep topped up.

 

[the1andonly]

As lenny, solar is good enough but for paranoid amoungst you (with van on drive)

12V Battery Monitor Bluetooth for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for 12V Battery Monitor Bluetooth. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

Mine will give a 15 day graph of voltage reading

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jo May]

As I hope to use the van before long for day / perhaps overnight trips, when we're out of this frosty period, I've not full winterised, just drained fresh and waste water and left the taps / drains open.
I have EHU at home so have left the heating on frost. Been like that for a few days now so the batteries should be topped up.
Hopefully I'm doing the right thing.

 

[grasscutter]

Haven’t plugged mine in for 18 months.
Solar keeps everything topped up.

 

[Tombola]

Solar alone for me too...leisure trickles to starter

 

[Barti Ddu]

Solar only for me too (only 100w panel). A Victron SmartSolar controller allows me to see current status of charge of hab battery in the van parked on the drive whilst I sit by my living room window using Bluetooth. Shows records for last 30 days too. A CBE CSB2 keeps the starter battery trickle charged as well, all from the solar.

 

[VXman]

As I hope to use the van before long for day / perhaps overnight trips, when we're out of this frosty period, I've not full winterised, just drained fresh and waste water and left the taps / drains open.
I have EHU at home so have left the heating on frost. Been like that for a few days now so the batteries should be topped up.
Hopefully I'm doing the right thing.

If all the water is drained no need for the heating really. Just costing you money.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[RustyRuss]

I have 330w of solar, I switch off the main on/off for the 12v side of the consumer unit so that the radio doesn’t drain the leisure battery.