I’m getting conflicting advice on whether or not to leave my Lithium batteries in our camper over winter or bring them inside to a warmer climate.
It can get down to single digit temps at times where I live but many are saying you can leave the lithium batteries in place and just make sure they don’t receive a charge.
Does anybody have any insight?
Comments
2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
From Google:
2013 Toyota Highlander 3.5L V6
2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
2023 Ford Maverick XLT
The Finger Lakes of New York
It's best for battery life to store the lithium battery at 80% charge or a little less. I do cold weather camping and although my battery doesn't have a heater, it's inside and I can warm it up and charge it using shore power before heading out.
2023 T@B 320 S Boondock
2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
2013 Toyota Highlander 3.5L V6
2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
The product manual states that "a temperature between 50 and 95 degrees is ideal for long-term storage". (And also that I should place it in a fireproof container. ???) So it seems that it's in my best interest to pull my battery and store it inside a heated structure like my basement
Three questions for our experts here:
(1) Does anyone disagree with my assumption I need to pull the battery?
(2) How do I drain the battery down to 50% before doing so?
(3) Since the battery is required for the electric brakes to operate, do I need to wait until I reach my storage facility to pull it - and then reinstall it before the 30-mile drive home? This will really be inconvenient but guessing it's necessary.
Thanks for any feedback and advice.
2021 Tab400 Boondock; TV 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Minnesota
There certainly is conflicting information on line, but nearly all sources state that temps need to be above zero and battery discharged to 50%.
I'm still trying to figure out how I can discharge my battery before removing, as I will be towing my camper to the dealer for a glycol flush, and then towing it to the storage facility another 45 minutes away. So even if I successfully discharge the battery at home before doing so, it will undoubtedly charge to full while towing - or simply sitting in the sun. Is there a way to discharge it after removal?
Has anyone developed a good plan for handling lithium batteries during winter storage in a colder climate?
2021 Tab400 Boondock; TV 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Minnesota
2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
https://www.litime.com/blogs/blogs/how-do-you-store-lifepo4-batteries?srsltid=AfmBOorWs7MpIWu170mqHRIGqy2ZAyydXwZtdxwmWkccPTxvT932Mh7i
Long term is defined as 90 days or more. Storage temps for that length of time shouldn’t fall below 59 degrees. They also recommend discharging to 50% at the max…so you probably don’t need to discharge it that much. I’ve heard 80% is fine. They suggest it’s good practice to check the voltage every 3 months in storage.
2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
Given our climate, I believe removing the battery after towing it to the storage place seems to be the wise move, based on what I have read to date. And at least it only weighs 45 pounds - pulling those two 70-pound AGM's would have been problematic. In hindsight, it's possible I should have been removing those during winter as well.
2021 Tab400 Boondock; TV 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Minnesota
On the positive side, I was very happy with the performance of my new lithium battery this summer while boondocking. Filtered sunlight was enough to recharge them to full every day.
2021 Tab400 Boondock; TV 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Minnesota
2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road
2021 Tab400 Boondock; TV 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Minnesota