Lithium Battery…Ok to Leave in Camper Over Winter

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  • RTWCTS
    RTWCTS Member Posts: 200
    Sharon_is_SAM said:
    how did you disable the solar?
    In the Victron APP:
    -Select MPPT the charge controller 
    -Select the gear icon in the upper right of the screen
    -Select Battery from the menu
    -On the third option down toggle Charger Enabled to the off position
    2023 TAB 400 (former T@B 320 owners)
    Relentlessly Pursuing a Silverado EV
    'Racing the Wind and Chasing the Sun'
    Virginia Beach, VA
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    RTWCTS said:
    Sharon_is_SAM said:
    how did you disable the solar?
    In the Victron APP:
    -Select MPPT the charge controller 
    -Select the gear icon in the upper right of the screen
    -Select Battery from the menu
    -On the third option down toggle Charger Enabled to the off position
    I know how to do it, but there has been discussion that Victron only wants the disable feature used for maintenance intervals - not for storage periods.  Since @manyman297 removed the battery, doesn’t that leave the leads from the solar controller exposed?  Would it be better to disconnect the solar panels from the controller?
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • RTWCTS
    RTWCTS Member Posts: 200
    Sorry @Sharon_is_SAM. I didn't infer the depth of your question from the words written in your previous post. Nor did I mean to insult your intelligence...
    2023 TAB 400 (former T@B 320 owners)
    Relentlessly Pursuing a Silverado EV
    'Racing the Wind and Chasing the Sun'
    Virginia Beach, VA
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited November 2024
    B)
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    No worries @RTWCTS!  I am just trying to understand why Victron doesn’t want the controller disabled.  I guessed (above) that they were concerned about controller failure.  

    Anyway, if you remove a battery, aren’t the exposed leads from the controller a potential problem?

    @AnOldUR.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • manyman297
    manyman297 Member Posts: 1,433
    @Sharon_is_SAM I disabled it as described. Not sure why Victron says not to use the function for long-term storage. Maybe I should pull the fuse to be safe? Now you’ve got me worried.
    2021 400 BD
    2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 
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  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,530
    @manyman297 nobody seems to know at Victron, either.  I cannot imagine why they think this might be necessary.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • BillCB
    BillCB Member Posts: 56
    FWIW I have turned off charging with the Victron app (despite the message re maintenance), then ran the fridge until the battery was down to 75% charged, then turned the battery disconnect switch off. Finally I detached the wires from the battery terminals, making sure they couldn't touch.

    I do wonder if the battery shouldn't be left with a lower charge. My EV has a lithium battery too and it is recommended it be stored at just 35%. But I've gone with Battleborns recommendation.
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  • MNtabernacle
    MNtabernacle Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2024
    I'm with @Marleecamps on this one. We live in north metro Twin Cities area, and get subzero regularly. I've installed two 200Ah Renogy Core Li this season along with 350W rooftop solar, and really enjoyed the freedom to be off-grid. After the season ended, I switched off the solar panels (I used a Blue Sea Systems switch to isolate from the solar controller), and let the batteries drain off to 50% as I did my late season maintenance and repairs (shower floor cracks!).
    I left the batteries installed for the trip to storage this week, then pulled them for the warmth of my basement, as Renogy recommends no storage below -13F. Time to hunker down until next spring.
    Tim & Joan, Anoka Minnesota
    Silver on Silver 2018 T@B 400, 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab
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  • BillCB
    BillCB Member Posts: 56
    I live in Tobermory, ON, the same latitude as the Twin Cities but with a lacustrine climate, much milder in the winter. We only get a few nights as cold as zero F. I rigged a 100 watt bulb in the space under the bed near the battery and ran an extension cord to my home. On days it gets really cold, I just plug it in.
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  • manyman297
    manyman297 Member Posts: 1,433
    @BillCB I did the exact same process for ours. 
    2021 400 BD
    2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 
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  • BillCB
    BillCB Member Posts: 56
    Great minds think alike....!
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  • Carolyn
    Carolyn Member Posts: 128
    I asked Victron if I could just cover my solar panel with a tarp and remove the battery and store it in the basement. They responded that it would be best to disconnect the wires from the controller and tape them. What do you all think of this?
    2014 CS, tie-dyed exterior, "Tabula Rasa" and 2009 T@da also tie-dyed, “Grateful”
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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    @Carolyn, that would eliminate any possible risk of shock/fire due to exposed wires from potential panel exposure.  They don’t want you to rely on disabling charging via the app in case of app malfunction.  Company liability CYA belt and suspenders.  If it is easy enough to do, why tempt fate?
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Carolyn
    Carolyn Member Posts: 128
    I am a little confused. Are you saying it would be easy enough to disconnect the wires or disable in the app? The Victron rep told me there was no on/off switch so I must remove the wires from the controller. The barn where I would store it has minimal light and I just thought the easiest ghing to do wojld be to cover the panel with a tarp. What would that leave at risk?
    2014 CS, tie-dyed exterior, "Tabula Rasa" and 2009 T@da also tie-dyed, “Grateful”
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  • Bill&Suze
    Bill&Suze Member Posts: 174
    Carolyn said:
    I asked Victron if I could just cover my solar panel with a tarp and remove the battery and store it in the basement. They responded that it would be best to disconnect the wires from the controller and tape them. What do you all think of this?
    @Carolyn, was Victron specific as to what wires to disconnect, i.e., PV wires or battery wires, or all four? Although this thread has covered what to do with batteries during winter, you've brought up what is recommended, if anything, for solar controllers. Having recently replaced mine in our 400 BD, it is something of a chore. Wire connections have to be tightened to a specific torque value and working clearance in the 400 is pretty constricted.
    Susan & Bill, Yarmouth, Maine
    2024 T@B 400 Boondock Black Canyon
    2024 Kia EV9
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited November 2024
    B)
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 864
    My thoughts exactly.
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
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  • manyman297
    manyman297 Member Posts: 1,433
    @AnOldUR Is that fuse near the controller? I haven’t been behind that drawer for a while. That seems like the logical thing to do vs. pulling wires.
    2021 400 BD
    2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 
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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited November 2024
    B)
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,728
    edited November 2024
    B)
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

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  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,530
    edited November 2024
    The yellow fuse is apparently only a "reverse polarity protection" fuse.  The newer models do not seem to have these fuses.
    I'm starting to wonder: what exactly is the downside of just turning off the controller, turning off the battery switch, and leaving the battery in the trailer.  (I know everyone lives where jet fuel freezes).  What exactly is the "damage" all this effort is trying to prevent?  If a lithium battery advertises "4000 cycles" that is almost 11 years lifetime if you "cycled" the battery every day.
    So, I honestly do not understand the need for all this effort.  Especially the solar controller.
    Forgive me!  But I really do wonder about these sorts of things.  And: there are plenty of trailers in the SW with lithium batteries, and one of the comments in this thread say that if the battery is "stored" for 30 days up to 95 degrees.  Phoenix has months of 95 degree days and nights.  Are owners removing the batteries between trips if they know they won't use the trailers in a couple of months in the summer? 
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • manyman297
    manyman297 Member Posts: 1,433
    For me the primary concern was leaving the batteries in through winter hooked to the panel. Litime says to not leave the batteries in over winter (we get down to 0 degrees in winter). But yeah, I would think turning off the controller in the app is good enough but I guess pulling the fuse is a good belt and suspenders approach. 
    2021 400 BD
    2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 
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