Hi everyone. Just interested to find out what people do, especially those living in a Lifestyle or Retirement Village environment, what they do after storing their caravan out in a storage area concerning the van battery. Is it just left not connected to mains power while not using the caravan or placed on trickle charge that would require the battery to be removed from the van and placed indoors out of the weather? That'd be a cumbersome job in my view unless you're strong and fit.
As Peter said, the battery type is important to know because AGM batteries should be kept charged whereas Lithium should not.
As you said "That'd be a cumbersome job in my view unless you're strong and fit" I take it your battery is heavy, which implies AGM. On that basis, kept topped up is best. If you want to avoid moving it, then how about a small solar panel? Is it stored in the open or in shade? Can you connect a charger every few weeks?
If it is Lithium, the general recommendation is to discharge to 80%. Then top it up from time to time. It should keep sufficient charge for a few months, but check for small parasitic draws.
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Wednesday 25th of June 2025 01:13:35 PM
You last statement about being strong and fit leads me to believe that you are talking about AGM's because LiFePO4 are much lighter unless you are using the 300Ah batteries.
I gather you are talking about covered storage but hopefully you have either openings on the side or openings where you can run a cable to outside or maybe the roof. If that is the case then simply do what I have done with my boat and buy a small solar panel and connect it to the battery via a small solar regulator.
Always connect your solar controller to your battery first.
If by chance you do have LiFePO4 batteries then do as Are We Lost has suggested and discharge them slightly, although I don't I'm not suggesting to follow my lead. Make sure that everything is turned off or disconnected so that you do not have a parasitic current draw and they will happy sit for many many months. The self discharge rate is between 1-3% and I have a 100Ah that been sat in my garage for the past 8 months that has only dropped about 10%.
