storing batteries, charger set points

[Thumbs Up]

I am preparing to leave the boat for five months in a hot place. I have two new L-16 Trojans (420 AH), an Outback flexmax 60 and 380 watts of solar. I currently have it set up to absorb for one hour per day at 14.5 volts and float at 13.5 volts. I won't be running any loads on the system while I am away. Is it better to:
1. Leave it the way it is but have someone check the water level in a few months ?
2. Lower the absorb time or voltage or both ?
3. Equalize the batteries then shut the system down ?

suggestions?

[Ex-Calif]

I would consider looking for threads about "removing my batteries for winter"

Betteries will discharge all on their own. Smarter guys than me will jump in but I don't see the utility of leaving the system "going" and having the batteries cycle.

I think removing batteries for storage goes something like this

- Fully charge them
- Store them on wood blocks/strips to isolate them

- when you return it's basically top off the water and run a charge cycle.

[donradcliffe]

If it was gels or AGM, I've had better luck disconnecting the batteries at the terminals.

For FLA, I'd keep it floating with no absorption. Depends on how hot hot is, but probably 13.2v if the battery is going to see 90 degrees or above. If the batteries are new, I see no need to equalize them.

[goboatingnow]

why are you subjecting the bank to repeated absorption cycles ?



Put the battery charger on a simple AC plug in timer , have it come on once per week for a few hours.

Ive left all my batteries like that for 6 months every year for years now.

Top up with water, at the start, generally they don't need topping up again till start of season

dave

[colemj]

When we leave our boat for any time, I lower the absorption voltage to 14.1V and go away. We leave our reefer running - if we didn't, I would just set the controller to float.

Mark