11 It’s no secret that RV sales hitting record highs in 2021 meant more RV owners have embraced mobile living than ever before. This also means that more RV owners need to be briefed on the ins and outs of winterizing their RVs. Why Winterize an RV’s Power System? Upselling a winterizing service for a customer’s unit is one of the best ways to extend the lifespan of their mobile power system. Here are a few top three reasons why you and your customers should care about this process: • RV batteries are expensive: With lithium batteries coming in around $1000 a piece, maintaining the whole mobile system with a proper winterizing routine is imperative to protect your customers’ investments. • It helps ward off pests and rodents: When prepping an RV’s solar system for the winter, a bonus is you’re protecting it from unwanted animal visitors. • Increasing long-term resale value: It’s a fact that, when reselling, the better shape an RV is in, the higher a price tag it can get when being sold. Proper winterization helps keep an RV’s resale value high by maintaining its power system. If customers are routine about upkeeping their power systems, AGMand lead acid batteries should last 3-4x longer than they traditionally would. When to Start Winter-Proofing You may get asked: “At what temperature should you winterize an RV?” and “Do I need to winterize an RV if it’s being stored inside?” Let’s tackle both of those questions. Ideally, the time to winter-proof an RV’s power system is before winter hits–specifically, any time of the year when the temperature is around 32F. Whether the customer is staying put, traveling, or storing an RV throughout the winter, it’s recommended to make a winterization plan at least a month before those winter temperatures kick in. Between early drops in temperature and checking and charging an RV’s batteries as needed, you’ll want to give an ample time cushion for the service. How to Winterize an RV’s Power System (Properly!) When it comes to thoroughly winterizing a trailer, there are three main components of its solar power system that need to be addressed: the batteries, solar panels, and charge controller and inverter. Winterizing Batteries The bad news–an RV’s batteries will be the biggest concern during the winter, as sub-freezing temperatures heavily impact their operation. The good news–whether the customer plans to store the unit or use it and continue traveling during the colder months, there are a few ways to protect the batteries. If the batteries are being stored, it’s best to do so in an insulated space like a garage or a basement that is kept above freezing (AGMs can handle temperatures lower than 20F). Once in its storage, instruct the customer to put the battery bank on a trickle charger or a wooden pallet. As an alternative, the batteries can be left in an RV on a trickle charger. Trickle charging using a solar panel or wall outlet keeps the batteries active while being stored. If they can, also instruct the customer to check the batteries’ charges monthly. On the flipside, if they plan to travel or live in an RV during the winter then the battery type needs to be taken into account. Each battery type of battery has a unique minimum and maximum temperature range, so it’s crucial to build a winterproofing strategy around that. While lithium batteries are great for energy storage capacity, they don’t like cold temperatures and will require a heating blanket or an insulated compartment for winter use. AGM batteries do tend to perform better in cold temperatures, but the battery compartment should also be insulated. Winterizing Solar Panels Does it snow in your neck of the woods? Better get those solar panels winter proofed as well! If the RV has solar panels installed on the roof and the customer intends to leave it outside throughout most of the winter, it’s best to either remove the panels and store them inside, ensure that the panels are adjusted at an angle so that snow slides off more easily, or keep snow accumulation to a minimum if deciding to keep them flat. And if they want to keep them in use all winter long? Consider altering the solar panel angle for both maximum snowmelt and maximum sun exposure. Either way, make sure you remind them that they need to remove heavy snow loads as soon as possible. Pro Tip: For the best protection, here are the four most important steps for keeping solar panels in good shape over the winter: • Cover solar panels with a protective material that doesn’t allow light to pass through, like tarp or plywood •Unhook solar panels from the solar controller • Label solar panel wires (“positive” and “negative”) • Fix wire nuts on each of the positive and negative leads from the solar panels Winterizing the Charge Controller and Inverter Last is on the list are the charge controller and inverter, which should be at the bottom of a priority list when winterizing an RV or trailer. Both charge controllers and inverters have a wide temperature range that they can function through sub-freezing temperatures and don’t typically shorten their lifespan. These components can be stored in temperatures anywhere between -31F and 175F. Safe operating temperatures are generally between -4F and 158F. So, not much to worry about here. “Do I Need to ‘Winter-Proof’My Trailer If I Live in a Warm Climate?” Call it a bonus of living in a warm climate, but, if you enjoy balmy weather or live somewhere with a temperate climate then there is no need to “winterize” an RV’s solar power system. However, if a trailer is parked indoors or is in chronically low sunlight all winter, then it’s a good idea to apply the cold climate storage directions listed above. EDUCATIONAL TIPS Winterize an RV’s Solar Power System By Eva Mitic, Marketing Manager - Go Power!
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