I have a enclosed car trailer that I plan on installing a winch in.
I also have the 2 Delco batteries that came with my truck that I replaced with Optima's that I plan to mount in the trailer to power the winch.
I know your supposed to replace batteries in pairs to keep an older one from killing a newer one but does that apply to the trailer also,will the different age batteries hurt each other?
Do I need to buy 4 new batteries now?Censored
I only use the trailer 2 or 3 times a month so it's not constantly hooked up to the truck.
Also if I tap into the 12v+ power wire coming from the truck that feeds the trailer, will that recharge the batteries while I'm driving down the road or will it just blow the 30 amp fuse that's under the hood?
What do people with TT do that have batteries in their trailers do?
Any help would be appreciated

Thx Diesel Dragon :ro)

Your truck will not recharge two batteries unless you plan on going across the country. Just do what I do with my two RV batteries and buy a 10amp-2amp charger that tapers off as it charges, then charge the batteries every month when you are not using the trailer, I also take my batteries in the garage to preclude any chance of them freezing.The once a month charge rule still is in effect in the garage.

My first suggestion is to not use regular car batteries in your trailer where they are going to be charged and discharged on a regular basis. Use a deep cycle/marine battery or batteries and then have them hooked up to a proper charger that can either charge them through the "hot" feed on the wire harness or recharge them by plugging in the charger through a normal 110 volt line. Take a look at a camping trailer or a race car trailer to see an sample of how it's done.

Your truck will not recharge two batteries unless you plan on going across the country. Just do what I do with my two RV batteries and buy a 10amp-2amp charger that tapers off as it charges, then charge the batteries every month when you are not using the trailer, I also take my batteries in the garage to preclude any chance of them freezing.The once a month charge rule still is in effect in the garage.
When you put your batteries in the garage, do you put them on a shelf or on the concrete floor? I heard that setting batteries on concrete will either ruin or kill batteries. I am not sure if it is because it is cold. Has anyone else heard this?

I set mine on wood blocks about a foot or so off of the floor and then put a trickle charger on them about once a month during the winter. There is something about a chemical reaction between the concrete and the lead in the batteries that just kills them.

Come on guys. That concrete story is urban legand. Maybe a Loooong time ago there may have been an element of truth but not any more. I've never believed it but I have dealt with a local battery manufacturer, (Crown Battery), and they threw the BS flag down.

Today's battery cases are made of plastic. If there is an electro-chemical reaction between the inside and outside of the battery with that material, you've got a serious problem.

I understand about tapping into the "hot" feed to recharge the batteries, I was just wondering if the drained batteries would pull more juice than the 30 amp fuse under the hood could handle. Or will it just recharge at 30 amp's max.
Also some day I plan on getting some Optima yellow top's for the trailer too, but for now these 2 delco's are in good shape and are free so I might as well use them until they die.
But will tapping into the "hot" wire from the truck wiring plug cause a problem by mixing 2 older delco's (in the trailer) with 2 newer Optima's (in the truck).
Or if I go out and buy 2 "new" Optima's for the trailer and mix that with the 2 older Optima's in the truck, by mixing I mean having them hooked together through the "hot" wire.
I just don't want to kill my truck's batteries by having them tied into the trailer's batteries, but I do want to be able to recharge them through the "hot wire.
And batteries on a concrete floor is a old tale like DavesDmax said, the plastic cases shouldn't let any energy through.
Maybe because the cement floor is colder it might decrease the battery's performance compared to one that is sitting on a bench.
Thx for your replies.

Well thanks for answering my question. But, yeah but, how long have they been using plastic housings? As long as I can remember they have been plastic. I have never seen a metal casing for a car battery in the 20+ years I have been driving.

Diesel Dragon,
Your batteries should last for at least a year maybe. I would try to hook them up so that you are pulling from your two main truck batteries to at least start/run your truck and then have the other two as the alternates. I am not sure how to do this but you can make one or two if possible your main batteries and the others your so called back up. This may save excessive wear on your trucks batterries. Have you thought about using your blue power wire on the trailer plug for running your trickle charger?
To run that length all the way back to your trailer for the winch you will need some large diameter wire. If you do go with the large wire you might look at the welding lead wires. These are for high current and handle heat better than some other wires.

Diesel Dragon:
I agree that the simplest thing to do would be to just recharge the batteries with a trickle charger in your garage. If you want to run a "hot" wire from the truck to recharge the trailer batteries,you would probably need a "battery isolator" to prevent those batteries from draining your truck batteries.

Also remember to run the batteries in parallel (unless you get a 24V winch). Or you might just want to use one battery in the trailer, depending on the size of winch you have and the amps it draws. You could always have the second battery as a backup. But when you do replace those batteries, definitely go with a deep cycle for winching.

For more info. on battery isolators, check out the following link
http://www.hellroaring.com/rv.htm and you might want to talk to a local camper trailer dealer. They should have battery isolators and know a little about them.

The most important part of battery storage is to keep them DRY. If a battery is allowed to stay wet or moisture remains on it, it will discharge itself between the + and - terminals using the water/moisture as a conductor.

I think that we've all heard this. I have heard many people say that it's a myth, and I've heard as many say that it's bunk.

I found this site that had this to say: (the last paragraph gives the history)

http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/faqs/tech_talk/maintenance/storing.htm

Will storing my battery on concrete drain the charge? No. Regarding today's batteries, this is a myth. A battery placed on concrete will not discharge any faster, but a battery will discharge over a period of time wherever it is placed. If the battery has a surface layer of acid or grime which is conductive, the battery will self-discharge more rapidly than if it were clean and dry.

This myth does have some historical basis. Many years ago, wooden battery cases encased a glass jar with the battery in it. Any moisture on the floor could cause the wood to swell and possibly fracture the glass, causing it to leak. Later came the introduction of the "hard rubber" cases, which were somewhat porous. A current could be conducted through this container, which had a high carbon content, if the moist concrete floor permitted the current to find an electrical ground. The wise advise of the old days to "not store batteries on concrete" has apparently been passed down to us today, but it no longer applies.

Darrin

Thanks for answering my question.

dont put a battery on the floor because its colder and stays cold this will not allow it to take a full charge and discharge fasterhas nothing to do with a reaction

Interesting topic to me, as I just purchased a new '28 Toy Hauler, and the DC converter/charger had an optional module the other owners recommended. Primarily, it helps to prevent sulphation by doing some special cycle every so many idle hours.

Today I purchased a BatteryMINDer from Camping World to trickle charge/de-sulpahate/maintain my boat batteries. My old 20/2 amp charger was cooking batteries. It is great for auto batteries when dead, but crappy for Deep Cycle units, IMHO.

If I understand your question, your wanting to mix two OEM Delcos, with two other batteries. If the other two are not Marine/RV Deep Cycles, then go for it. The better cells will be effected by the weaker ones, but if they're all *cheap* batteries, they could last longer than you think, esp. with a good charger.

Here is the link for the BM, I don't know yet if it is good or bad...

http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12v_1a.htm

Ok, guess you learn something everyday. Always believed what I was told by the old farmer I worked for growing up as a kid and 30 years later I am still keeping those batteries off the floor!

One other thought; if you use your winch while still connected thru the trailer "Red Hot Wire" and if your trailer batteries are weak or low, you could be drawing a current greater than the 30 amp fuse which in turn could either blow the fuse or damage the wiring. Just be sure to unplug the trailer before you winch.

Like I know what I'm talking about):h
Pete

Ok, I found the following fairly informative:

http://www.vdcelectronics.com/press_room/Deep%20Cycle%20Battery.pdf

Here are a couple of snips in regard to sitting on floor, and mixing old/diffenent batteries together in parallel or serial:

10.1. Storing a battery on a concrete floor will discharge them.

A hundred years ago when battery cases were made of porous materials, such as wood, storing batteries on concrete floors would accelerate their discharge. Modern battery cases, made of polypropylene or hard rubber, which are better sealed, so external leakage, causing discharge, is no longer a problem. However, the top of the battery must be clean and dry. Temperature stratification within large batteries could accelerate the internal " leakage" or self-discharge if the battery is sitting on a cold floor in a warm room or is installed in a submarine.

On Dual+ install:
If you connect two 12-volt batteries in parallel and they are identical in type, age and capacity, you can potentially double you original capacity. If you connect two that are not the same type, you will either overcharge the smaller of the two, or you will undercharge the larger of the two. When connecting in series or parallel and to prevent recharging problems, do not mix old and new batteries or ones of different types. Cable lengths should be kept short and cable must be sized large enough to prevent significant voltage drop; there should be a maximum of 0.2 volts (200 millivolts) or less drop between batteries.