Community Forums

Hawaii Dick · 12-05-2018, 01:37 PM

I live in Hawaii so we Store our coach in Vancouver, Washington. The storage facility has 110v available and many RV’s are left plugged in. I think I read that Winnebago recommends not leaving it plugged in. Anyone have experience with this situation? It’s a 2006 Itasca Meridian 36G.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 12-05-2018, 01:41 PM

HD-

Is there a reason to keep it plugged-in? If not, then better not to.

An unrelated topic: You should add a "signature" to your profile. It contains whatever info you want; most people put info about their coach there, so they don't have to type it into each message. Instructions for adding a signature are here.

CountryB · 12-05-2018, 01:59 PM

If you don't leave it plugged in, you need to disconnect the batteries or they will be dead when you come back to coach.

I leave mine plugged in to 20A extension cord and I keep a dehumidifier running (with dehumidifier drain going to shower drain - but I also need to check the gray tank level periodically or it will fill up). i'm in Florida so there is a lot of humidity in the air.

Duner · 12-06-2018, 12:01 AM

What inverter/charger do you have?
My Winnie 2004 came with a 2000 watt Dimension inverter/charger. It has a 3-stage charger with a 13.2 volt float charge. I left it plugged in all the time.

Use a digital meter to check your battery voltage after it's been plugged in for a few days. If it's 13.2v you're good to go. If it's 13.6v or more then it will boil out the battery water in a few months.
You will need to use a jumper cable to connect the coach batteries to the engine battery so it gets charged too. Remove the jumper cable when you're ready to go camping.

My 1985 Lance Camper had a 12v converter that put out 13.6 and it would cook the battery if I left it plugged in 24/7. So I used a lamp timer and it would charge for 1/2 hour each day. That worked for me for 15 years I had the camper.

Good luck,
Bill

JPeterson · 12-06-2018, 06:16 AM

I leave my rv plugged in to 120vac and use a Battery Tender.

My rv's converter sometimes would boil the house batteries and does not charge the chassis battery. After losing a couple sets of batteries over the winter, I do it this way and haven't had a problem since. I just unplug the converter and plug in the Battery Tender.

Hawaii Dick · 12-06-2018, 01:18 PM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess the safest route would be to leave it with the batteries switched off as I have done for the past 13 years or so. Since I am paying for the electricity I just wondered if I should be using it. Now I will try to figure out how to leave a signature as recommended.��

Ray,IN · 12-08-2018, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaii Dick

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess the safest route would be to leave it with the batteries switched off as I have done for the past 13 years or so. Since I am paying for the electricity I just wondered if I should be using it. Now I will try to figure out how to leave a signature as recommended.��

A few items are not routed through the disconnect switch, as previously suggested, remove the negative battery terminals to insure there is no battery drains.
Then again, if your coach has a 3-stage battery charger it may not harm the batteries to leave the coach on 102VAC all winter, just make sure they are full of water.
Our MH with 3 stage charger, is plugged-in any time we are home. Another possibility is just using a trickle charger/maintainer on the battery banks and bypassing the MH charger.

**Petro** · 12-09-2018, 11:03 AM

My previous motorhome was a 2003 Chieftain and my last one was a 2005 Horizon. Both motorhomes had a 2000 Watt inverter with a 3 stage charger. I left both of them plugged in 24/7 12 months of the year. My last set of batteries were 4 years old and still working well. I just replaced them this Fall as a matter of preventive maintenance. Based on my experience if you have a 3 stage charger you should be able to leave your rig plugged in 24/7.

Don

Hawaii Dick · 12-09-2018, 02:00 PM

I will definitely check the output of my charger the next time I’m using the coach. Unlike you, I can’t go outside to check on everything. I have left the coach unplugged with the batteries switched off for 6 months and have not had a problem in the last three years. Your Horizon is probably equipped with the same charger that mine came with so I feel like it’s a safe bet that I can leave it plugged in.

Thanks,
Dick

bob caldwell · 12-09-2018, 02:08 PM

Why turn it off....If I'm not traveling, mine stays plugged in and have never had a battery problem.....people that fulltime never turn theirs off...you can change out the circuit board to a 4 stage....Boondockers RV has them...and I live in this one 6 month at a time every year..

azpete · 12-12-2018, 06:42 AM

when you disconnect the batteries, some items lose their memory. if you leave it disconnected long enough, the engine computer will take a little time to relearn its functions. but thats not normally a big deal.
i do leave mine plugged in all the time, because i want the batteries to remain charged all the time. i have to leave on very short notice sometimes, and i find thats one less item to worry about.