Chassis Battery Disconnect While Parked

[javpop]

Since my chassis battery does not charge from shore power should I shut off the chassis disconnect while on shore power if I am going to be parked several days or more? What things will not work and what damage could it do, if any? I have been using a regular charger every week/10 days but I know this is not healthy for the battery. I am aware of the trickle chargers that connect from the house to the chassis batteries but I'm not sure if that is the best way for the batteries. I am going to purchase new chassis batteries next week and was only thinking of ways to prolong their life. Thanks

[Jim Stewart]

I use the trick-l-charger, it is easy to install, cheap ($54.00), keeps the chassis batteries charged when plugged into shore power, will not drain the house batteries and an all around good solution. you may want to read about it hear.

http://www.lslproducts.com/TLSPage.html

[John-D]

I will second the Trick-l-start device.

Hook up is easy (3 wires, battery 1, positive, battery 2, positive, common ground, and it adds the "keep all batteries charged" function to shore power

Even disconnectd a battery can run down

And deep discharging starter batteries.... NOT a good idea

[RVDude]

I would NOT kill the chassis switch while camped. WHY?

If your rig has an engine or transmission computer it needs that juice to keep it turned on. Some of these computers "learn" your driving habits and make engine/transmission performance adjustments based on your habits (most all of the newer ones do this). Hence, when you discon the power to the computer(s) it will reset itself and you may experience erratic shifting or other poor engine features as it "re-learns" the data that it lost from the power down. A chassis discon is effectively a "re-boot and reset to defaults" for these computers.

Get a 5w solar panel and install it on the roof. Less hassle than a Trickle-Charge as it will always be "on" and never needs any other attention.

[Robin_M]

javpop,

Not sure why you feel that trick-l-charge/echo~charge systems would not be good for your chassis batteries. I think that the best thing you can do for your chassis batteries is to keep them fully charged. That's what these systems attempt to do. This is even more important when you are storing your coach and not living in it, as the chassis batteries will drain then as well. The echo~charge, which I use, is designed to "echo" the on-board house battery charging system and therefore output only a minimal charge, designed only to maintain the charge level, when the batteries are fully charged. It won't cook the batteries in either bank. I assume the trick-l-charge works in a similar manor, although I am not familiar with that system.

Even while using the chassis disconnect, there are drains. For example, the chassis batteries are always connected to the engine ECM, even with the disconnect switch turned off. So using that switch, while parked and using your coach, will help maintain some charge, but probably will not make a significant difference. That said, I can't think of much that would be effected by turning off the chassis batteries, except maybe power to the entrance steps.