House Battery Question

[Oldude]

When I'm plugged into shore power at home, should I switch the battery disconnect to "off" ?
Does the converter still charge the house battery when the switch is off???
Then, when I'm driving, the house battery switch should be on, right ?
Lot's to learn--sorry for the dumb questions

[Oldude]

When I'm plugged into shore power at home, should I switch the battery disconnect to "off" ?
Does the converter still charge the house battery when the switch is off???
Then, when I'm driving, the house battery switch should be on, right ?
Lot's to learn--sorry for the dumb questions

[Clay L]

It depends. The older converters made by Magnetek (6300 series) required a battery to be connected. The newer ones (7300 series) do not.

Although I have the newer converter version, my Winnebago manual says that if you are parked for more than a few days while connected to shore power that the battery disconnect switch should be used.

I would take a look at your owners manual and follow their instructions.

[Oldude]

Thanks Clay,
I have a 2002 Gulfstream and you know that when you buy it used--there is never an owners manual !!!
I'll check the mod. # when I get home this afternoon, but I'm thinking that the switch should be off if sitting for a while--1 to 2 months, but I do start it and let it run for about a half an hour each week and also the Gen.

Thanks again

[JC2]

As others have said, you can leave your rig unplugged from ac power and the battery disconnect switch used to avoid the infamous parasitic drain to your batteries. This is all well and good if one keeps the battery water level up and remembers to start the MH monthly. Many units have the Magnatek/Parallex converters which have a bad habit of overcharging/boiling batteries thus shortening their life span. I removed our Magnatek/Parallax converter (will keep for emergency use) and replaced it with a Progressive Dynamics converter and Charge Wizard. In addition, I purchased the Trik-L-Start which will also keep the starting battery charged when we are plugged in to ac. Our MH is left plugged in 24/7 with the battery disconnect not used. We check the water level monthly and have not had a low battery problem yet.
Trik L Start

[RV Wizard]

Wayne, what model Gulf Stream do you have? Do you know if it has a large inverter?

[Oldude]

It's an '02 Ultra Supreme -- 31' Class C
I finally did find some information on it last night but I did not check the Mod. # on the converter !!!
I found out that the refer always needs 12v to run , so now I will keep the refer off and open until a day or two before a trip.
Learning more, bit by bit !!!

[Pusherman]

All coaches are different, and wired differently. On my coach, I have to keep the house battery disconnect switch 'on' to receive charge from the inverter/charger. If I switch the house batteries 'off', I have verified via the on-board volt meter they do not receive a charge. Same holds for my 'Guest' engine battery disconnect switch.

Interestingly on my '00 Journey I am pretty sure that even if I had the house batteries off the converter/charger (different setup) would charge the coach batteries (but not the engine batteries).

[Bustopher]

Oldude,

Learned from experience that, on my coach, switch off (disconnected) means no charge. I have it plugged in 24/7 and the house batteries stay up nicely with the switch on. I have added a float charger for the ignition battery for these long cold months.

Looking to escape ASAP