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04-19-2016, 10:03 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 5
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Inverter/converter as a charger
If I plug 110v into shore power I assume the inverter/converter will keep the house batteries charged. My question is will it cease charging when batteries are fully charged, or will it over charge if left on too long?
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04-19-2016, 10:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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That depends entirely on your charger. Some will not overcharge the batterie(s) and some will continue to charge.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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04-20-2016, 12:14 AM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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These devices do a good job when an RV is in use...but very few Converters (chargers or those with built-in inverters) will stop charging at 100%...this is best done with a "float charger".
A float charger usually has a rather low output and do not work well for heavily discharged cell, but they do well to keep the batteries in tip-top condition while in storage.
Best luck
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04-20-2016, 07:32 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Seeing the USA
Posts: 2,646
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Not sure what yr. your MH is, but Winnebago tells me my 2003 Sightseer has a 1 stage charger which can boil batteries if their not monitored. 3 stage are apparently much better in that they have an initial charge, then absorption, then float charge. I am considering replacing mine. I'm just not sure what minimal amp. size I need. They get pretty pricey as the amp. rating goes up. Any suggestions are appreciated.
__________________
Neal and Deb + Mya and Gizmo, the pup's
2003 Winnebago Sightseer 30B
May the roads rise up to meet you, May the winds be always at your back...
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04-20-2016, 08:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,975
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Pepper2-
What is the amp rating for your current converter? Mine was 36A; I replaced it with a 55A.
Talk it over with Randy at bestconverter.com. He'll give you sound advice.
__________________
Mark
2008 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30PDD (Ford F-53 chassis)
2009 Honda Fit Sport
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04-20-2016, 08:23 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
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04-20-2016, 08:27 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,834
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plbrooke
If I plug 110v into shore power I assume the inverter/converter will keep the house batteries charged. My question is will it cease charging when batteries are fully charged, or will it over charge if left on too long?
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If your RV is newer ( 2005 or later ) then chances are it has a 3 stage converter that will not over-charge. One way you can tell is with your coach connected to shore power and batteries charged measure the battery voltage with a DC volt meter. Once the batteries are charged, the converter should drop to float charge mode, and the voltage across the battery terminals should be in the 13.4 to 13.8 range. Anything higher than 13.8 applied to a fully charged wet cell lead acid battery will be over charging it, causing loss of water from the cells and causing generation of hydrogen gas.
Battery Charging Tutorial | ChargingChargers.com
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Randy - Manhattan, Kansas
2015 Vista 27N
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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04-20-2016, 11:15 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Seeing the USA
Posts: 2,646
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Quote:
Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1
Pepper2-
What is the amp rating for your current converter? Mine was 36A; I replaced it with a 55A.
Talk it over with Randy at bestconverter.com. He'll give you sound advice. |
Sorry, I misplaced or thru away the the paper with the info.. 
__________________
Neal and Deb + Mya and Gizmo, the pup's
2003 Winnebago Sightseer 30B
May the roads rise up to meet you, May the winds be always at your back...
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04-20-2016, 11:24 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,260
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After a day on charge, measure the voltage on your batteries.
13.5 volts or more is excessive and will eventually boil the water out.
12.8 to 13.2 is more like a "float" charge, harmless.
12.6 is like a battery at rest (no charging for about an hour), and in good condition.
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DanielB
Looking for small Class C, sold Newmar MADP
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