Community Forums

chavi · 06-23-2014, 04:43 PM

Our 5th wheel sits on a lake lot 2 hours from our home. Sometimes we aren't there for a month. Mostly every other weekend. Is it safe to keep the converter and battery plugged in all the time so we can keep the refrigerator running?

The wife

lavamanz · 06-23-2014, 04:52 PM

I keep my motorhome plugged in year around.

As long as you have a multi stage converter should be fine. The old converters boiled the batteries. My frig requires defrosting about every 6 days so I don't leave the frig running, you need to be level for running the frig.

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jesilvas · 06-23-2014, 06:33 PM

You can BUT you need to keep a good eye on your battery and water levels.

What trailer and converter do you have? Some are better than others.

vsheetz · 06-23-2014, 08:15 PM

Before installing solar, I had a timer on the shore power cord when stored between trips to limit the time powered on. However, I was not trying to keep the refrigerator running continually.

TQ60 · 06-23-2014, 11:33 PM

Do this...

Buy battery minder for battery

Turn off converter

Verify fridge has ac

Fleetwood has a single ac circuit with converter in same circuit as gfi and fridge so turning off breaker not correct

Unplugging hastle as plug under and behind.

Made "switch cord" to solve...take short extension cord of 6 ft and break the hot side and wire a switch.

Place this cord in line with converter by plugging converter into cord and cord where converter was plugged in.

Turn switch off and converter drops.

Battery minder keeps battery happy.

Hit disconnect for battery to release any loads.

Also check battery water on each trip until you determine normal watering time.

chavi · 06-24-2014, 07:39 AM

It's a 1999 Hy Line, I don't know who it's made by. But it was made in Elkhart Indiana I think. We just bought a 4 stage Powermax Boondocker 45 (a Magnatek 3240 which is now obsolete.). It was recommended by Randy at Best Converters to replace our old one. Not sure about how often the frig needs defrosting. We'll be there for a week next month so maybe I'll know more about the frig and battery then.