Community Forums

iRent2u · 02-11-2016, 07:16 PM

Plugged in 24/7. No problems for the two years we have owned a Motorhome.

ladagobago · 02-11-2016, 07:35 PM

Keep it plugged in unless I am goin down the road.

milasman · 02-11-2016, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothermark

FWIW I think the majoirity of lower end units do not have 3 stage converters as they are under $100,000 or so new. Those do not do well plugged in all the time. OTOH if the list price was over $250,000 or so I would expect a 3 stage with float and no problem. In between one had better figure out what they have. At least one clue is probably how much information one gets off the indicator panel. If you have 4 idiot lights it's probably a single stage. If it reads the voltage and tells you it may also be doing something with the information.

Always that one guy who makes you feel dirt poor...

Arch Hoagland · 02-11-2016, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barmcd

Okay then, we'll leave it plugged in. It's nice to be able to use all the systems when its sitting in the drive way. We have a water line about 50' away so I'm going to extend it so we can connect city water while parked. I wish the septic tank wasn't 150' away or I'd put a waste station there too.

I'd suggest not leaving the water turned on unless you are in the coach.

We had a water line behind our toilet break one time when we were away from the coach. Nice mess when we got back.

We always turn off the water now when we are away from the RV.

So hook up the water line but don't open the valve unless you are using the coach.

Mr_D · 02-11-2016, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalynzoo

I have a 30amp outlet on my house pad, the MH is plugged in 24/7 when we are not traveling, using and adaptor plug. I keep a low wattage (13watt) lamp plugged in 24/7, visible from through the window, so I can see the light every time I enter or exit my house. Should the cord become disconnect the MH switches to inverter, if the batteries then drop the light goes out and I can check my connections before the food in the frig gets hot.
Yes, it has disconnected a few times over many years...a meter reader steps on the cord, while washing the motorhome the cord loosens, whatever.
Happy Trails.

I do the same thing except I'm running on a 20 amp circuit from the garage. The 30 amp RV plug was damaged by a windstorm that blew the fence down that it was attached to a month or so ago and I haven't replaced it yet. I think I'm going to have to run new direct burial cable and I think the old one goes right under the rear axle.

Mr_D · 02-11-2016, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milasman

Always that one guy who makes you feel dirt poor...

Why would you feel that way? We're here to enjoy RV'ing!

Mr_D · 02-11-2016, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottybdivin

20 years ago, shortly after we built our house, I ran a line for a waste dump station over near my driveway, for my grandmother's Class C. She used to come visit for a couple weeks at a time. I never dreamed that I would be needing it 20 years later. It will pay for itself, if it is logistically feasible to do so.

Can't do that here, it's against the county code BUT you can have as many "cleanouts" as you want. That still presents a problem as the sewer comes out on the north side of the house and the MH is parked on the south side and some 70' away. The SaniCon can do it, just need more 3/4" hose.

nothermark · 02-12-2016, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milasman

Always that one guy who makes you feel dirt poor...

Or wise and thrifty. It is very unlikely we will full time so no reason to go for the high end MH sitting depreciating most of the year. OTOH can't beat the porta cabin for traveling when we want to. ;-)

mike brez · 02-12-2016, 06:17 AM

We leave ours plugged in all the time unless we are going to hit the road.

barmcd · 02-12-2016, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

I'd suggest not leaving the water turned on unless you are in the coach.

We had a water line behind our toilet break one time when we were away from the coach. Nice mess when we got back.

We always turn off the water now when we are away from the RV.

So hook up the water line but don't open the valve unless you are using the coach.

Thanks for the heads up. We always turn the water off when we're out of the coach for more than a day because we've heard too many stories of people who had water leaks.

Camper Ken · 02-12-2016, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milasman

Plugging RV in will cause a higher electric bill, so that could be a downside I guess.....

How much do you think the typical electric bill would increase? I'm curious as I keep mine plugged in all the time. I'd think the increase would be minimal since you're really only providing a small amount of current via the power converter to keep the batteries topped off.

milasman · 02-12-2016, 01:24 PM

Well, in my RV, there are 3 televisions, a microwave, fridge, step lights, and various other small electrical drains beside the power converter. It does add up, but if only the power converter is on, as much as 1 to 2 amps draw comparable to one or two 100 watt lights on all the time.

Murf2u · 02-12-2016, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milasman

Well, in my RV, there are 3 televisions, a microwave, fridge, step lights, and various other small electrical drains beside the power converter. It does add up, but if only the power converter is on, as much as 1 to 2 amps draw comparable to one or two 100 watt lights on all the time.

You leave all that stuff running when the unit is parked?

1 or 2 amps on 120 volts is 10 to 20 amps on 12 volts. Just what would be pulling 20 amps in a parked coach?

It sounds your batteries would be dead in a day if left unplugged.

milasman · 02-12-2016, 08:58 PM

No, you misunderstood, tvs on standby, microwave has clock etc. When I amp clamped my power wire from my 30 amp breaker it showed a constant draw between 1 to 2 amps.