Battery Disconnect while on shore power?

[DHart]

Our Newmar Bay Star 3124 has a "Battery Disconnect" switch. Should this be set to OFF to disconnect the batteries while the coach is being stored at the house and plugged into shore power?

My thinking is that if the batteries are charged up and we're storing with shore power connected, that they should be disconnected most of the time to prevent over-charging/cooking the batteries. And only connected once every week or two for a brief "top-off" charge.

Is this correct?

Or should the batteries be connected all the time that the coach is plugged into shore power?

[Luv2go]

Originally Posted by DHart

Our Newmar Bay Star 3124 has a "Battery Disconnect" switch. Should this be set to OFF to disconnect the batteries while the coach is being stored at the house and plugged into shore power?

My thinking is that if the batteries are charged up and we're storing with shore power connected, that they should be disconnected most of the time to prevent over-charging/cooking the batteries. And only connected once every week or two for a brief "top-off" charge.

Is this correct?

Or should the batteries be connected all the time that the coach is plugged into shore power?

The converter on my coach bypassed the "salesman" switch and went right to the batteries, so turning off the switch did me no good. I replaced it with a good inverter with a three stage charger.

Do you know what model converter you have? Some of them have a smart charge algorithm which shouldn't overcharge the batteries.

[dc3carl]

Seems to me that you could get a "Lawyer" answer: "That depends" on what kind of battery charger you have.
We leave our DSDP plugged into 30amp service at home and leave both the chassis and house batteries connected. We have a three stage battery charger for the house batteries and the small solar panel to trickle charge the chassis batteries.
Every month I exercise the coach: Run the slides; run the jacks; run the generator under load; etc.; check all fluid levels, including battery electrolyte.
If you have a three stage charger you will probably be ok leaving it plugged in and batteries connected provided you have sufficient power to the coach. I've read where some folks run into trouble if they've only got a 15 amp service for shore power.
Keep a check on your electrolyte levels if you've got lead acid batteries.
Good luck and enjoy your coach!

[DHart]

Thanks for the replies. I don't know the model of converter, but will figure that out! The Bay Star 3124 is a 2016 model with extra batteries for the residential fridge.

[Mike and Cha]

I leave mine plugged in with the battery disconnect switch in the on position. It will not charge the battery systems if it is not in the on position(at least that is what I am told). I also only have it plugged into a 15 amp service which is fine as the charging system never gets close to using that much amperage. The biggest mistake I made was leaving it unplugged for about two months, which made the chassis battery go bad. Since replacing the chassis battery everything s back to working as it should. I now leave it plugged in all the time.

[matt.brown]

It depends on what type of charger your Baystar has. Most newer motor homes will have three-stage charger that includes a float charge which will maintain a battery's charge without "boiling it over."

["007"]

I have always had BCS on when ever plugged into show power at home or on the road.
All batteries will be kept charged for times when not hooked up and possible traveling on road with out camp grounds at stops.
While traveling your batteries are charged by your alternator.
Here are a couple of links on batteries, this in QT's # 3 and this in the Tech Link below in my signature.

[newmarpusher]

Originally Posted by DHart

Our Newmar Bay Star 3124 has a "Battery Disconnect" switch. Should this be set to OFF to disconnect the batteries while the coach is being stored at the house and plugged into shore power?

My thinking is that if the batteries are charged up and we're storing with shore power connected, that they should be disconnected most of the time to prevent over-charging/cooking the batteries. And only connected once every week or two for a brief "top-off" charge.

Is this correct?

Or should the batteries be connected all the time that the coach is plugged into shore power?

As long as your Bay Star has a proper three stage charger, you should be able to leave everything on and plugged in when storing.

We leave our 2015 Ventana plugged into a 15 amp circuit year round in our yard when not using it. The battery disconnect switch is always on.

At least with the Ventana, it has a three stage charger and the Newmar BIM system. Both chassis and coach batteries are kept charged and maintained.

The Magnum charger has a "Shore" setting which I set at 10 amps. That way the battery charger never draws more power than the 15 amp circuit can provide.

We also have AGM batteries so we never have to check water levels.

Other than checking water levels, you should be able to do the same with your Bay Star.


Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

[LarryH1481]

My 2005 RV had a single-stage charger when I purchased used. When connected to shore power, the house batteries would boil. I installed the plug-in "Charge Wizard" option on the Progressive Dynamics converter. This 4-stage charger wizard solved the problem!

Your newer RV should have a multi-stage charger from the factory.
Info for reference...

Charge Wizard RV Battery Charging

[DHart]

Our converter is a Progressive Dynamics 9245. I don't know if that is a "3 stage" converter or not.

http://www.progressivedyn.com/rv_con...pd9245c_2.html

["007"]

His charging system should be OK has up to date info in link.
Thanks for the information.

[Mr_D]

I never turned off the "salesmans" switch in our 2002 Dutch Star. The OEM Interstate U-2200 batteries lasted 10 years. The rig was always plugged in when beside the house even over the winter storage season.

[DHart]

Originally Posted by "007"

His charging system should be OK has up to date info in link.
Thanks for the information.

Thanks, 007.

Apparently, the "Charge Wizard" is already built into the 9245... Very nice.

[Luv2go]

Originally Posted by DHart

Our converter is a Progressive Dynamics 9245. I don't know if that is a "3 stage" converter or not.

PD9245 45 Amp RV Converter / Charger from Progressive

The key is built in "Charge Wizard". As 007 said you'll be fine leaving it plugged in all the time with the "salesman switch" on.