Community Forums

JerryKelly · 11-21-2006, 05:39 PM

I will be storing my MH in a heated warehouse for the next 3 months, until after the snowfall season. I am planning on keeping it plugged in during this time since the inverter will manage the charge. I also plan on driving it approximately 100 miles once a month to keep things "exercised" and moving. Can anyone think of any reason why I should not keep it plugged in? Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

JerryKelly · 11-21-2006, 05:39 PM

I will be storing my MH in a heated warehouse for the next 3 months, until after the snowfall season. I am planning on keeping it plugged in during this time since the inverter will manage the charge. I also plan on driving it approximately 100 miles once a month to keep things "exercised" and moving. Can anyone think of any reason why I should not keep it plugged in? Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

rebelsbeach · 11-21-2006, 05:43 PM

The BBT stays snug as a bug all year long plugged into the side of the house...

She'll be winterized this year.....in Tampa and Juno Beach!

Besides, aren't most fulltimers plugged in a lot of the time?

Jack Foster · 11-22-2006, 01:32 AM

Jerry

If your Mountain Aire has wet cell batteries, I'd make a point of checking the water level at least once a month. Even with a three stage charger, they will lose a little water with the charger on constantly.

Jack

Cruzer · 11-22-2006, 03:33 AM

You should have no problems. I'd check the water level at the start to see how things go but with any of my RVs I've kept them plugged in 24/7 and they never used any water. I made it a point to check battery water every 6 months but it's a good idea to check it monthly at first just to be sure your inverter/charger isn't putting out too many volts in the float mode, which will evaporate some water.

Lug_Nut · 11-22-2006, 03:35 AM

I have left my three motorhomes over the years from 1999 always plugged in when not in use and never had a problem. Water consumption in the batteries is near zero when just plugged in requiring checking only every three month or so.

CharlieM · 11-22-2006, 12:17 PM

Mine is plugged into the side of the house as we speak. It does outgas, I do check it. Have heard that adding a teaspoon of Mineral Oil to each cell will slow this down, haven't tried that yet.

JerryKelly · 11-22-2006, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the input. I usually keep my MH plugged in all the time..run the AC in summer and heat in the winter. I found it keeps the humidity at a good level and the coach is never musty when not in use. I also check my batteries frequently. Compared to my former Fleetwood Revolution, the batteries use very little water. Now if I could only keep the mice out of my basement, everything would be perfect.

RVDude · 11-22-2006, 06:54 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CharlieM:
It does outgas, I do check it. Have heard that adding a teaspoon of Mineral Oil to each cell will slow this down, haven't tried that yet. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Chemistry class dictates that the off gassing is due to electrolysis by adding electricity into the battery - hence - the way to stop off gassing/water use is to stop the electric flow into the battery. Mineral Oil?

Any chemists out there?

I had to say this just in case some tries this w/o more details.

JMO: Controlling the charge (not additives) would seem to be the right approach to controlling water use. A true float charge on a quality tri-mode charger only inputs current to equal current naturally lost. Hence minimal to no off gassing or water loss. Older or less sophisticated so called "float chargers" maintain a constant low level current input thus causing constant offgassing and constant water use and should never be left on all the time. The famous boiling your battery syndrome.