Community Forums

Mainecoons · 05-31-2019, 11:26 AM

2002 CC Allure 36. I will have electric available at two storage sites I am looking at. It occurs to me it would be better over a long period to use Battery Tenders rather than keep the coach plugged in. A little concerned something might fail where as the Battery Tenders are pretty much bulletproof. Your thoughts?

MinntoMich · 05-31-2019, 11:43 AM

I like the idea of a battery tender and they are inexpensive. What I normally do is top off my batteries and then disconnect them when I park between Nov. and April.

How public is the storage? That would be the deciding factor if I decide to take them with me or leave them there.

Have yet to have a problem starting or running 12 volt in the spring when it comes out of storage.

Mainecoons · 05-31-2019, 12:30 PM

Battery Tenders seems safe and not likely to have problems like leaving the coach plugged in ALTHOUGH when we had our garage for our '98 Allure we just left it plugged in to 50 amp all the time with no problems.

If we did this would the onboard systems of the 2002 Allure keep ALL batteries, coach and chassis, charged? Is there a heat or fire danger to this?

Thanks.

Mr_D · 05-31-2019, 12:40 PM

I leave mine plugged in to at least 15 amp power all the time. No problems.

Kodiakan · 05-31-2019, 09:01 PM

I had this same dilemma a couple weeks ago. I plugged it in and made sure both battery switches were turned off. Still hoping that was the correct move and that the charger works with the switches off. I will eventually have a good multibank charger onboard where I can pull the terminals off the batteries and just have them isolated. Do make sure you top them off with distilled water. Even though brand new, mine (3) took a full gallon of water to top off.

Old Dinghy · 06-01-2019, 05:33 AM

During our annual 8 month storage we had initially relied on staying plugged into 15 amp with most circuits off on the House panel, and the echo charger keeping the chassis battery charged. That proved undependable, so I have used a Battery Tender ever since plugged into a basement outlet to maintain the chassis flooded battery while the two House AGMs are kept in float by the coach’s charging system. Over 10 years life out of the original chassis, and 13 out of the House ones. Hope this helps. Safe travels.

winniman · 06-01-2019, 06:05 AM

If parked outside in the light, a solar battery tender might fit the bill. This of course wont work if it is stored indoors. Leaving them plugged in for extended periods wont hurt anything. You may want to check your fluid levels in the batteries every so often if you have lead acid batteries. Full timers leave theirs plugged in. Mine is plugged in from May until November every year.

Mainecoons · 06-01-2019, 08:25 AM

Thanks. So if I just keep it plugged in both the chassis and coach batteries will be kept charged. I'm assuming no problem over 4-5 months if before we leave the batteries are charged and fluid levels fully up.

Sbrownstein · 06-01-2019, 09:40 AM

Leaving the converter running is OK, but it will keep you isolation relay energized for the whole 6 month period as well. They are constant duty but this is the reason they will eventually fail.

You could charge them up and then disconnect the ground lugs from house and chassis and leave them with the coach unplugged. They won't self-discharge more than 5% a month anyway.

2 Stroker · 06-01-2019, 04:10 PM

When not in use our coach is plugged into a 30A service. Your coach should have a echo charger that keeps the chassis battery charged. My echo charger gave up so I installed the Magnum Combiner, a better system plus I placed it where I could see it. My inverter has been on for 6 years, don't like to reset the microwave clock.