Community Forums

DaveBunker · 08-05-2018, 07:34 PM

I’m hooked to my 50a shore power at home. During weeks of down time, should I turn my disconnect to off. If my thoughts are right, the 2000 watt inverter/converter will still keep bats charged. Isn’t the inverter before the disconnects? Plus my 5watt solar panel will continue to trickle chg the bat bank, right?

DaveBunker · 08-05-2018, 09:17 PM

I reread my owners manual. It says to leave the disconnect switches on while hooked to shore power to keep batteries front discharging. So I guess I answered my own question, however if anyone wants to chime in, please do. Thanks

8.3Oilbuner · 08-05-2018, 09:48 PM

Good evening Dave Bunker; Different years of Monaco coaches can mean things can be different. On my previous 2000 Monaco Windsor and my currant 2001 Windsor, if you turn the battery disconnects off for the house and chassis, the inverter still charges the batteries when plugged into shore power. So if you have the coach plugged into shore power and you think you have killed all power to certain components, you really need to check with a volt meter before doing any work. I would be under the assumption that if I turned both battery disconnects off, no voltage should be going to the batteries. Not so on my Windsor's. Just an FYI not to assume anything when it comes to Monaco coaches that I have owned.

DaveBunker · 08-06-2018, 02:05 AM

Thank you for the heads up. Volt meter is a good idea. It is interesting on my 2004 Camelot that when my disconnects are on off, I still hear the inverter humming. So my coach might be like yours. Meter will be the deciding proof.

BigLar368 · 08-06-2018, 05:35 AM

We have a 2004 Camelot and we just leave everything on and plugged into shore power. Ours though did not charge the chassis batteries when hooked up. I searched forever for the problem then after a bunch of research found that it was never intended to charge them from the factory.

okcnewbie · 08-06-2018, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBunker

Plus my 5watt solar panel will continue to trickle chg the bat bank, right?

I wouldn't count on the 5watt doing much of anything really...... sorry.

JFNM · 08-06-2018, 05:39 AM

A 5 watt solar panel is a marketing gimmick - it has zero value on a RV sized battery bank.

If your battery charger is a three-four stage charger (meaning it has a float stage), it is safe to leave it plugged in all the time. If it is not, it will cook your batteries and eventually destroy them. So, what make/model charger do you have?