Chassis battery on or off?

[Wbonsell]

I’ve always left both chassis and house batteries on. Read recently where someone suggested hitting the disconnect for the chassis battery until time to fire her up and move along.

Thoughts??

[WinnieView]

For how long? Will you be using a battery tender?

[alank]

While camped and "plugged in", batteries are ON. While stored, both batteries are off and only turned on once a month when plugged to charge.

[P38]

Since I store outside and cover in winter my rooftop solar is useless. Purchased two 15 amp battery te

[P38]

[QUOTE=P38;4529588]Since I store outside and cover in winter so my rooftop solar is useless. Purchased two 15 amp solar battery tenders with extensions so the cords will reach from rooftop to battery compartment. Too lazy to take batteries out and put back each year. This is the first time the batteries have a
trickle charge in winter. Got the idea from another thread. Should help for longer battery life.

[DaveBunker]

You need to determine if your shore power also charges your chassis bats. My Camelot does not charge chassis bats on shore power. Only house bats. So a battery tender is important. Some RVs do include chassis. While parked at my home I’m plugged into a 50amp power pedestal. I have a battery tender on 24/7 hard wired into RV. I also have my block heater activated along with my system heat.

[Domo]

Freightliner says chassis battery off when not using the rig for over a day.

[ddowntown]

I leave everything on and plugged into 50amp service. Too many electronically controlled items that can loose their memory, additionally you do not have to reset the dash clock system. I was not aware Freightliner suggested to turn it off. With the power off the door lock system can only be used manually with a key as opposed to the key pad.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by Wbonsell

I’ve always left both chassis and house batteries on. Read recently where someone suggested hitting the disconnect for the chassis battery until time to fire her up and move along.

Thoughts??

It depends on how your unit is wired and how you store it. Some units disconnect the battery from the charger when the battery switch is off and some do not. If you are storing it with power connected then do whatever you need to do to keep the battery charging.

[Soppy]

If you are plugged into shore power and the chassis batteries are being charged , you don't have to disconnect them. If the coach is going to sit for more than a week unplugged and with no generator running , then they should be disconnected.

[Wbonsell]

We are mostly plugged in to 50A shore power and move every few weeks or so. Don't really know if shore power is charging chassis battery but it always fires right up after even a 28 day stay so assuming they are being charged which might make my question irrelevant as it pertains to us. Certainly would disconnect if being stored for weeks or months on end, but as full timers that ain't about to happen. Hopefully!

[J-N-Lham]

Mine drains down after sometime even when switched off. So I disconnect neg on all batteries, check with amp meter occasionally, if gets below 12.6/12.7 put automatic charger on every couple weeks. Although we do live in the arctic I am beginning to believe. This when parked for a period of time 5 to 6 months. When traveling I leave the disconnects on and just start-up for 20-30 mins or go for a short drive. Seems to work when we winter somewhere warm it's usually 5-6 months also. I think thats the best option.
Jack

[J-N-Lham]

Even if you turn it off at the switch there are still things that still draw. If I understand right if switch is off the battery will not charge. Also I have came to understand the house batteries need to be at a certain level before any charge will go to chassis batt.