Community Forums

rtd8 · 05-10-2018, 08:54 AM

I have always kept my unit plugged into a timer that puts power to the coach about 10 or 15 minutes each day. My reason for that is to keep from drying the batteries out while the unit is stored. My question to the experienced is this a good practice? Sometimes the unit may sit for 2 months. I would like some opinions. Thanks

weredoingit · 05-10-2018, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtd8

I have always kept my unit plugged into a timer that puts power to the coach about 10 or 15 minutes each day. My reason for that is to keep from drying the batteries out while the unit is stored. My question to the experienced is this a good practice? Sometimes the unit may sit for 2 months. I would like some opinions. Thanks

If it works, I guess it's okay. But do have a battery monitor? You may not be keeping your battery's fully charged. I understand not wanting to dry out your battery's, but you also don't want to let them not be fully charged. You don't say how big your bank is? It's hard to give you a answer.

anakin · 05-10-2018, 09:02 AM

I leave mine plugged in all the time and check the water level at least once per month.

RVPioneer · 05-10-2018, 09:43 AM

A battery sitting idle for two months is unlikely to lose water. It will lose some of its charge depending, in part, on any loads it may be supporting. 15 minutes a day may not be sufficient to properly charge the batteries. Water loss occurs from regular discharging and charging.

Depending on where it is parked, a solar maintainer may be a viable option. When ours was parked without power I found a 20w solar maintainer was sufficient to keep the chassis batteries charged, provided that the battery disconnect switch was off to eliminate phantom loads. I did not use a solar panel to maintain the house batteries as I was able to run the generator every month or so to charge them. I would imagine a100w panel would be sufficient to main your house bank of 6-8 batteries.

FLA batteries will provide a longer service life when kept properly charged. A maintainer, either solar or plug in, may be an option to consider.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-10-2018, 10:27 AM

15 minutes is too short, but yes that can be a useful practice if you have an older technology charger (e.g. single stage or limited regulation). With the old Magnetecs and similar, it was all but required. However, newer multi-stage chargers with sophisticated digital charge management can be safely left on 24/7/365. My 2004 coach with a Xantrex RV2500 system was never unplugged for 12 years (except when actually driving).

Clomok · 05-10-2018, 11:12 AM

I leave mine plugged in all the time, propped 3/4 stage chargers won’t dry batteries for months.

Do you know what model charger you have?

Mudfrog · 05-10-2018, 12:41 PM

Being an older model, i don't trust the coach's converter/battery charger to maintain the batteries correctly during long term storage. I used to just disconnect the batteries and then try to remember to charge every couple of months or so if it sat for that long. That worked ok but there was a time or two that i forgot and had a battery die.

Just recently, i decided to go a different route by doing like the OP and adding a timer. Only thing is, i bought a timer that can be set to come ON once a week. For now, i've set it to come on every Friday and shut off 12 hours later. Not sure how long the coach batteries need to charge but i do know that the separate charger going to the chassis battery needs at least a few hours before it shows charged. I doubt it would ever show charged if i only only ran it 15 minutes a day. The 12 hours gives it plenty of time and i figure it gives the converter/charger enough time to charge the coach batteries too.

RichR · 05-10-2018, 12:50 PM

I leave mine plugged in all the time, check water levels monthly or so. Batteries will go dead fast on my trailer, even with disconnect.

Ray,IN · 05-10-2018, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anakin

I leave mine plugged in all the time and check the water level at least once per month.

X2! Except my entire battery bank are sealed lead acid batteries. The Xantrex RS2000(obsolete) works great maintaining the bank. Once a quarter I engage the equalization feature, often it determines the battery bank is fine and cuts short the equalization process.
I just looked today, is shows 0 charge, battery bank is at 13.7V. We've dry camped for 3 days without having to start the genset.

Clomok · 05-10-2018, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

X2! Except my entire battery bank are sealed lead acid batteries. The Xantrex RS2000(obsolete) works great maintaining the bank. Once a quarter I engage the equalization feature, often it determines the battery bank is fine and cuts short the equalization process.
I just looked today, is shows 0 charge, battery bank is at 13.7V. We've dry camped for 3 days without having to start the genset.

How are you at 13.7 with no charge input after 3 days?

Ray,IN · 05-11-2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clomok

How are you at 13.7 with no charge input after 3 days?

Re-read, you missed the period ending the 13.7V sentence. The dry camping comment is a different sentence.

**Spdracr39** · 05-11-2018, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Re-read, you missed the period ending the 13.7V sentence. The dry camping comment is a different sentence.

lol I missed it too.

**Spdracr39** · 05-11-2018, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

I leave mine plugged in all the time, check water levels monthly or so. Batteries will go dead fast on my trailer, even with disconnect.

The disconnect doesn't always disconnect everything. The sure bet is to unhook the negative cable. If you do that and they still go dead quickly it is time for new batteries.