RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

[Gary H NC]

On my new Travel Trailer do i leave it plugged in all the time while sitting in the back yard? I was reading through the owners manual and it does not say.
I added a second deep cycle battery to the setup and was reading that the converter-charger is a 55 amp output.Would that not cook the batteries over an extended period? It does not state if it stops charging when the batteries are full.
What do you other RV guys do?
Thanks!

 

[newbie4life]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

I usually do not leave it plugged in when it's sitting in my yard. I plug it in, a few days (usually 4) before we leave. The reasoning behind this, is I don't think I need the TT to sit for 2 weeks or longer, plugged in. We always clean out the refridgerator/freezer after our expedition anyway. The bigger reason, is these things are NOT designed to be used all the time.... it's more wear and tear on your inverter that's not necessary.

Just my $.02 that will probably be deleted.

 

[angus63]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

I remove the batteries and put them on a trickle charger, and I button up the trailer until the next use.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

Thanks Guys!
Mine has been plugged in for 3 months...yikes!
I like having it plugged up so if i want a quite place to take a nap or go watch a game on tv...
From now on unplugged it is unless i need it.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

Mine stays plugged in all the time.
The onboard charger just puts juice to it when needed.
I have owned them all my married life(36 years today) with no problems.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

Let me clarify that mine is a 2008 model with taper charge.

 

[cbavier]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

Mine stays plugged in all the time.
The onboard charger just puts juice to it when needed.
I have owned them all my married life(36 years today) with no problems.

We have owned them 43 years too and I alternate. I plug in a couple weeks and then unplug it a couple weeks or until the next time I think of it. There are carbon Monoxide testers and smoke alarms and other electronics that draw a small amount of current all the time when the battery is connected.

Either remove the battery or batteries completely or do as I do and you will never have a problem. The converter has a trickle charge that will maintain your battery but I was always concerned if it might fail to shut off and overcharge the battery so I just do it manual, Plug and unplug. I too like to use the Fifth Wheel as a place to get away and sometimes I may have a little project I want to do on the trailer. Furthermore if you have a generator. It should be run once a month for at least an hour with a full load on it.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

Happy 36th Spinner!

I was looking in my paperwork and don't see anything specific about the charger.I may call Coachmen and ask.Its a 2007 model so you would think it had the automatic charger.
I will leave it unplugged and see how the battery levels stay.It does have a built in clock and the LP and smoke detectors that stay on.

 

[cbavier]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

They all have at least a 3 1/2 amp trickle charger with a 6 amp charger as an option. They are suppose to shut off when the battery reaches full charge. It will never overcharge when the trailer is in use but when it's just sitting and nothing much being used. If the trickle charger failed to shut off it could boil a battery dry. That's why I plug and unplug every couple weeks. We have had Trailers, Fifth wheels and Motorhomes for 40 years. Never had a problem with Batteries.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: RV,Do i leave it plugged in?

Thanks, I think i will go with the every couple weeks plugging it in.
I added the second battery to the setup just in case we are dry camping.I guess it will last longer than one battery.It added some extra weight but it should be worth it.I made sure i bought a matching battery to the one thats in it.Not sure if that matters or not.