Trailer batteries when parked at RV park

[LRutigliano]

Is it ok to disconnect the trailer batteries when the RV is plugged into AC-120volts?



I have a battery cutoff switch on the two batteries and I'm just wondering if the RV convertor needs the battery load to work properly. Sometimes we go camping for up to a week and I'm concerned about overcharging them while plugged in.



Thanks,

Louis

 

[KBalzuweit]

The converter will not over charge them. Its easier on the converter to keep the batteries charged than take all the demands of 12v that you would be using in your TT.

 

[MLee]

Your Converter should be of the newer design, and have a maintenance charge when the batteries are charged fully. They should not over charge like the old converters did. If in dought check the water, if down bring it back to the proper level.

 

[ed9824v]

The converter will not over charge them. Its easier on the converter to keep the batteries charged than take all the demands of 12v that you would be using in your TT.

My old trailer and charger would take the batteries out of the system when put on land power and charge them separately. the new stuff is whole new ball game with chargers and conditioners. Ed

 

[B.G. Smith]

(quote) "I have a battery cutoff switch on the two batteries and I'm just wondering if the RV convertor needs the battery load to work properly. Sometimes we go camping for up to a week and I'm concerned about overcharging them while plugged in. "

No, the batteries do not have to be in the line for the converter to work. I have a trailer at the lake that I have been using for several years without a battery hooked up. As far as the converter maintaining the battery, some will and some won't. On our 5th wheel I usually charge the batteries with a good charger when I return from a trip and turn off the cut-off switch. ( I installed one on mine too). bg

 

[AClayton]

Is it ok to disconnect the trailer batteries when the RV is plugged into AC-120volts?



I have a battery cutoff switch on the two batteries and I'm just wondering if the RV convertor needs the battery load to work properly. Sometimes we go camping for up to a week and I'm concerned about overcharging them while plugged in.



Thanks,

Louis

By all means... leave it plugged in!Again,the newer converters do not have the issues as many of the older ones did. One week or even a month of being plugged in should not effect the batteries or converter. It is when the RV is stored with no loads exchanged at all for long periods of time, that you should be concerned with checking for water or bad connections or whatever.



The converter needs your batteries connected to share in the loads that the RV lighting and water pump causes. The converters relatively small transformer is quite capable but will not support the load for long without battery back-up. Hope this helps!! Alan

 

[AClayton]

(quote) "I have a battery cutoff switch on the two batteries and I'm just wondering if the RV convertor needs the battery load to work properly. Sometimes we go camping for up to a week and I'm concerned about overcharging them while plugged in. "

No, the batteries do not have to be in the line for the converter to work. I have a trailer at the lake that I have been using for several years without a battery hooked up. As far as the converter maintaining the battery, some will and some won't. On our 5th wheel I usually charge the batteries with a good charger when I return from a trip and turn off the cut-off switch. ( I installed one on mine too). bg

I respectfully disagree... . we all know that the converter will work without batteries hooked up. But why would you not hook up a battery to your converter while you are staying in your rig?This is very hard on a converter. If the occasional light is on and maybe the pump is running to maintain water pressure occasionally... maybe you could get away with it for a long time. That does not make it the proper procedure!I did not do any testing on this and I'm not going to... . irrelevant. I do know that you should have a good charged battery working in conjunction with your converter to have properly operating electrical system in an RV. I realize that we all do things that are not proper procedure and many of us get away with it more times than not... . but , when a member asks a question,we should give them the best info we can of the right procedure and not what we have accomplished the wrong way. Alan

 

[RClark]

i was told that the batteries had to remain in the system in order for the circuit boards for the refrigeratorm WHW and furnace to work properly.
My Intel charger has their Charge Wizard installed which controls the charge and even desulfates daily.
The newer unite have this builtin.

 

[CKelley1]

it is not hard on the converter with no batteries hooked to it i have a 04 jayco that does not have the maintenance charge on it i mounted a 1. 5 amp maintenance charger on the outside of the trailer by the batteries , some converters have a use/ storage switch on them look at it and see if it does

 

[AH64ID]

I respectfully disagree... . we all know that the converter will work without batteries hooked up. But why would you not hook up a battery to your converter while you are staying in your rig?This is very hard on a converter. If the occasional light is on and maybe the pump is running to maintain water pressure occasionally... maybe you could get away with it for a long time. That does not make it the proper procedure!I did not do any testing on this and I'm not going to... . irrelevant. I do know that you should have a good charged battery working in conjunction with your converter to have properly operating electrical system in an RV. I realize that we all do things that are not proper procedure and many of us get away with it more times than not... . but , when a member asks a question,we should give them the best info we can of the right procedure and not what we have accomplished the wrong way. Alan

This is my . 02 as well... leave em hooked up... .

 

[klenger]

The batteries help supply the loads when demand is high, like if you are running the furnace and water pump together, or moving the slides. A 2006 model RV should have a good multi-stage converter.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The batteries help supply the loads when demand is high, like if you are running the furnace and water pump together, or moving the slides.

That's the way the setup in our '88 Kit does as well...

 

[GAmes]

The batteries serve as a buffer in case of a voltage spike. It hurts nothing to leave them connected while hooked to shore power.

 

[bigdaddydieseldan]

leave the batteries plugged in it won't overcharge them at all

 

[icman95]

Leave them plugged in. The dealer warned me about this when I bought it. Specifically mentioned to not use the slide without a battery in place because the high draw from the motor will burn out the converter. It wasn't meant to supply heavy loads. Just steady lower loads to keep the batts charged and run lower current items like lights. Any item using a relatively higher load will need the batteries to supply the amperage. Same idea as your truck batteries. If you started your truck then connected the wires to allow it to run just off the alt and removed the batteries you'd have a hard time running the heater, lights, and wipers alone or together. The truck draws its current for these things from the batteries and the alt keeps them charged when in use. Same thing the converter does on the RV. You won't overcharge them. I leave mine hooked up all the time when on shore power with no problem.

 

[RGrizzle]

i leave mine hooked up at all times . the charger / converter is designed to be used in conjunction with a good battery . my fifth wheel has warning stickers in several places that warns that the coach battery must be connected . trying to run heavy loads with just the converter could eventually cause you to burn up your convereter and equipment . by all means , leave the battery hooked up . the charger will take care of the battery without over charging it .

 

[LRutigliano]

Guys, thanks for replies. In this case, the overwhelming majority rules (everyone replied with the same answer) and I sure appreciate it.



I will leave the batteries hooked up while connected to shore power.



Regards,

Louis