TT batteries

[Tractorat]

I just bought a couple of new batteries for my TT. Im hoping to make them last as long as I can.

When my trailer is parked at home, I normally keep it hooked up to shore power all of the time, with the thought that they would stay constantly charged.

The only thing that is drawing any current would the the gas sniffer, and the radio (although the radio should only be drawing enough current to keep the pezio (?) battery charged for the preset stations.



Is it better to leave the trailer plugged in all of the time (for at least weeks, sometimes months at a time) ?



Or is it better for the batteries to leave the trailer unplugged, but maybe plug back into shore power the night before I might leave to go somewhere /



Thanks for your help,

TRat

 

[steved]

I was wondering the same thing, and decided that placing it on a timer, to kick on once a day for a few hours is probably better...

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Trat, depending on the type of converter installed in your TT, keep an eye on the fluid level of your batteries if you keep it plugged in all the time. The converter may over charge the batteries and boil off the water over a months time.
I've found if you fully charge the batteries, then disconnect them (remove the hot side) they will stay charged for months on end.
If you leave the TT plugged in, check your water level monthly.

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks for the feedback. I dont think you can check the water level on these new batteries (but now that you say that, I think I better take a look)



I like the idea of the timer for just a short time every day though. I was just wondering if keeping them charged all of the time was better than letting them run down just a bit, and then hitting them with the charger. I dont think rv batteries can have memory like cell phone batteries, but then what do I know.



TRat

 

[JMetzger]

I leave my trailer pluged in 24/7. Just replaced batteries this year & the old batteries were bought in 1998. I do like everyone says I check them every month for water & always use distilled water.

 

[icman95]

I keep mine on a set of solar panels as there is no electric hookup where I store it. The panels put out a slow, 4 amp charge and the charge controller that came with them shuts off the incoming power when the batteries are full. The charge is slow enough that it takes a week or two to get them to fully charged so no worries about overcharging. A smaller cheaper panel will give you just enough charge to counteract any drain. Portable Generators, Heaters + Wood Stoves, Snow Blowers, Pressure Washers | Northern Tool + Equipment has a variety of them.

 

[LRutigliano]

You could also consider a battery cutoff switch. I have a Perko 2 battery switch hooked up inside my locked battery compartment. When I return the 5th wheel to the storage facility, I turn the switch off so the batteries stay charged (or don't drain) and no one can mess with my front electric jacks, which has the up-down button outside.



My camping buddy had an older Elkhorn truck camper that he kept plugged in all of the time and the battery exploded and blew out the side of his camper. Lots of damage!! We are not sure exactly what happened, but now I don't leave it plugged in for extended periods.



Hope this helps,

Louis

 

[Crash&Burn]

Some converters will kept them charged properly, and some will BOIL them dry..... I have had both kinds.

I now use a switch to dissconnect when plugged in fulltime.

 

[AMink]

If I know we aren't going anywhere for a while, I pull the batteries and keep them in the garage. I trickle them every once in a while. When I leave the trailer plugged in during the travel season, I let the batteries charge to full, then turn the breaker to the converter off. Then there is no power going to the batteries, but they still run any 12v needs. I've read that it's good to run them down some and charge them again as opposed to a constant charge. My old trailer would boil them dry; my new one doesn't, I think. :-laf Still like to bring them in in the winter.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have my 2nd battery in my trailer now and it is just a little over a year old. It will life the front if plugged in to the truck or shore power. If I unplug it will not lift. Does this mean I may have a bad converter. It won't even lift it if I unplug from the truck after a trip from camping driving home.

 

[steved]

I have my 2nd battery in my trailer now and it is just a little over a year old. It will life the front if plugged in to the truck or shore power. If I unplug it will not lift. Does this mean I may have a bad converter. It won't even lift it if I unplug from the truck after a trip from camping driving home.

Sounds like a bad battery to me... "it lifts plugged in" indicates the converter is fine.

 

[Okie-Go]

It does lift when it is plugged in to electricity. When I unplug the trailer and it is not plugged in to the electric or truck it will not lift on it's own. I have a new battery in it now. I would think it should be charged enough to lift the trailer from the truck without being plugged in.

 

[steved]

It does lift when it is plugged in to electricity. When I unplug the trailer and it is not plugged in to the electric or truck it will not lift on it's own. I have a new battery in it now. I would think it should be charged enough to lift the trailer from the truck without being plugged in.

Short of the battery having a loose or corroded terminal preventing it from passing current, I'd say the battery is dead.

 

[Okie-Go]

I'll sure check it out but being a new trailer I haven't seen any corrosion. Is there a way to check the converter without going to the dealer. On our old trailer it was under the sink and we could hear it running. On this one it is undr the 5er hook up on the inside.

 

[steved]

I'll sure check it out but being a new trailer I haven't seen any corrosion. Is there a way to check the converter without going to the dealer. On our old trailer it was under the sink and we could hear it running. On this one it is undr the 5er hook up on the inside.

You symptoms indicate to me that the converter is working fine... it works plugged in to shore voltage. That means, to me, the inverter is feeding 12VDC to the jacks, regardless of whether the battery is ok or not.



I would sooner think the battery is broken electrically.



When plugged into the truck, its using the truck's battery power; and when plugged into the shore power its using the converter's power. But when neither of those external power supplies are available, the battery (by itself) doesn't work.

 

[Okie-Go]

I guess I need to check the battery then. It is a brand new battery but I guess than don't mean a whole lot! Will take it to have it checked, plan on using the trailer next weekend.

 

[AClayton]

You may leave your trailer plugged in but as others have stated... simply check the water on a very regular basis. A convertor will not charge the battery,it only maintains... this is why it's necessary to check the water so often. A battery that is not charged frequently will boil off its water. The only exception would be the convertor/chargers that are on RV's equiped with Invertors. If your trailer is not over 10 yrs old,I doubt it has the converters that have been known to inproperly maintain the battery. I realize that this is a blanket statement and may attract some controversy,but it is what I've noticed by working on them. IMO,the best way to store in a storage facility is to pull the battery and take it home with you to keep on a trickle charger or just simply charge it every so often. The key to reliable batteries is proper charging. However,if you store the trailer at home,just plug in and keep eye on water levels often. Just go out and charge it every month or so or more often if you have time. Motorhomes are same way,the only difference is that I go out and try and drive mine during off seasons every couple of weeks which in turn,charges the batteries.



Alan

 

[Tractorat]

Alan,

If I understand you correctly, if my batteries are not at full charge when I plug the trailer into shore power, they will only maintain the charge that they were at and not charge back up to full ?



In other words, to get a full charge again, I should recharge them with a regular battery charger that I might use to recharge a low battery ?



Mike

 

[JCasper]

You may leave your trailer plugged in but as others have stated... simply check the water on a very regular basis. A convertor will not charge the battery,it only maintains... this is why it's necessary to check the water so often. A battery that is not charged frequently will boil off its water. The only exception would be the convertor/chargers that are on RV's equiped with Invertors. If your trailer is not over 10 yrs old,I doubt it has the converters that have been known to inproperly maintain the battery. I realize that this is a blanket statement and may attract some controversy,but it is what I've noticed by working on them. IMO,the best way to store in a storage facility is to pull the battery and take it home with you to keep on a trickle charger or just simply charge it every so often. The key to reliable batteries is proper charging. However,if you store the trailer at home,just plug in and keep eye on water levels often. Just go out and charge it every month or so or more often if you have time. Motorhomes are same way,the only difference is that I go out and try and drive mine during off seasons every couple of weeks which in turn,charges the batteries.



Alan

My batteries are completely dead right now and by plugging it into shore power it will bring them back up just fine.

 

[AClayton]

In order to charge a battery,the voltage is somewhat higher than the actual battery voltage. When you plug in,the convertor will raise voltage to some degree but will not charge a battery to its fullest extent. If the battery is lower than it rated voltage than it will charge it up ... but not completely charge like a battery charger or the alternator on your truck will do. Hope this makes sense to you as I am not the best at explaining things. The second part of your post is correct... . in order to fully charge a battery,you need to use a charger. Also,if the charge wire on your truck has a good connection,it can be used to charge a weak battery on your trailer with the truck running... although this will take much longer due to the wire resistance from the extra length of truck and trailer wiring. But when you're in pinch and have no other alternative... . I have done this also and re-charge properly when more convienent.