While batteries are disconnected to clean the connectors...?

turn the inverter/charger off
unplug shore power
clean your cables
then hook everything backup

We have an inverter, set it NOT TO CHARGE and throw the battery disconnect switch. Really isn't that big of a deal.

Barb

If you have an inverter..the charger could be attempting to charge the batteries while connected to shore power......battery cables would be energized.

IF you have a converter...the charger could be attempting to charge the batteries while connected to shore power......battery cables would be energized.

You could turn off the 110V AC input to either one so charger section is not ON.
Even turn battery disconnect switch OFF.

Just how long is it going to take to clean the cables/terminals/service the batteries?
What are you concerned about not having shore power?

I'd just leave shore power OFF and concentrate on the battery service.

Just how long do you think it's going to take to clean the terminals..:h..5 minutes at the most..that's if you only use one hand....why be foolish..:h..if you can't live without AC for 5 minutes you might want to let someone else do it. Your question has already been answered above. If you have an inverter, that's turned ON the cables will be hot...be smart, be safe ...Dennis

I probably would not work with the 12VDC connectors with them being active from your on-board converter unit. Depending on the rating of your on-board converter/charger you can have 45-55AMPS or more 12V DC Current on the positive connectors. My on-board converter/charger is a 60AMP model...

Accidentally shorting these active connectors to chassis ground will give a hugh spark and the bad thing it will blow some fuses in the circuit that you will have to locate and replace. Even the smallest spark of accidentally touching to the positive connector will blow these fuses.

Having your shore power cable connected to 120VAC could be done and you could flip the breaker OFF in the 120VAC side of the power distribution center for the on-board converter/charger unit. This would turn off the high current coming from the converter/charger unit so you could work on the cleaning of the connectors after removing them from the battery terminals.

With the converter turned off at the circuit breaker you could hook up a 120VAC Electric heater inside the trailer if you like.

Roy Ken

The converter will try to charge the battery.
It would be better if you disconnected from shore power.
If you are careful, you can do it while shore power is connected. Disconnect the ground wires, clean them good and then insulate them from trailer frame. Put in rag or old sock.
Then disconnect and clean positive. Apply some de-oxidation compound to the positive terminal and reconnect.
Then apply de-ox to the gropund wire and reconnect.

A converter changes 120 to 12. An inverter changes 12 to 120.

If you clean the terminals while connected to shore power your inverter is trying to charge those batteries. The cables are still hot and any contact with hot to ground could cause problems with your electrical system.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But if you do, Make sure you don't allow the terminals to short to the chassis. You'll have 12vdc live on them.