I currently have my T/C unloaded and sitting in my yard with a full cover on it. I have it plugged in to a/c.If I unplug it, the carbon monoxide detector will run the battery down in about 10 days to two weeks. Then the detector starts beeping low power supply.So I have just left it plugged in.Is this okay? I have to disconnect and pull the battery completely out to check the water level but I have been doing this.I am assuming that the onboard battery charger just charges when needed and keeps the battery fully charged.Am I right in assuming this?Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.Thanks,Zulu

It depends on the battery system that you have. If you have one that tops up and does not over charge you are good. I leave mine in 24/7/365 when not on the road and it is fine.

buy a in line cut off switch, kills all power to the rv.

I leave mine plugged in all the time when it is in my garage. Makes a nice guest cottage. (Actually, DW and I stay in the TC sometimes, when the house is full of guests.) I've been doing this for two years, and all is well. The nice thing is, we can leave clean clothes in the closet and basics in the fridge, and when we are ready to go camping, we just load up fresh food and hit the road.

If the battery is a wet cell, even the best battery chargers will start to evap the battery over long periods of time so water levels should be checked periodically.

Depends. Some older style chargers will over charge the battery, boiling all the water out. What I have done in the past (if I have an older charger) is use a 20A timer on RV, and only turn power on for a couple hours per day.Some chargers (most modern) have multi charge stages and its OK to leave them plugged in all the time.But leaving it plugged in comes with a price. Last winter I left my RV sit on property my Brother and I own. I don't know the price per HW hour, but my RV was the only thing on the circuit last winter and the bill went up $20.00 per month.

Can I leave my T/C plugged in to A/C when not in use?

22 Replies

Halibut214
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
hedgehopper wrote:
Halibut214 wrote:
zulu52 wrote:
I currently have my T/C unloaded and sitting in my yard with a full cover on it. I have it plugged in to a/c.
If I unplug it, the carbon monoxide detector will run the battery down in about 10 days to two weeks. Then the detector starts beeping low power supply.

So I have just left it plugged in.

Is this okay? I have to disconnect and pull the battery completely out to check the water level but I have been doing this.

I am assuming that the onboard battery charger just charges when needed and keeps the battery fully charged.
Am I right in assuming this?

Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

Thanks,
Zulu

Yes your doing the right thing. As someone else said the only time mine was unplugged was going down the road. In the 4 years I had it I never had an issue with the batteries.

I beg to differ. You could be putting your battery at risk of boiling dry. Whether or not you can leave your charger connected depends on what charger you have. I don't believe the OP has given us that information. In any event, I think you should listen to bigfootford, who is knowledgeable re electrical matters.

My previous camper had a single-stage charger that boiled the battery dry while the camper was sitting during the winter. My present camper had a similar setup. So I upgraded to a multi-stage unit. So far so good.

I don't think anyone ever said they abandoned the vehicle. Sounds like perhaps you should have checked your rig during the winter. It's not that it was plugged in or you had a single stage charger. pretty sure you will boil any batteries dry if you never check.
westend
Explorer
Aug 11, 2015
Battery University on charging lead acid batteries.

I'd suggest to remove any standby loads when putting batteries in storage and follow published advice on proper float charging techniques. The batteries should also be monitored with a voltage meter and a hydrometer to get the most life possible out of them.

Anecdotal advice is sometimes a good indicator of what to expect but there is also a rash of bad conclusions in the mix.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2015
I have solar, and have my TC connected when in storage. I also have an AGM battery. With or without shore power, my battery is always on a charger, solar or built-in smart charger. I guess the only time my battery is not being on a charger is at night, if I am not on shore power. I have only seen my battery once in the past six or so years.

Wayne
hedgehopper
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
Halibut214 wrote:
zulu52 wrote:
I currently have my T/C unloaded and sitting in my yard with a full cover on it. I have it plugged in to a/c.
If I unplug it, the carbon monoxide detector will run the battery down in about 10 days to two weeks. Then the detector starts beeping low power supply.

So I have just left it plugged in.

Is this okay? I have to disconnect and pull the battery completely out to check the water level but I have been doing this.

I am assuming that the onboard battery charger just charges when needed and keeps the battery fully charged.
Am I right in assuming this?

Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

Thanks,
Zulu

Yes your doing the right thing. As someone else said the only time mine was unplugged was going down the road. In the 4 years I had it I never had an issue with the batteries.

I beg to differ. You could be putting your battery at risk of boiling dry. Whether or not you can leave your charger connected depends on what charger you have. I don't believe the OP has given us that information. In any event, I think you should listen to bigfootford, who is knowledgeable re electrical matters.

My previous camper had a single-stage charger that boiled the battery dry while the camper was sitting during the winter. My present camper had a similar setup. So I upgraded to a multi-stage unit. So far so good.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2015
I think this thread has drifted away from TCs only, and now applies to all types of RVs. I will move it to the Tech Forum.

Wayne
Moderator
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2015
Costco sells quality batteries for low price and most of them come with 100 months warranty.
5-6 years means the charger is killing them.
Powelligator
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
I keep the camper plugged into AC always when it's at home, but the AC line is on a timer (same one I use for the Christmas lights on the house) so the AC circuit is only on about 6 hours per night. My theory is this charges the battery only a few hours a night even though the onboard battery charger is a good one.

I've been doing this for years and the Costco el-cheapo camper battery usually lasts 5 - 6 years between replacements.

-Joe
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2015
bigfootford wrote:
Kayteg1 wrote:

Deep charge batteries hold good charge for full year.
.

Very misleading!

Please take that statement and post it over in the Tech forum and ask MEXICOWANDERER and others what they think of that statement.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28508432/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

Jim

What is misleading about batteries lasting when properly taken care about?
The deep charge batteries in golf cart size that I had in the conversion are 12 years old and still hold some charge allowing me using them in storage. Seems capacity drop on them as they discharge fast, but 12 years is 12 years.
Halibut214
Explorer
Aug 10, 2015
zulu52 wrote:
I currently have my T/C unloaded and sitting in my yard with a full cover on it. I have it plugged in to a/c.
If I unplug it, the carbon monoxide detector will run the battery down in about 10 days to two weeks. Then the detector starts beeping low power supply.

So I have just left it plugged in.

Is this okay? I have to disconnect and pull the battery completely out to check the water level but I have been doing this.

I am assuming that the onboard battery charger just charges when needed and keeps the battery fully charged.
Am I right in assuming this?

Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

Thanks,
Zulu

Yes your doing the right thing. As someone else said the only time mine was unplugged was going down the road. In the 4 years I had it I never had an issue with the batteries.
bigfootford
Nomad III
Aug 10, 2015
Kayteg1 wrote:

Deep charge batteries hold good charge for full year.
.

Very misleading!

Please take that statement and post it over in the Tech forum and ask MEXICOWANDERER and others what they think of that statement.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28508432/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

Jim