Leave Unit plugged into A/C to keep battery charged?

Smart or dumb converter is generally fine in Winter. Yes plug it in.

Watch what is on or the fridge and W/H may use more electric than you expect.

dboliek1112 wrote:
Also we just put new AGM batteries in.

Charge them, then disconnect them. AGMs can hold a charge a long time.

A few hundred posts on the subject:
Stay plugged in in storage?2007
disconnect? Oct 2013
Stay plugged in Mar 2014
Stay plugged in Jun 2014
Stay plugged in Sep 2014

We have a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries that we leave plugged in as well when stored here in our side yard, with AGMs I would do what is recommended by the manufacturer. Don't want to damage them with what they cost to replace.

Plugged in 24/7. No problems.

ScottG wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

ScottG wrote:
It really depends on what convert/charger you have.

Dumb converter always at 13.6V = No. (or if you do leave it plugged in, check water levels often).

Smart converter = yes.

I have to ask what the difference is between a 'smart' and 'dumb' converter may be.

I have a 'dumb' and cheap WFCO and have never has an issue. Not to say I won't, but in 2 years, no.

Smart charger varies voltage. Dumb charger always sits at 13.6V and will eventually boil them dry.
Lost a 1 year old battery on a dumb charger before replacing both.

Your WFCO may indeed be a smart charger - many are. Their problem is they dont go into bulk mode soemtimes.

I will say I'm about to replace the guts with the PD upgrade... This winter.

It never goes into bulk mode, always 13.6 but that isn't the issue. The issue is getting my batteries over 90% when running off grid entirely (on genny). No water issues though. Level is pretty constant.

SidecarFlip wrote:

ScottG wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

ScottG wrote:
It really depends on what convert/charger you have.

Dumb converter always at 13.6V = No. (or if you do leave it plugged in, check water levels often).

Smart converter = yes.

I have to ask what the difference is between a 'smart' and 'dumb' converter may be.

I have a 'dumb' and cheap WFCO and have never has an issue. Not to say I won't, but in 2 years, no.

Smart charger varies voltage. Dumb charger always sits at 13.6V and will eventually boil them dry.
Lost a 1 year old battery on a dumb charger before replacing both.

Your WFCO may indeed be a smart charger - many are. Their problem is they dont go into bulk mode soemtimes.

I will say I'm about to replace the guts with the PD upgrade... This winter.

It never goes into bulk mode, always 13.6 but that isn't the issue. The issue is getting my batteries over 90% when running off grid entirely (on genny). No water issues though. Level is pretty constant.

You will like the PD!
Dont forget to get the Charge Wizzard pendant when you order.

My converter likes to go to 14.5V, what I know can be killing voltage when left for long time, so I let it charge the battery for a day and then disconnect for 6 months.
Good charger is worth lot of money as it can save and prolong battery life.
In my conversion I had 4-batteries bank for the house and 2 for the engine.
The house batteries were cheap golf-cart batteries from Walmart, but good charger made them lasting 12 years and I recall adding water 2 times in this period.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Think about this? You plug in your camper when you are camping. Not uncommon to have it plugged in while camping for a couple weeks at a time, or even longer. Plug it in at home for several days in a row, or whatever. What's the difference between leaving it plugged in 2 weeks, or all the time?

Desulfation, read about it. Most newer chargers do it.

2oldman wrote:

dboliek1112 wrote:
Also we just put new AGM batteries in.

Charge them, then disconnect them. AGMs can hold a charge a long time.

A few hundred posts on the subject:
Stay plugged in in storage?2007
disconnect? Oct 2013
Stay plugged in Mar 2014
Stay plugged in Jun 2014
Stay plugged in Sep 2014

Thank you. Read 'em all.

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. First thing I shall do is determine the details of my converter... is it multi-stage or not... and then manufacturer's information.

Some mornings I wake up thicker in the head than other mornings. I hadn't even thought that full-timers stay plugged up constantly. The consensus appears to be that the AGM batteries won't get hurt being plugged in all winter. At the same time they won't lose much charge if disconnected. So I'll likely use my battery disconnect switches - which interrupt the positive side of both house and chassis batteries - and monitor the charge level. And if the battery output drops... I'll throw the switches and reconnect to shore power.

As always... thank you for wise and well thought out options and suggestions.