Forum Discussion

dkuntz's avatar
dkuntz
Explorer
Jul 28, 2023

Shore power vs Batter maintainer

My storage facility has the ability for me to hookup to shore power while it’s in storage and it’s included with my monthly lease. I have a keystone Cougar 5th, 2020.
1) Should I connect to the power source to keep the batteries charged?
2) Should I connect a battery maintainer instead?
3) Does it matter if I’m turning the battery disconnect switch on anyway….?

Appreciate any insight as to why you would recommend one versus the other and why.

14 Replies

  • IMHO, no battery "likes" to be connected to any kind of charger 24/7 for weeks on end.

    Plug your RV in, but turn the battery isolator off. Use a battery maintainer plugged into an old fashioned mechanical lamp timer. Set the timer for about 4 hours per day.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Shore power or a "Battery maintainer" Such as a Battery Tender.

    The answer depends on your converter. A good 3-stage converter like an IOTA with IQ-4 or a Progressive Dynamics with Charge wizard.... (None better) PLUG IN.. by all means PLUG IN.

    Magnetek 6300 UPGRADE the converter to one of the above and Plug in

    What is it company that bought out Magnetek and improved it. Parallex 7300 Use a maintainer.

    Those are examples. What is the difference from worst to best.

    The magnetek 6300 had no regulation no "Smarts" it just keeps charging and has a well deserved reputation for killing batteries.

    The parallex 7300 and 7300T.. The 7300 is a "Float" charger. IT's ok but the batteries never top off the 7300T has a timed BOOST mode when it first plugs in ... Better but still not much better.

    The Progressive Dynamics Wizard or Iota's IQ-4 are 3-stage PLUS converters that sense the battery state and go into BOOST, Absorption or float depending on what's needed.. Now I'm not sure about the IQ-4 (Think it does this) But the Wizard after so many hours of float will go into a short "Equalize" mode which can also extend battery life.
  • Please tell us what converter, charger or inverter/charger you have.

    A "smart" one-- leave it plugged in 24/7/365.

    A "less than smart one"-- use a smart battery maintainer or fully charge the batteries and disconnect them.
  • unless your converter/charger is a newer 'smart' device that will sense when the batteries are fully charged and will then revert to maintenance or float mode use an external device that will do that.

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