Disconnect battery when not using?

Lynnmor wrote:
And turn the battery off as soon as you are not using, towing or connected to power.

salem wrote:
If I read it right, one of the posters said to disconnect the battery when connected to shore power. I've always been under the impression that the battery needed to be connected in order for the converter to keep it charged. In fact, that's what the dealer told me 15 years ago. Is there a different way of thinking now?

You missed the word "or" but yes you are correct. In order for the battery to charge on shore power it still needs to be connected.

This is interesting and good to know about the red key failing. Where did you get yours? Is it from Harbor Freight?

rexmitchell wrote:
Thanks all. Until we can get a switch installed I’ll pull a cable.

One important thought on the switch. The switch is wired into the positive cable of the battery. Make sure that the emergency breakaway is isolated and NOT wired through the switch. This way the emergency brakes will still work if you make a mistake (we are all human after all) and tow with the disconnect open. The breakaway does not draw any battery power until it is activated. So it is safe to leave it connected.

^^ This shows how careful you have to be when posting. :) Yes you guys are absolutely correct. When I was writing my post I was picturing disconnecting the battery after dropping the trailer off in storage as I do. But I neglected to say the storage part. Even though the OP isn't towing it home I fixed the original post.

Boon Docker wrote:

opnspaces wrote:
Yes, as said above you need to disconnect the batteries when you leave to head home.

Not a good idea disconnecting until you get home. You need the battery connected for the break away switch while towing.

Depends on how it's wired. On mine, the breakaway switch is wired directly to the battery.

midnightsadie wrote:
x2 thats the thing to do. those cut off switchs in the rv don,t kill everything .right at the battery put a cut off .

I've disconnected at the battery for years. It works.
Batteries don't discharge as fast unhooked.
Leave em hooked up and watch the batteries drain.

I generally hook mine up and put a battery charger on em about a week before I go camping.

When I'm unhooked, I plug into Shore Power at my house.

LadyRVer wrote:


Also, when traveling down the road, aren't the trailer brakes powered by the trailer battery?

The rv battery only used for the brakes if the emergency break away is pull. The tow vehicle supply power for regular braking on the rv.

Will keep 100 amp hour battery charged most days...$146.

https://www.windynation.com/Polycrystalline-Solar-Kits/Windy-Nation-Inc/Eco-Solar-Kit-100-Watt-12-Volt-Solar-Panel-with-User-Settable-LCD-Charge-Controller-RV-Boat-Off-Grid/-/641?p=YzE9NDY=

Boon Docker wrote:

opnspaces wrote:
Yes, as said above you need to disconnect the batteries when you leave to head home.

Not a good idea disconnecting until you get home. You need the battery connected for the break away switch while towing.

Our camper stays at our hunting camp so we aren’t pulling it back and forth until seasons end. Agree though for towing.

Lwiddis wrote:
Install a solar system to charge, and keep your battery, charged. Cheaper than repeated battery replacement.

I was thinking about this today. We have an off grid camp setup in West Texas. We run a generator most of the time but a solar setup would be nice to not have to worry about charging the battery if we aren’t using the generator.

salem wrote:
If I read it right, one of the posters said to disconnect the battery when connected to shore power. I've always been under the impression that the battery needed to be connected in order for the converter to keep it charged. In fact, that's what the dealer told me 15 years ago. Is there a different way of thinking now?

I’ve never done that since I want it to charge when connected. Otherwise how will it charge.