Shore power at home/plugged in all the time?

[freewayrandy]

I keep my hauler plugged in all the time at home. My neighbor just told me a tech at a RV dealer told him not to, but plug it in once a month for a week to charge the batts. Anyone know of any cons to leaving it plugged in all the time?

[NEOK]

I keep mine plugged in to a timer so it only comes on for a couple of hours a day when not in use. I use a Flow Rite battery watering system to fill the batteries. The batteries are about four years old with no problems so far.

[2btowed]

The "cooking " of the batts,depends on several factors,amp output of charger and how many items constantly pulling amps down,also how many batteries you have.If your charger puts out only 3 amps,probably no problem,but you are gonna run the Onan all night to recharge from a low battery state,if a 10 amp charger might boil out the batts if left plugged in all the time. The advantage of 3 stage smart charger is you can set the ranges of charge and it will automatically reduce charging rate as battery is charged.Mine will start out at 80 amps and go down from there.If I am running a small genny I can cut back charging amps so the genny won't cut off.I consider the inverter/charger one of the best things I have installed on my TH,and yes I boondock almost every time I camp.

[Lantley]

dedmiston wrote:
So for those of you who keep yours plugged in 24/7/365, how many of you boondock? It sounds like a lot of you keep your rigs plugged in all the time except for when you're on your way to a full hookup site. Many of the Toy Hauler members don't camp where there are any services.

While I don't boondock regularly. I do occasionally go without hook ups. If I need electric I press the button and use the lp Onan 5500.

[Old-Biscuit]

dedmiston wrote:
So for those of you who keep yours plugged in 24/7/365, how many of you boondock? It sounds like a lot of you keep your rigs plugged in all the time except for when you're on your way to a full hookup site. Many of the Toy Hauler members don't camp where there are any services.

Shore power when available, generator as needed and charging from truck while in transit. Yes we do boondocking also which means batteries have been pulled down and need charging.
Point is.....our batteries are maintained on a charger majority of time.
Going on 7 yrs.

But now I'll probably start having battery problems :B

[2oldman]

Mine's always plugged in to sunshine. Not a TH, but doesn't matter.

[dedmiston]

So for those of you who keep yours plugged in 24/7/365, how many of you boondock? It sounds like a lot of you keep your rigs plugged in all the time except for when you're on your way to a full hookup site. Many of the Toy Hauler members don't camp where there are any services.

[Lantley]

I keep my rig plugged in 24/7 365. The only time my rig is not plugged in is when it is traveling down the road to a CG or returning home

[Old-Biscuit]

As a FTnr our 5vr is plugged into an AC power source majority of time and over the past 6 1/2 yrs. have never had a problem with batteries. Have a converter with 3 stage charger and check battery levels routinely. At first I checked them monthly that now has moed to 4X a yr. Only have to slightly top of batteries every 3 months....IF needed.

Fridge is also always ON and so is oven pilot light.

[Strabo]

I leave ours plugged in, have for years. We have sealed AGM Deka batteries.

[BB_TX]

I am in the "depends on the converter/charger" group. Many have reported boiling the batteries dry. Many say no problem.
I keep mine plugged in year round whether in storage or in use. No problem. First battery lasted nearly 6 years. Do add some water about once a year.

[naturist]

You will get all kinds of "expert" opinions asking that question here. Some of those opinions might even be useful.

I will not venture to make a recommendation to you, but I will tell you about my experience. I have a 2007 TT that has one of the older style 2-stage converter/chargers. I made the mistake of leaving it plugged in at home over the winter after I bought it in Dec 2007, and in spite of checking the water level from time to time (it was never low, btw), our first trip out I discovered that the battery would not deliver power even though the voltage showed it was fully charged. When you switched on any load, even as small as a house light, the light flashed on and immediately went out, no juice. I had to buy a new battery.

Since then, when I store the TT, I disconnect the battery via a cut-off switch I installed, and I put the battery on a BatteryMinder. It trickle charges at 1 amp, and desulphates the battery, so it is always fully charged and ready to go whenever I want to use the rig.

[CabinetmakerII]

freewayrandy wrote:
I keep my hauler plugged in all the time at home. My neighbor just told me a tech at a RV dealer told him not to, but plug it in once a month for a week to charge the batts. Anyone know of any cons to leaving it plugged in all the time?

We have experienced boiling the batteries in our 2001 Holiday Rambler TT by leaving it plugged in over the winter requiring us to replace both batteries. Our new (2012) Cyclone 3800 Toy Hauler has the so called "Smart Converter" Not wanting to take any unnecessary chances, we unplug from shore power when the coach is not in use and disconnect the batteries utilizing the factory installed disconnect switch. We spent 4 months in it last winter in Arizona with no issues. I do check the batteries monthly as part of the routine when I exercise the on board generator. Better to check often then to replace expensive batteries.

CURTF! (C U Round The Camp Fire)

[mec500]

I put my charger on a switch that I turn on when needed.that way I can keep the fridge cold and stocked

[Jayco-noslide]

The manual for my Itasca motorhome recommends to not leave it plugged in except enough to keep the batteries charged. But then, if one stays somewhere long term, then it's plugged in all the time isn't it?

[2oldman]

Stay plugged in in storage?
Stay plugged in roast batteries?