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?

Neighbor is partially correct. If you have a 3 stage/multi-stage battery charger you're ok, but most RVs don't come with those. If you don't have one you can cook/boil your batteries. If you plan on using your RV while it's parked then upgrading to a 3/multi-stage charger may be a wise move. But before you do anything, find out what charger/converter you have.

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?After a camping trip I let my batteries charge for a few days then I throw the breaker to the converter inside the camper so it does not charge anymore.Then a day or so befor my next trip I turn it he converter back on to top off the batteries.That way my fridge stays cold.

My trailer has been plugged in for two years with no problems. Just check water in batteries about once a month until you know if your converter will overcharge them. I have to add water about once every 6 months.

Whats the difference of plugging in at home all the time or plugging in at the RV park for days/weeks/months at a time? Answer... NOTHING! Now that is not to say you should ignore your batteries, but there is no difference. I have had my RV's at home and plugged in since around 1977 with no serious problems, ever. All this hype about three stage converter/chargers I think is just that, hype. Check and maintain your batteries, leave your RV plugged on and ready to go at a moments notice. The alternative is not so nice if you decide to pull out on a moments notice and discover deqd batteries because you forgot to plug it in last week for a couple of days.

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

Shore power at home/plugged in all the time? | Good Sam Community

beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Whether you leave it plugged in successfully or not depends on the quality of the converter. No way of knowing in a particular case unless the poster lists brand and model of converter.

dieseldan723 wrote:
I have been told that it's good let the batteries drain down fully...once or twice a year...

You were told wrong. Every minute a battery spends at less than full charge shortens its life and the effect is accumulative.

Running it down in actual use is normal use. Running it down when not in use is abuse and a waste of battery life.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 28, 2013
Battery disconnect switch.......OFF isolates the battery from the 12V DC distribution panel & the converter/charger.
Some things like LP Detector powered jacks/landing gear and slides are usually wired directly from batteries and bypass the switch.

Switch is usually turned OFF when placing rig in storage so DC lights/water heater/fridge/water pump etc. can't be turned on and drain battery. Although the parasitic loads from detectors can draw the batteries down.

As for that converter.com
Probably are thinking www.bestconverter.com
Good people......good info....great customer service......LINK
Randy is very helpful.
dieseldan723
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
I have been told that it's good let the batteries drain down fully (I have two 6 volt batteries)once or twice a year. I don't know if that's true or not, but I do leave it unplugged for a while a few times a year. I do have a battery disconnect switch but I don't know exactly what the purpose of it is.

Can anyone correctly explain the proper use of this switch?
Strabo
Explorer
Oct 25, 2013
dedmiston wrote:
nayther wrote:
Y-Guy wrote:
WhitehouseLV wrote:
What inverter/charger did you install?

When my standard one died I had it replaced with a Progressive Dynamics unit with their Charge Wizard. Website

That's the one I went with as well. Something like Converters.com and its a kit with great instructions (except the output wires incorrectly installed (see my thread)).

Converters.com sounds like the kind of site that they'd block at work.

Only if its called Sexyconverters.com
dedmiston
Moderator
Oct 25, 2013
nayther wrote:
Y-Guy wrote:
WhitehouseLV wrote:
What inverter/charger did you install?

When my standard one died I had it replaced with a Progressive Dynamics unit with their Charge Wizard. Website

That's the one I went with as well. Something like Converters.com and its a kit with great instructions (except the output wires incorrectly installed (see my thread)).

Converters.com sounds like the kind of site that they'd block at work.
nayther
Explorer
Oct 25, 2013
Y-Guy wrote:
WhitehouseLV wrote:
What inverter/charger did you install?

When my standard one died I had it replaced with a Progressive Dynamics unit with their Charge Wizard. Website

That's the one I went with as well. Something like Converters.com and its a kit with great instructions (except the output wires incorrectly installed (see my thread)).
Y-Guy
Moderator
Oct 25, 2013
WhitehouseLV wrote:
What inverter/charger did you install?

When my standard one died I had it replaced with a Progressive Dynamics unit with their Charge Wizard. Website
Strabo
Explorer
Oct 25, 2013
Dirtclods wrote:
My toy hauler is always plugged in when not in use and stocked with food,water and fuel for the generator just in case.

Recent earthquakes http://www.data.scec.org/recent/index.html

We do the same, its our Bug Out Shelter.
WhitehouseLV
Explorer III
Oct 25, 2013
2btowed wrote:
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.

What inverter/charger did you install?
Dirtclods
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2013
My toy hauler is always plugged in when not in use and stocked with food,water and fuel for the generator just in case.

Recent earthquakes http://www.data.scec.org/recent/index.html