Shore charging

[RJL]

I'll be storing my RV at home now, the storage facility we used is doing away with their outdoor storage. Over the years I typically would bring it home and charge it once a month for a day or so. Now that it's home I'm wondering if I can just leave it plugged into shore power 24/7 until we use it, or should I unplug and charge every other week or so?

Thanks

Bob

[Sam_Spade]

ArchHoagland wrote:
It doesn't boil out the top and the batteries are very clean. I've checked them with a hydrometer and all is well.

Unless the charging voltage is WAY too high, batteries do NOT lose water from "boiling" but from electrolysis where the water breaks down into hydrogen and oxygen and those gasses then escape through the vents.

Sometimes a tiny bit of acid fumes goes along for the ride. Good vent caps will prevent that from getting out; most vent caps are not good.

[Sam_Spade]

ArchHoagland wrote:
I check the 2 six volt house batteries about once a month and usually have to add some distilled water.

You might want to check the "float" voltage of your converter as it might be too high.

If the batteries are losing enough water that they actually NEED to have some added in only 30 days, it's almost guaranteed that the voltage is to high. If you are just topping them up a little bit, then you probably are fine.

On heavy duty batteries like that, a high float voltage won't really do them any serious harm unless it is WAY too high. But you should know what you actually have.

[wa8yxm]

Answer depends on your converter.
Magnetek 6300..... NO

Progressive Dynamics with Wizard or Iota with IQ-4. YES

Others. Well it depends. I am only listing those 3 as those 3 I am 100% sure of without additional research.

[ArchHoagland]

Jim@HiTek wrote:

ArchHoagland wrote:
Mine is stored by my house and plugged in 24/7. I check the 2 six volt house batteries about once a month and usually have to add some distilled water.

Other than that everything else is fine.

I'm surprised you have to add water so often. A '04 Class A, especially a Monaco, I'd have expected that you would have a smart charger system in your Converter. But, sounds like you have a plain old charger, and it's running high voltage so it's boiling out water.

Couple things you could do...fully charge the batteries and then just disconnect the ground(s). They'll do fine (as long as they're healthy to begin with) over the winter, you won't even have to check them. You could disconnect from power.

Or, if you prefer to remain powered, try this:

Add 2oz of 3-in-1 oil to each battery cell. It's mineral oil, and it will keep the acid water inside the cell instead of it slowly bubbling out. So you won't need to add water as much, if at all. Also prevents corrosion buildup. Using mineral oil in flooded cell lead/acid batteries is a method used for over 100 years, even Edison recommended it.

Thanks for the tips. However I'm used to checking stuff on a regular basis so will continue in the old fashioned way.

I, too, am a bit surprised I use so much water. It doesn't boil out the top and the batteries are very clean. I've checked them with a hydrometer and all is well.

I have a battery disconnect switch for the house batteries but seldom use it as we occupy the coach when company comes about every 4 to 6 weeks.

[Jim]

ArchHoagland wrote:
Mine is stored by my house and plugged in 24/7. I check the 2 six volt house batteries about once a month and usually have to add some distilled water.

Other than that everything else is fine.

I'm surprised you have to add water so often. A '04 Class A, especially a Monaco, I'd have expected that you would have a smart charger system in your Converter. But, sounds like you have a plain old charger, and it's running high voltage so it's boiling out water.

Couple things you could do...fully charge the batteries and then just disconnect the ground(s). They'll do fine (as long as they're healthy to begin with) over the winter, you won't even have to check them. You could disconnect from power.

Or, if you prefer to remain powered, try this:

Add 2oz of 3-in-1 oil to each battery cell. It's mineral oil, and it will keep the acid water inside the cell instead of it slowly bubbling out. So you won't need to add water as much, if at all. Also prevents corrosion buildup. Using mineral oil in flooded cell lead/acid batteries is a method used for over 100 years, even Edison recommended it.

[Viewfinder]

Do you unplug it while you're camping ? Check batts and make your own schedule. Does your start battery also charge? if not , you may want to add a trik-l-start.

jim

[ArchHoagland]

Mine is stored by my house and plugged in 24/7. I check the 2 six volt house batteries about once a month and usually have to add some distilled water.

Other than that everything else is fine.

[time2roll]

Yes the the MH can be plugged in 24/7/365. If you encounter an issue, fix or improve the system.

[Jim]

Just charge them up and then disconnect the ground cables. They'll be fine until next spring. But, the refer should be plugged in. They last far longer when they are, around 7 years when not.

[RJL]

I'm not sure what type of charging system I have. It's the stock equipment from the factory for the below listed rig. I gotta grab the paperwork for the MH. I'll post the charging system when I find the info.

Thanks for the input.

[2oldman]

Stay plugged in in storage?2007
disconnect? Oct 2013
Stay plugged in Mar 2014
Stay plugged in Jun 2014
Stay plugged in Sep 2014

[Bumpyroad]

as I have said before, I just put a timer in the line and squirt a little electricity in daily.
bumpy

[Old-Biscuit]

Depends.......

What do you have as 'charger' (Converter----Inverter) and how 'smart' is it?

My converter is 3 stage but my inverter is 'smarter' so I use the inverter.
My 50A 5th wheel with dual 12V batteries is always plugged in at home.

At first I checked batteries weekly for any signs of overcharging-----specific gravity per cell, levels in each cell, signs of 'moisture' on battery tops etc.

After several weekly checks I then went to monthly checks...then every 3 months.


Good charger/charging system----no boiling of batteries then YES plug in and keep batteries maintained

And don't forget to level rig so you can run fridge too.
Nice to have COLD beverages etc in the 'man cave'

[Sam_Spade]

Impossible to give a good answer without knowing what brand and model of converter/charger that you have.....and how many and what kind of batteries.

One alternative is to disconnect the batteries after charging them good ...maybe 3 days or so....and then plugging in and re-connecting once a month for 12 hours.

The other alternative is to disconnect the batteries and connect an external smart automatic tender type charger and just leave it connected. A 2 amp model should be fine unless you have a LOT of battery capacity.

If they are relatively new AGM types, charge good, disconnect and come back 3-4 months later.