Battery disconnect

Maurice45 wrote:
I read that being on shore power for too long damages the batteries, would it be a good practice to disconnect the battery circuit when I am plugged into a power post?

On some model RV's you need the DC for the thermostats for fridge and AC. Also hard wired detectors will beep if low voltage. And no battery means no lights.

All that changes if you have an inverter model.

From what I can see, the PD4590 is a 13.6v converter. If it has the optional Charge Wizard, it becomes a 3 stage converter. Yours may or may not have the Charge Wizard.

If you have a voltmeter you can measure the output voltage of the converter. The Charge Wizard makes the converter put out 14.4v, 13.8v (I think) or 13.2v depending on the battery state of charge (SOC). Without the wizard it puts out 13.6v.

Yours may or may not be a smart converter and thus may not be as safe to leave connected.

Maurice45 wrote:
PD4590. it's a progressive dynamics unit in a 2012 montana.

You are good to go. That is a quality 3 stage charger. Some call it a 4 stage charger, but stage 4 is the same as stage 1 for about 15 minutes every 21 hours.

It is one of the best on the market. You can just leave the rig plugged in.

I have the PD4655 in mine. If it is unplugged, that means I am driving.

PD4590. it's a progressive dynamics unit in a 2012 montana.

Right on harley-dave.

For over the winter storage I have a trickle charger on the chassis battery and a Battery Minder on my coach battery. For other times, The converter, a modern 3 stage converter (PD9260) keeps the battery charged without boiling the battery. I monitor the battery water level and add distilled water as necessary. It is plugged in all the time, unless I am camping with no hookups.

Hi,

It depends on the make and model of the converter. Find out--and post it here for an opinion.

I leave my two traillers connected to 120VAC Shore power connection to my GARAGE 20AMP Receptacles using the RV30A-15A long adapters.

This allows my smart mode converter/chargers in both trailers to keep my batteries topped off.

I also occasionally check my batteries fluid levels.

Before I replaced my older single mode converter/charger with a PD9260C I lost one of my batteries from boiling out the fluids and shorted out a couple of cells.

Since using the smart mode converter/chargers now I still occasionally check my batteries for low fluid levels but never see that anymore.

During the winter months where cold weather is much harder on my batteries I definitely check the fluid levels more often but all seems to work just fine leaving my batteries connected to all the time...

Roy Ken

The only to thing you really need watch is the water levels in the batteries. If you have an older style converter they tend to boil off more water per month. The newer 3 stage converters are very good at not boiling the batteries. My rig also has a trik-l-start to keep the chassis battery charged all the time while its plugged in.

Dave

The only time mine is not plugged in is when it is in motion. My battery is 3 years old and no problems so far.