Battery Life

[leftys]

Many posts advice you to use the battery disconnect switch to avoid battery drain while in storage. My question is, if my motorhome storage facility has power available does it make sense to keep the MH "plugged in" to keep the batteries charged? If so, do I keep the battery switch "ON"?

Thank you!

[wintersun]

Also a good idea to use the 120v AC to run an air dryer or a dehumidifier to prevent mold or mildew from growing inside the closed RV.

[Jbrowland]

Bobbo wrote:

Jbrowland wrote:
A tiny bit off topic...

So does one need to use a battery disconnect switch if they use their RV say once a month? And if so, it takes only 60 seconds to disconnect my battery manually. Why not do that instead?

Easier.

To disconnect, I push a button.

To manually disconnect, I have to remove step, find wrench, remove cable, replace step.

Easier. And works just as well.

I see. I keep a wrench in a drawer by my front door. I don't have steps to put out or replace. I only use my RV once a month. Add the time it costs to go buy and then install the thing and I am still ahead in time by doing it manually every month after two years. 😉

I do appreciate the answers though. They are a big help even if I appear to be a smart ***. 🙂

[Bobbo]

Jbrowland wrote:
A tiny bit off topic...

So does one need to use a battery disconnect switch if they use their RV say once a month? And if so, it takes only 60 seconds to disconnect my battery manually. Why not do that instead?

Easier.

To disconnect, I push a button.

To manually disconnect, I have to remove step, find wrench, remove cable, replace step.

Easier. And works just as well.

[tenbear]

Jbrowland, if you have a motorhome, don't forget your chassis battery. That will discharge in time too.

[tenbear]

Jbrowland wrote:
A tiny bit off topic...

So does one need to use a battery disconnect switch if they use their RV say once a month? And if so, it takes only 60 seconds to disconnect my battery manually. Why not do that instead?

How long a battery takes to discharge varies with the RV and how much "stuff" is powered by the battery. Also on the size and health of your battery bank. Only you can determine that. Put the RV in the storage state and check the voltage and see how long it takes to drop down to 12.1v.

A manual disconnect is probably better than a switch, nothing to break. If you are happy doing the disconnect manually, go for it.

[Jbrowland]

A tiny bit off topic...

So does one need to use a battery disconnect switch if they use their RV say once a month? And if so, it takes only 60 seconds to disconnect my battery manually. Why not do that instead?

[2oldman]

leftys wrote:
I could not find a separate "Converter". Does that mean that my "Inverter/Charger" functions also as a Converter?

It does in that it charges batteries.

[TomB_]

When I bought our (new to us) coach everything was fine at the dealer, but after a week in our driveway it was totally dead. Put a battery charger on the chassis battery & brought the coach back to life. Took the coach to my local auto parts store & had all three batteries replaced. Turns out that all three batteries were 7 years old. No further problems noted.

[Veebyes]

leftys wrote:
After checking the RV, I found the "Inverter/Charger" (Magnum Energy, model MS 2000).

I could not find a separate "Converter". Does that mean that my "Inverter/Charger" functions also as a Converter?

And, to answer the last question, I don't expect the motorhome to be in storage more than 6 weeks at a time, or so.

Thanks for the help!

Can't remember offhand the model # of my Magnum inverter charger but no the inverter/charger does not have a converter. Take the converter/charger out.

With the inverter/charger you are wired up like a boat. All 12VDC requirements are taken from the battery bank. When on 110VAC the charger is replenishing whatever is being pulled from the battery bank.

[leftys]

After checking the RV, I found the "Inverter/Charger" (Magnum Energy, model MS 2000).

I could not find a separate "Converter". Does that mean that my "Inverter/Charger" functions also as a Converter?

And, to answer the last question, I don't expect the motorhome to be in storage more than 6 weeks at a time, or so.

Thanks for the help!

[Veebyes]

How long will it be left unattended in storage? Good batterys do not go dead in a month, even six months. Disconnected a fully charged battery bank in good condition will last many months with little discharge. Farm equipment, construction equipment, cars in storage lots, boats on moorings, all kinds of things are left for months at a time without access to power for battery minders & such with no ill effect on their batterys.

[leftys]

Thank you all so much for your input. I have a 2015 Feetwood Bounder but don't know what type of converter it has - I'll check and proceed according to your recommendations.

[wa8yxm]

Depends on the converter/charger.. I have my choice of two

Progressve Dyanmics Intella-Power 9180 with charge wizard
and Xantrex prosine 2.0 (inverter/charger)

Both of these are among the very best converter/chargers, in fact You will not find better ones, though for different reasons they are 3-stage converters with one additional outstanding feature (You will find several as good)

IF I plug in and leave it for a year, with new GC-2 type batteries, I need to add distilled water (As they age I need to water them more often) That is with either of these 3 stage jobs.

Some older trailers have the Magnetek 6300 line of power center/converters.

This unit was designed back when the standard shore power was 110 or 115 volt, it uses a very poor method of voltage regulation so the modern 120 volt standard means it runs a bit "hot" (voltage wise not temp wise, a good regulator would get warmer (Temp) not higher voltage) so it can boil a set of flooded wet cells dry in just a week or two once they are fully charged, and this with only a few amps of current.

So the answer to your question: It depends on your converter

I gave you the best, and the worst, you need to find where yours is on the chart (less I named it) If you have an old 6300... Consider upgrading, pull it gut it (remove the electronics) and drop in a Progressive Intella-power 4600.. that is one of the many mentioned in the first converter description. (Functionally identical to what I have, likely a different last 2 digits).

[Kit_Carson]

Just this week I installed a Battery Tender to my house batteries. They were hooked up in parallel so I disconnected the main negative cable leaving the interconnected cables as they were. The Battery Tender will keep my batteries charged and will not boil them out. I also have a small Battery Tender hooked to the chassis battery.