Battery or no battery????????

[BobaFett]

I have a Jayco Hummingbird 17MBS. I realized that every campground we want to stay has full hookup. (Power, Water, Sewer). So im curious....do I HAVE TO HAVE a battery? We do not plug in to shore power a few days ahead to get the fridge going. Even in 100 degrees, the camper is so small that it only takes a few minutes to run the A/C to get the inside temp comfortable. Is there something i am not considering?

[time2roll]

Jayco Hummingbird is a trailer

https://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2019-hummingbird/

[MEXICOWANDERER]

This is a camper




While this is a trailer




Unless the converter manufacturer clearly states its product can serve as a standalone power supply I would call the manufacturer about this.

And if your travel time to and from to the campground is always less than 2 hours each way my vote is to buy a car battery, not an RV battery. You will save money and get a 5-year minimum warranty. Just do not fudge about running around with more than a tiny battery load to and from the campground.

Batteries act as shock absorbers for cheap converter dirty power which is called "ripple"

[sgfrye]

drsteve wrote:
An inexpensive Group 24 marine/deep cycle will serve the purpose just fine.

exactly cheap wally world hybrid deep cycle batteries have always done great for us on 2 different travel trailers we don't boondock or drycamp. and they will last a long time if you keep them properly charged and fluid levels checked.

ive always used them as my deep cycle trolling motor in my boats

[time2roll]

State law requires an emergency breakaway braking system and this system requires a battery.

Battery will also supply 12 volts to the fridge and other controls while stopped en route or in process of setting up or leaving camp.

Battery will provide some functions if the utility power goes out.

[RJsfishin]

What do you have against having 1 cheap 12v battery aboard ?

[drsteve]

An inexpensive Group 24 marine/deep cycle will serve the purpose just fine.

[ppine]

Battery.

[DrewE]

You should have a battery. As vermilye points out, the breakaway brake system requires a battery, and in many states this is required equipment so a battery must be present.

Some converter designs, admittedly generally not ones that have been made too recently, require a battery to operate properly or to clean up their electrically noisy output.

If you ever want to stop quickly when traveling to use the bathroom or make and eat lunch or similar, you'll need a battery to power the water pump etc.

All that being said, you certainly don't need to have a big or expensive battery setup for the kind of camping you'll be doing.

[agesilaus]

Your lights are all 12V I'm not sure they will work w/o a battery even when hooked up. Plus you will eventually want to stop at a rest area or somesuch to make lunch or do something else.

[Sam_Spade]

And....if there ever is a power failure at the campground, it will be nice to have lights, etc. while the power is OFF.

Also some charger/converters don't operate correctly without a battery present.

[vermilye]

If you have electric brakes, the trailer battery powers them when you trip the breakaway switch.

[SidecarFlip]

Your 3 way fridge won't operate without continuous 12 volt power.