Hooked up to shore power for the winter

Drap · 11-08-2013, 05:43 PM

Just finished winterizing my 2014 Sunseeker. Do I stay plugged in or not?

garbonz · 11-08-2013, 05:57 PM

AHHHH, such a question. With a stock converter, you run the risk of overcharging the batteries and boiling out the electrolyle.

Safest thing is to pull them, take them home and put on a battery minder or equiv.

Second best is to leave them in the coach, disconnect them, and reconnect and charge them on a monthly basis.

Your choice.

RvBill3 · 11-08-2013, 06:07 PM

You will likely get many opinions on this. In theory, the converter in a Sunseeker will drop down to a trickle charger and maintain the batteries just fine all winter. Some have concerns that the converter will cook the batteries. It's not suppose to. In any case you should check the batteries occasionally.

On the other hand, I don't have electricity available where I store mine. I start the engine about once a month and the generator also and run them for about 20-30 minutes. I have had no problems. Our low temps get down into the 20s during the winter. One of the reasons I use this approach is so that the MH is always available to use if we would have a power outage from a storm.

Another option is to remove the batteries and put them on float chargers.

Great Horned Owl · 11-09-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RvBill3

You will likely get many opinions on this. In theory, the converter in a Sunseeker will drop down to a trickle charger and maintain the batteries just fine all winter. Some have concerns that the converter will cook the batteries. It's not suppose to. In any case you should check the batteries occasionally.

On the other hand, I don't have electricity available where I store mine. I start the engine about once a month and the generator also and run them for about 20-30 minutes. I have had no problems. Our low temps get down into the 20s during the winter. One of the reasons I use this approach is so that the MH is always available to use if we would have a power outage from a storm.

Another option is to remove the batteries and put them on float chargers.

X2

Any modern converter with 3 stage charging should maintain the batteries just fine, without overcharging them.

Joel

fonzie · 11-09-2013, 09:43 AM

Just to be on the safe side, you can use a daily timer on the supply line so the coach battery gets charge for one hour every day........instead of being on all the time.

garbonz · 11-09-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Horned Owl

X2

Any modern converter with 3 stage charging should maintain the batteries just fine, without overcharging them.

Joel

Not according to the bulk of the post on this site, including my experience with the WFCO converters. I have a 2013 5er and the WFCO does overcharge by enough to reduce the water in the cells to the minimum in less than a month.

I would not take the risk, unless you check the electrolyte in the cells within the first couple of week and see what your specific converter is doing. Then you can proceed. The WFCO's maybe are just cheap enough to not be consistent with charging across the board and some may be fine, but mine is not. I only use my stock charger when I am using the trailer and turn it off at other times and use an external charger once a month or so to top it off.

IMO of course, your experience may vary!!

John McClain · 11-09-2013, 11:07 AM

If help to know what kind of batteries you have ? if you run Gel or AGM you should have have no worries.

Batts-toy · 11-09-2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drap

Just finished winterizing my 2014 Sunseeker. Do I stay plugged in or not?

As RVBill3 said, you will get various ways to approach this topic in this forum. So for what it's worth: You said you have the option of staying connected to shore power, my approach since I have mine stored next to the house (I am also in California so getting out and tinkering with the TT is something to do as well for me). I have solar on my TT roof and what I do is shut off the solar, throw the battery disconnect to disconnect from TT. I go out periodically and check the batteries charge and when they get to 12.4 I bring the solar online and charge them back up to 12.7 as well as check battery levels. I haven't had a TT very long (only 1 winter) but this is my plan. So I am wandering if you are in a position that you can disconnect and reconnect shore power as needed to charge the batteries once in a while.

Just another approach all those mentioned above will work just fine as well.

Enjoy

Mike & Molly · 11-09-2013, 02:24 PM

We have a 2013 3010DS.
We store the rig outside but have shore power. I also don't trust the converter to maintain a healthy charge rate.
What I felt was the safest thing to save the batteries, was to pull them from the coach and engine compartment.
I have them connected to 3 separated Battery Tenders in my basement.
I bought a 3 pack of Battery Tender Plus from Amazon.com for only $129.00 & no shipping charge. That's like getting one free if bought individually. The Battery Tender Jr. I use for my motorcycle battery has extended the life of the battery to more than 6 years, so I figure I'll have no problem come this spring with the coach batteries.
Hope this helps.

TURBS · 11-09-2013, 03:25 PM

My camper is plugged in 24/7 365.

Turbs

**ependydad** · 11-09-2013, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

My camper is plugged in 24/7 365. Turbs

Did you upgrade the converter? Or are you still running the standard issue WFCO?

trudinator · 11-09-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

My camper is plugged in 24/7 365.

Turbs

Us too. Never cooked a battery yet.

OldCoot · 11-09-2013, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

My camper is plugged in 24/7 365. Turbs

As is ours, 24/7, 365 and a WFCO converter. 08 was also plugged in for 4 yrs with a WFCO converter and no problems.

garbonz · 11-09-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCoot

As is ours, 24/7, 365 and a WFCO converter. 08 was also plugged in for 4 yrs with a WFCO converter and no problems.

Lucky you. What float voltage is it holding at? I think that is the critical issue.

TURBS · 11-09-2013, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

Did you upgrade the converter? Or are you still running the standard issue WFCO?

Wfco converter 55amp
With added circulation fan.

OldCoot · 11-09-2013, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garbonz

Lucky you. What float voltage is it holding at? I think that is the critical issue.

No idea, never checked either trailer. Never had a battery problem on either trailer. The 08 still had the original batteries on it when we got rid of it in Feb12 and the 12 5er still has it's originals. When/if they go bad, I'll just replace them.

DDC · 11-09-2013, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

My camper is plugged in 24/7 365.

Turbs

Me too all the trailers I've had have been plugged in all the time, the one I have now is going into the third winter, also I have never had to add water and yes I do check it.

garbonz · 11-09-2013, 07:14 PM

I must be the exception then. Might be a good idea to keep tabs on the batteries every once and awhile tho.

Geri · 11-10-2013, 08:05 AM

VA doesn't have very cold winters, but we've found leaving RV plugged in continuously will leave the water level low enough to need replenishment after a month. So we use the 'start it up and run it once a month' approach. That keeps oil on cylinder walls, and keeps the batteries happy. However on the boat we left the batteries alone for several months at a time with only a heater in the engine compartment, and they also do well, so maybe there really isn't a right answer other than being aware of the batteries and their welfare.

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