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10-06-2015, 10:34 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 10
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Charging batteries, when rv parked for the season
I have a three stage converter on my motorhome, just wondering if anybody leaves they're shore power plugged during the of season, just to maintain the batteries
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10-06-2015, 11:12 PM
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#2
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Left Coast
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: vancouver,washington
Posts: 15,649
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I do, and use an oil filled heater also.
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10-07-2015, 04:22 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 582
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Not me, for me in this part of Canada it gets down to -20-30C, battery comes out and sits on two blocks of wood in my laundry room hooked to my charger.
Kevin
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10-07-2015, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 627
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My Mirada has been plugged in since I bought it a year ago. One of the first things I did was to retrofit the single stage converter with a 4 stage.
Upgrading converter to 4 stage | 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB
I checked the water in the batteries last weekend, Level is OK for both coach and chassis. I'm happy with the converter....
__________________
2001 Coachmen Mirada (Ford F53 6.8L V10) - Toad 2003 Saturn Vue
It won't do MACH 2, but I can get a sandwich and take a pee.
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10-08-2015, 01:14 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: North of Detroit
Posts: 77
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I have for many years. Even on my old Class C. I just keep an eye on the water levels and fill when necessary. No problems so far for the last 10 or so years of doing this. I live in South East Michigan.
hatchet
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10-08-2015, 01:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,832
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If you fully charge your battery...it will not freeze until -90 degrees. No need to store inside. Good to -16 degrees even if it is 60% charged. I fully charged battery will lose about 5% of charge / month in cold weather.
__________________
________
Cam
2015 Georgetown 280DS
2019 Vespa Primavera 150's (pair)
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10-08-2015, 02:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 423
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Like Hatchet19 said, I keep mine plugged in all the time, just watch the water level. I've had a battery minder for about 10 years, replaces the normal battery plugs with an attachment that is attached to a rubber bulb that you use to fill the water from a bottle of distilled water. This way you don't have to keep taking the plugs out to check and fill the water. Just pump the bulb until you can pump any more.
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10-08-2015, 03:12 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by capitan
I have a three stage converter on my motorhome, just wondering if anybody leaves they're shore power plugged during the of season, just to maintain the batteries
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I think our converter is basically a two-stage converter.
Original equipment by IOTA. Well for $20 on EBay I got their external plug. In that turns it in to a 4 phase charge controller. Jeez I bet that could have been in the unit originally for about $3 more. No needed often because of my solar but, hey now it is top flight. So I did it.
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10-09-2015, 08:37 AM
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#9
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peaceparson
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Berne, Adams County, Indiana
Posts: 61
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Do you fill with distilled water, tap water, or acid when the level becomes low? My battery is far too heavy to move indoors, plus I don't want a charging battery inside the house. I will be leaving it on the trailer and pluggfing into the garage outlet through the cold weather.
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10-09-2015, 08:42 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: North of Detroit
Posts: 77
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Always distilled water.
hatchet
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10-09-2015, 08:43 AM
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#11
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by camaraderie
If you fully charge your battery...it will not freeze until -90 degrees. No need to store inside. Good to -16 degrees even if it is 60% charged. I fully charged battery will lose about 5% of charge / month in cold weather.
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Keep in mind there are parasitic draws on most rvs that will discharge the batteries in a month or less.
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10-09-2015, 09:18 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,368
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The 3 stage units are really just trickle chargers on the lowest setting. They can still over-cook your batteries over time. IMO, the best option is to disconnect the batteries from the RV and then hook a Battery Minder to the batteries. A Battery Minder is a smart charger and has anti-sulfation techology. My tractor, RV, motorcycle batteries last 7 to 10 years using these devices and they are always topped off and ready to go.
__________________
2021 F350 Lariat 7.3 4X4 w 4.30s, 2018 Wildcat 29RLX
2012 BMW G650GS, Demco Premiere Slider
1969 John Deere 1020, 1940 Ford 9N, 1948 Ford 8N
Jonsered 535, Can of WD-40, Duct Tape
Red Green coffee mugs
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10-09-2015, 09:55 AM
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#13
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Left Coast
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: vancouver,washington
Posts: 15,649
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Depends on hard or soft water avalilibity.
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10-09-2015, 04:44 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 242
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I Always leave mine plugged in... 
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10-09-2015, 05:01 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SW ONTARIO
Posts: 354
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Quote:
Originally Posted by capitan
I have a three stage converter on my motorhome, just wondering if anybody leaves they're shore power plugged during the of season, just to maintain the batteries
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I have no faith in the inverter/charger units installed by the manufacturers. I've had several expensive batteries ruined while installed in trailers during the summer, let alone the off season. I recommend removal and regular checking and charging if required.
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10-09-2015, 06:45 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 323
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All season long
Quote:
Originally Posted by capitan
I have a three stage converter on my motorhome, just wondering if anybody leaves they're shore power plugged during the of season, just to maintain the batteries
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I have a 5th wheel and upgraded my converter to a 4 stage unit and with this i do not even have a issue with the water, so as long as you do have at least a 3 stage unit you should be good, just keep an eye on your water for the first season to know how your unit works for boiling the water in the battery
__________________
B.Smith
2010 Cedar Creek Silverback 35ts
2001 GMC 2500HD w/ Allison & 8.1
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