Leave Battery connected during storage?

[bwbarnes]

We just bought our first TT, moving up from a popup. We had a great first trip in it this past weekend. Now that its home I'm not sure what to do with the battery. I have the TT plugged into shore power and the converter appears to be trickle charging the battery at 13.7v. Should I disconnect the battery to avoid overcharging or will it be fine to remain on trickle charge?

Thanks,
Bruce
2012 Avenger 26BH

[VTX Al]

Included in your RV info pouch there should be an owners manual/pamphlet from the converter manufacturer. It will tell you if the converter has a 3-stage charger built in. If it is a 3-stage you are fine to leave it plugged in.

...VTX-Al

[Dave_Monica]

Iv'e had my camper plugged into shorepower all the time it's at home for the last 4 years. No problem.

Dave

[Triguy]

Its fine to leave it plugged in assuming you have a three-way converter/charger, which you almost certainly do. Check the water level in the batteries periodically.

However, you can also disconnect the batteries if you do not intend to use the camper for a month or two. They will remain charged as long as they do not have a draw. That's why many of us install a battery disconnect switch.

[rkswyo]

I have always left mine plugged in at home. Never had a problem. I typically get 4 to 6 years out of a battery, so it must be okay to do so. I do check fluid levels in the battery often and fill as nessasary. I leave the batteries in my boat on a trickle charge all year long and have never had an issue with them either.

[jrlehr]

You will be fine. I have the battery disconnect switch also so I never have to unhook the battery.

[bwbarnes]

Thanks everyone. I checked the manual for the convertor and it is a 3-mode unit. So it is in float charge mode right now, happily maintaining the battery.

Bruce
2012 Avenger 26BH
Yorktown, VA

[f1100turbo]

I leave my 5er plugged in to shore power 24/7 365 no issues.

[F and E Damp]

We keep our GT 325 Class A plugged in all through the winter. It's moored alongside the garage. So far (second season) we haven't had any house battery issues. We have two Costco deep-cycle 12V marine/RV batteries in parallel. They were new in July 2010 just after we bought the rig.

When it's time to resurrect it for next season, about 8 weeks away, who knows what surprises await!

[41railbuggy]

Hi all,

I just bought my first RV a Wolfpack WP32 to haul my bike and sand rail to camp. Love it so far. Not new, a 2007 model.

I live in a condo so no shore power available. There is a small approx 12x12 solar panel on top of the AC unit. I have no documentation at all. By experiment I have found that with no shore power or tow vehicle connected the voltage is higher with the battery disconnect "ON" so I assume the solar trickle charger is working. Voltage dropped when I disconnect. I was not sure if the solar would still charge and the disconnect was just to remove the leakage current for LPG detector, etc.

I bought 2 new Group 27 deep cycle batteries and connected in parallel. My idiot light panel just has 4 lights for battery condition and now after about 3 weeks seems to have settled at 3 lights. I measured at the battery connections and it was sitting at 12.3 volts. With the LPG detector going is this probably all I will get out of the little solar panel on top? I live in sunny St. Petersburg, FL so get a lot of sun.

Should I think about disconnecting the LPG detector. Nothing else is draining power. Maybe 12.3 is fine and when I tow a couple hours camping the truck connection will top off the batteries.

Also when I hook up shore power camping should I disconnect the batteries? Not sure if I have 3-stage converter.

Thanks all. This is awesome to have so much information at hand.

Dave