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Old 09-01-2014, 11:10 AM   #1
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Keeping my TT plugged in all the time

What would be the reasons to plug in my TT all the time when it is parked? Is that necessary? What are your thoughts?

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Old 09-01-2014, 11:40 AM   #2
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My thoughts -- generally I'd say keeping the TT plugged in all the time is unnecessary & potentially risky. Only minimal gain is keeping the refrig cold for the next trip. Down side is potential electrical short/fire in the TT when no one is home to smell something fishy. Not likely but possible.

Use the battery cut-off and air dry your refrig. Then unplug when you are parking the TT longer than a few days. Visit your RV at least once a month to keep water in the traps & watch for insects. That's my opinion.
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Old 09-01-2014, 11:53 AM   #3
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I ran a 30 amp line to the outside wall of my garage where the Lexi is parked. Its plugged in 24/7, and I keep the fridge on also. Handy when I want to do maintaince, have power to the outlets and ac.
To those who worry, think about all the rv's that are full timing--those units are running 24/7. And why would you worry about the unit being plugged in when your not there? Do you unplug when your rig in a campground and leave your rig ?
Up to the owner, but mine always stays plugged in.
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Old 09-01-2014, 12:03 PM   #4
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It Pays to Check

A few days ago, a friend of ours saw some yellow jackets inside their TT. Apparently the yellow jackets were entering thru the refridge panel and made a nest in an over head cabinet above the fridge. They set off 2 bombs to try to kill them and he still was stung 3 times when cutting the nest out. In the pics, there is a black hose(don't know what that is for) but the nest is built around it. The other pics show what is left of the nest. There was a lot of larvae inside the nest so there was a lot more yellow jackets on the way! They hadn't been in their TT in about a month so this all had happened in a short period of time.

So it pays to keep an eye on things!
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Old 09-01-2014, 12:05 PM   #5
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For me, the difference is a malfunctioning converter overcharging the batteries while the unit is unattended for weeks at a time. I'll disconnect the batteries and put them on a separate charger where I can keep an eye on them. I'll usually open mine up and check everything out a week or so before a trip. It gets plugged in then and stays that way until we get back, but the batteries stay disconnected until we leave.
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Old 09-01-2014, 12:38 PM   #6
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I keep my TT opened up inside the shed all the time and flip the breaker on about every 2-3 weeks to keep the battery charged. Leave it on for a couple days then back off for another 2-3 weeks. Since we don't use it but 3-4 times a year, I'll run the slides in/out and the jacks up/down about every couple months. I'll turn on the fridge at those times to make sure everything is operational.
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Old 10-10-2014, 09:53 AM   #7
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Timex - make sure you are disconnecting your battery from the camper when you do that, or it will be dead within a week due to the fridge control board and LP detector. You are right that you need to do an overnight charge at least once each month (less if it is really cold out). A battery disconnect switch or weatherproof fuse will work well.
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Old 10-10-2014, 12:29 PM   #8
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Mine stays plugged in all the time. I leave the a/c on 80 and dehumidifier running.

All 120 is run in standard romex and protected by breakers... I don't worry.
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Old 10-10-2014, 12:49 PM   #9
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Timex, I bet that hose is the shore power cord.

And I'd invest in those metal screens for the fridge vents
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Old 10-10-2014, 01:22 PM   #10
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Holy moly that ginormous hornets nest would give me nightmares!!!!

We park our RV at the lot at the Air Force Academy (I'm retired) and our only issue in 5 years has been a skunk that was hanging around there but I had the base call animal control and we haven't smelled it since.
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Old 10-10-2014, 11:07 PM   #11
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I keep ours plugged in all the time,never know when I might decide to hook up and head out. I can be ready to go in about 30 min.


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