Disconnect Battery when on shore power?

[corocky1998]

I am winterizing my camper. I want to keep it plugged into the house for the winter, but i don't want to over charge the battery. Will the battery disconnect stop the charger from charging the battery or should I just disconnect the negative on the battery.

I have a Wildcat 29rlx. When I do engage the battery disconnect the the living room slides still work.

Thanks

[sgtlm17]

Using battery disconnect switch will prevent converter from charging batteries.

[dieselguy]

Many of the newer campers have a 3 stage battery charger OEM. These charge or maintain the battery as needed. Yours may have one installed.
It's not good practice to extend / retract your slides with the battery cutoff switch "off". The slide motors or hyd pump draw a bunch of amps and it puts a LOAD on your converter. Your manual will back up my warning.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by corocky1998

I am winterizing my camper. I want to keep it plugged into the house for the winter, but i don't want to over charge the battery. Will the battery disconnect stop the charger from charging the battery or should I just disconnect the negative on the battery.

I have a Wildcat 29rlx. When I do engage the battery disconnect the the living room slides still work.

Thanks

Just leave it on and check your water in them monthly, just normal maintenance. I leave mine on 24/7 plugged in at home...

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

Just leave it on and check your water in them monthly, just normal maintenance. I leave mine on 24/7 plugged in at home...

Yes you may have a power outage, if so your ready to go! Youroo! !

[ccsvolsfan]

I always left mine on, until the converter failed and boiled the batteries dry. Ruined them. Luck to be in warranty. Now I fully charge and disconnect.

[pgandw]

Originally Posted by ccsvolsfan

I always left mine on, until the converter failed and boiled the batteries dry. Ruined them. Luck to be in warranty. Now I fully charge and disconnect.

Numerous WFCO converters have been found to never go into trickle mode (13.2V). Remaining in normal mode (13.7V) will slowly boil the water over a long period of time. I replaced my WFCO with a Progressive Dynamics converter which changes mode as it is supposed to. I no longer worry about leaving the camper plugged in for the long term.

Check the battery voltage after a week of being plugged in. If it's dropped down to 13.2V, your converter is working fine and the batteries will be properly trickle charged.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame

[Witch Doctor]

This is true I did the did the same thing changed out to progressive after two WFCO

[Bluepill]

Originally Posted by ccsvolsfan

I always left mine on, until the converter failed and boiled the batteries dry. Ruined them. Luck to be in warranty. Now I fully charge and disconnect.

Same here, but warranty was refused because the battery cases were bulging from the overcharge. I now fully charge the batteries and disconnect them for storage. I then connect a 2 amp maintainer that is incapable of overcharging the battery bank.

[markb422]

I was thinking about leaving the batteries connected and plugging the mh in with a heavy duty timer to come on for a hour a day to keep the batteries topped off without over charging. Good idea?

[camaraderie]

Batteries in the winter lose about 10% of charge per month and WILL not freeze if stored fully charged (-91 degrees freeze point). I is FAR better for battery life to let the battery self discharge for 90 days THEN turn the charger on and let it provide a BULK charge which will stir up the acid/water solution and prevent stratification and sulphation.
Some of the newer Progressive and IOTA chargers have an automatic EQ cycle that comes on briefly once a week or so when the battery has been on float...and these achieve the same purpose...but I wouldn't just leave it on a 3 stage charger all winter especially when it is not necessary.

[Comanchecreek]

Originally Posted by corocky1998

I am winterizing my camper. I want to keep it plugged into the house for the winter, but i don't want to over charge the battery. Will the battery disconnect stop the charger from charging the battery or should I just disconnect the negative on the battery.

I have a Wildcat 29rlx. When I do engage the battery disconnect the the living room slides still work.

Thanks

I either turn off the converter at the breaker or use the disconnect switch. I keep battery maintainers on the batteries to keep them topped off and so they won't freeze. The maintainers will help your batteries last many years. I have yet to see a power converter that didnt boil the batteries dry. Dry battery=dead battery. Be sure to regularly check the water level. RV batteries are designed to charge and discharge regularly and will gas out the water regularly so check them.

[corocky1998]

Thank you for all the replies. I think after my last trip this year next week I will just disconnect the battery and every 3 months check the water and plug it in for a day or two. By then, should be camping again.

[DaveSchwartz]

I leave my 5er plugged in all winter with the batteries connected. I purchased one of these and have it plugged into the cigarette lighter socket beside the bed... I check it every few days (same as when I check the mousetrap) and its always reading 13.1 or 13.2.