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03-05-2023, 08:16 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 23
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Battery maintenance
What is the best method to keep the battery on your pop up maintained? Trickle charger?
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2021 Rockwood Freedom 2280 LTD
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03-05-2023, 08:36 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 414
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I have a trickle charger permanently mounted but do not have it always plugged in. In the summer months, if it has not been used in the last 30 days, I plug it in for about 24hrs just to keep it up to capacity. I also charge the battery before I head out. In the winter months, I take the battery out and put it on my work bench and charge it about once a month.
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2013 Rockwood Freedom2381G
2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie 6.7L
B&W Turnover Ball w/Companion Hitch
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03-05-2023, 09:02 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,067
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If the battery is just sitting it doesn’t drain at a high rate. I always bring the trl to the house at least a day before trip, so I plug in the trl let it charge. If your pop up doesn’t an inverter then yes a trickle charger over night
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2019 F 250 6.2
2022 Columbus 329 DVC
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03-05-2023, 10:08 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 23
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Do you recommend a trickle charger permanently mounted? I like that idea.
I keep my pop up in the garage, so power is available.
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2021 Rockwood Freedom 2280 LTD
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03-05-2023, 10:38 AM
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#5
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 6,755
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moose074
If the battery is just sitting it doesn’t drain at a high rate. I always bring the trl to the house at least a day before trip, so I plug in the trl let it charge. If your pop up doesn’t an inverter then yes a trickle charger over night
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Having an inverter has nothing to do with keeping the trailer batteries in check.
An inverter provides AC power from DC batteries.
A converter can charge DC batteries from AC power.
A trickle charger just keeps batteries at their optimum without overcharging.
Search “Battery Tender”
If applicable, you still need to monitor the water level of batteries that aren’t sealed units.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count
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03-05-2023, 10:41 AM
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#6
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 17,132
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boemer Bunch
Do you recommend a trickle charger permanently mounted? I like that idea.
I keep my pop up in the garage, so power is available.
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If it is a trickle charger with some kind of regulation, then it would be OK to install and leave on.
A fully charged and disconnected battery will maintain almost a full charge for many months. I've never kept a battery on any kind of trickle/maintainer charger when stored. Simply charge to capacity and disconnect.
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped: '18=48 ☼ '19=58 ☼ '20=110 ☼ '21=116 ☼ '22=112 ☼ '23=83
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03-05-2023, 10:45 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 30,664
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boemer Bunch
Do you recommend a trickle charger permanently mounted? I like that idea.
I keep my pop up in the garage, so power is available.
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Plug the trailer shore cord into a garage outlet.
Let the trailer's converter do what it's designed to do, keep the battery charged. Just check the battery cells fluid level once a month.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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03-05-2023, 11:11 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
Plug the trailer shore cord into a garage outlet.
Let the trailer's converter do what it's designed to do, keep the battery charged. Just check the battery cells fluid level once a month.
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x2
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03-05-2023, 01:26 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 238
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I do what Dan & Larner said above. I installed a battery cut-off switch also. I charge for 24 hours every 6 weeks, when I'm not charging I turn my cut-off switch on, so there's nothing slowly draining the battery.
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2018 Flagstaff HW27ks
2019 Toyota Tundra
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03-05-2023, 02:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,067
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kenandterry
Having an inverter has nothing to do with keeping the trailer batteries in check.
An inverter provides AC power from DC batteries.
A converter can charge DC batteries from AC power.
A trickle charger just keeps batteries at their optimum without overcharging.
Search “Battery Tender”
If applicable, you still need to monitor the water level of batteries that aren’t sealed units.
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You are correct used the wrong term
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2019 F 250 6.2
2022 Columbus 329 DVC
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03-07-2023, 10:26 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boemer Bunch
What is the best method to keep the battery on your pop up maintained? Trickle charger?
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EITHER: 1. Disconnect the battery. Remove all wires from one post or the other, or install a disconnect switch. Leave the battery alone for up to 6 months.
OR: 2. Keep the battery charged with the converter or trickle charger.
Either method works. Some prefer one over the other. Sometimes I use #1, sometimes I use #2.
Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2022 Hyundai Flagstaff
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03-07-2023, 07:26 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 23
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Thanks everyone. This gives me good insight.
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2021 Rockwood Freedom 2280 LTD
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03-07-2023, 07:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Campworthy
when I'm not charging I turn my cut-off switch on, so there's nothing slowly draining the battery.
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On most battery disconnect switches, the "ON" position means the battery is connected, the battery is turned "ON". The "OFF" position means the battery is turned "off", it is disconnected from the loads on the load side of the switch. Sometimes the disconnect switch will have another position that allows you to remove the "key" or handle when in the "OFF" position with the battery disconnected.
From the factory, the propane leak/CO detector will be wired to the battery itself and not disconnected with the switch which will draw a small load off the battery.
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03-07-2023, 08:04 PM
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#14
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Old man RVer
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 243
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What kind of battery?
The OP never stated what kind of battery he has, did he? Is it lead-acid or li-ion? Lead-acid - use a "smart" trickle charger, the TT's charger or disconnect and charge congressionally. Li-ion - drain to 50% and leave it be.
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03-07-2023, 08:31 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 4,060
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2WheelJon
... or disconnect and charge congressionally. ...
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OK, I'll bite. What does that mean?
__________________
TV: 2016 Ford F-150 RWD Lariat Crew w/ 3.5L EB, MaxTow and tow mirrors.
RV: 2020 Rockwood Mini-Lite 2507S, Propride 3P hitch w/ 1400# spring bars
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03-07-2023, 08:52 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 8,705
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriscowles
OK, I'll bite. What does that mean?
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Well, to charge your battery like congress I would assume means there would be absolutely nothing done to the actual battery at all 
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD 4dr short bed Duramax w/allison
Reese Fifth Airborne air ride king pin coupler with Sidewinder
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03-07-2023, 08:53 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 15,800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriscowles
OK, I'll bite. What does that mean?
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I'll guess its "auto-correct speak " for " occasionally ". 
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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03-07-2023, 10:27 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 4,060
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
I'll guess its "auto-correct speak " for " occasionally ".
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NMWildcat's explanation is equally plausible. 
__________________
TV: 2016 Ford F-150 RWD Lariat Crew w/ 3.5L EB, MaxTow and tow mirrors.
RV: 2020 Rockwood Mini-Lite 2507S, Propride 3P hitch w/ 1400# spring bars
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03-07-2023, 10:38 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 15,800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriscowles
NMWildcat's explanation is equally plausible. |
Very 
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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03-07-2023, 11:36 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 238
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyLCDR
On most battery disconnect switches, the "ON" position means the battery is connected, the battery is turned "ON". The "OFF" position means the battery is turned "off", it is disconnected from the loads on the load side of the switch. Sometimes the disconnect switch will have another position that allows you to remove the "key" or handle when in the "OFF" position with the battery disconnected.
From the factory, the propane leak/CO detector will be wired to the battery itself and not disconnected with the switch which will draw a small load off the battery.
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Yeah, I worded that oddly. I meant I turn it on to the off position! 
__________________
2018 Flagstaff HW27ks
2019 Toyota Tundra
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