HW296 Battery?

[lakecumberland]

If hooked to electric source does it charge the battery?

[f5moab]

Yes.

[lakecumberland]

And if not plugged in over time the battery will die unless you have a disconnect?

[kinma13]

Should charge, and yes plug it on or disconnect. Trickle charger works too

[lakecumberland]

My storage unit doesn't have power all the time just 30 mins switch at a time.

[f5moab]

Not sure how new your trailer is but most of the newer ones have a three stage converter for charging the batteries and supplying AC to the unit.
So, if you leave it for a period of time, and it is not connected to a power supply or a battery charger, you should disconnect the battery. Some use a disconnect switch, some like me, just pull the negative cable off the battery; killing the circuit to the trailer. It has worked great for many years. (When you reconnect it, the propane alarm will most likely sound; mine does, so I just reach through and hit the test button and it shut off.)

If you have a WFCC converter, which I will bet you do, this is their description of the different modes for charging the battery. And I have verified the three modes when camping by viewing my Trimetric meter.

Absorption mode/Normal operation
Nominal battery charge and supplies power to appliances
Bulk mode/Charge mode
Fast battery charge and supplies power to appliances
Float mode/Trickle charge
Trickle battery charge during storage

Absorption Mode: During this mode, the converter output is in the
13.6 Vdc range. This is the normal operation mode. This mode
provides the 12 Vdc and current required by the 12 Vdc RV appliances,
as well as slow charging the battery.

Bulk Mode: When the converter senses that the RV system voltage is
less than 13.2 Vdc (equivalent to less than 50% of battery charge) the
converter will automatically go into the “Bulk mode.” In this mode, the
output voltage of the converter will switch to 14.4 Vdc for a maximum
of four hours. If the converter cycles between “Absorption and Bulk
mode,” there could be a shorted battery cell or other issues.

If the output voltage drops below 13.2 Vdc, the converter automatically
changes to a “Bulk mode” 14.4 Vdc (unless the converter is in overload
condition). There are two signs of an overloaded converter:
Low output voltage, and full converter fold back or shutdown. In both
cases, the converter will automatically turn ON, once the complete load
is removed. For low output condition, removing the extra (over the
current rating) load will be sufficient. If it is impractical to remove all
the load, resetting the main breaker will have the same effect.

Float Mode: If the RV is not being used for approximately 48 hours,
with a “no load” condition and the shore power is plugged in, the
converter will automatically go in to the “Float mode.” In this mode,
the converter is charging the battery with a trickle voltage of 13.2 Vdc.
When the converter senses a demand (by turning on lights), the
converter automatically returns to the “Absorption mode” 13.6 Vdc.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by lakecumberland

And if not plugged in over time the battery will die unless you have a disconnect?

YES. nearly all RVs, including popups, have parasitic power drains, especially ones since 2000, due to addition of stereos and warning detectors that are hard wired.
you need a disconnect switch or you disconnect the battery cable or pull the inline fuse.