Storage electricity

bkennard

New Member
Joined
May 17, 2016
Messages
4
We keep our Forrester 3051 parked at home when not in use. One question is should we keep it plugged in to electricity all the time? Don't have a 30 amp receptacle at home but an adapter from 30 to 110 15 amp. Other question is if we keep it plugged in, should the battery switch be on or off? All factory with no modifications to the unit. Thanks!
 
Personally I keep mine plugged in. Maintains battery, fridge runs —I don’t believe it’s healthy for them to be on/off back and forth. It’s ready to go ASAP. And. I run a dehumidifier inside 24/7 365.
 
I keep mine plugged in. You may want to put a switch on your propane/smoke detector to turn it off when the trailer is not occupied, otherwise the 5 year clock is ticking on it's lifespan.
 
I keep mine plugged in. You may want to put a switch on your propane/smoke detector to turn it off when the trailer is not occupied, otherwise the 5 year clock is ticking on it's lifespan.

Ope. Wait.


I thought it was a 6 year, no matter what. So it’s operation driven? That’s extremely valuable info.
 
I thought it was a 6 year, no matter what. So it’s operation driven? That’s extremely valuable info.

It could be 6 years, I don't recall. I just swapped mine out. But yeah, the clock ticks while it's powered on. If it's not powered, the clock isn't ticking. Just make sure you get a lighted switch, and wire it so that it lights up when the unit is OFF. That way you don't forget to power on when you get to the camp. I also have a Nest in my unit for backup and so I know if something happens remotely.
 
Thanks for the tip. My mind went to a lighted switch as soon as I read your comment.
 
If you keep it plugged in, keep the battery switch in the CONNECTED position, or your battery/ies won't be getting charged. And if your have regular flooded lead-acid batteries, be sure to check the water level in them occasionally. Top off with distilled water if needed.
 
to each their own! there is no hard and fast answer. for those of you that can keep you rv at your house and keep it plugged in that seems like a reasonable practice. many of us store our rv at a storage location without any shore power available. so we have to learn how to store the rv appropriately. the key issue is to fully charge the batteries (lead acid) before going into storage and then removing all loads from the batteries while in storage. if you do this the batteries will remain charged for months. we take several trips per year and we have learned how to put our trailer into unpowered storage and take it out of storage and make it come alive so that is what works for us.
 
to each their own! there is no hard and fast answer. for those of you that can keep you rv at your house and keep it plugged in that seems like a reasonable practice. many of us store our rv at a storage location without any shore power available. so we have to learn how to store the rv appropriately. the key issue is to fully charge the batteries (lead acid) before going into storage and then removing all loads from the batteries while in storage. if you do this the batteries will remain charged for months. we take several trips per year and we have learned how to put our trailer into unpowered storage and take it out of storage and make it come alive so that is what works for us.

Basically this is true........ whether at home or stored after 40 years and several RVs we have never kept ours plugged in. Its up to you no harm either way.

:signhavefun:
 
Thank you all for the responses. I was just curious as to what others were doing.
 
For my trailer... I keep it plugged in to 20amp outlet from garage and run the air conditioner set at 85... Keeps the horrid Florida humidity inside down

Solar keeps the battery charged

When I had lead acid / no solar the converter and the air conditioner worked together...

12v fridge is ALWAYS on .... seen too many posts that fridges won't work after storage
I subscribe to "Use it OR Lose it" theory
 
The CO/Propane detector is hard wired to the battery for a reason. I would never disconnect it. Propane leaks do not occur only when you are using the RV. In addition the risk of forgetting to turn it on is simply not worth any possible savings. There is also the risk that insurance may not cover damage if they discover the detector was off. This is dangerous advice.
 
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Absolutely zero difference between switching it off when not occupying the trailer vs. not having shore power and the battery disconnect off. Zero. It's the same.

In fact, mine shuts off with no shore power, I don't even have to disconnect the battery.

You put a bright enough light on the switch when it's off and you won't forget. If you think you will, you could even wire in a buzzer that notes when it is off.

How the heck is the insurance company going to decline a claim on a trailer that's burned to the ground? Not that they'd even look anyway.
 

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