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Old 06-23-2013, 09:39 AM   #1
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Wonder what most do when not camping. Right now mine is plugged into "shore power" as I am fortunate enough to be able to park mine just to the side of my driveway. But I have seen some discussion on using a switch on the battery and just "disconnecting" it. I used to take the battery out of my previous camper and keep it on trickle charge. What do you do? I know that if I leave the battery connected and don't have the camper plugged in, it discharges pretty quickly.

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Old 06-23-2013, 09:41 AM   #2
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I put in a 30amp service and leave plugged in.
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Old 06-23-2013, 09:55 AM   #3
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X2... 30amp service, plugged to shore power...but check battery fluid every monh or so...
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Old 06-23-2013, 10:11 AM   #4
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Mine's plugged into shore power when at home. I started out checking the battery water monthly, then went abt 3 months, another 3 months, then 6 months. It will be 2 years old the end of the month and I had 2 cells that were about half low last month, topped off. These newfangled converters are plumb nice.
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Old 06-23-2013, 08:40 PM   #5
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Thanks for the replies. Guess I will just keep it plugged in and check battery levels every once in a while.

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Old 06-23-2013, 09:40 PM   #6
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I have a 30 amp hook-up on the side of my driveway and do the same thing. You just have to keep an eye on the batteries. They can run low on water after a while. I am pretty sure several people use a float charger (think that is correct) on their units instead of keeping it plugged in all the time. That will keep them charged without having to worry so much about fluid level. At least that is my understanding.
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Old 06-23-2013, 11:39 PM   #7
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I had just installed one of thesehttp://www.samsclub.com/sams/on-board-charger/prod862834.ip?searchTerm=70910on my fishing boat. I had bought two and may put the other one on the camper.
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Old 06-24-2013, 12:42 AM   #8
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Although we do have power to our enclosed storage unit I do not leave the 50 amp cord plugged in to charge the battery. Instead I mounted a Battery Minder in the battery compartment and run an extension cord to it when we are not using the trailerI prefer to use the float charger than the built in charger so I don't have to worry about the battery fluid level. I also use one of these on my ATV battery because it may sit unused for a couple of months at a time.
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Old 06-24-2013, 02:10 AM   #9
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Not advocating changing converters but the new converters have a built it "smart charger". It goes into a float mode automatically after charging. They are a different converter than I had in the 2008 model trailer.
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Old 06-24-2013, 05:59 AM   #10
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I have a RV 30 amp service on the outside of the garage - plug in once a week to keep the battries charged when not camping.


Edited by: NorskeNY
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Old 06-25-2013, 06:31 AM   #11
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My 2012 30 RE sunset trails has been plugged in continual since mid November 2012. Water in the battery is still exactly where it was when plugged in..
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Old 06-25-2013, 12:32 PM   #12
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I have 30 amp receptacle in the shed, but I rarely keep it plugged in. I have two 6volt deep cycle batteries and it seems like they can go for a long long time just sitting there and never have I found them to far discharged.I usually plug in a couple days before we leave.
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Old 06-28-2013, 11:16 PM   #13
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Summer time, I keep mine plugged in to shore power. Winter time I use the float charger only. No other shore power. Summer time, I keep the fridge going when not camping so I need shore power. When I had motorhomes, during winter, I would put a timer on the shore power. Turns on at dusk, runs for four hours, shuts off. Kept batteries fine all winter (coach and truck batteries). I long ago replaced maintenance batteries with no-maintenance batteries and was very happy with them. I never dry camped enough to need the RV batteries.
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Old 07-01-2013, 10:05 PM   #14
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I use a simple battery shutoff. It is attached to the negative post with a knob you just turn to shut off connection. I think I got this off Amazon for less than $10.
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