110V Shore Line

[Jim7411]

I've been leaving my fiver "plugged in" while parked in between trips. Anybody see any problems with this? I have the battery disconnected & on a trickle charger, so no problems there. It's convenient when I need to go inside and activate the sliders or turn on lights. I'm concerned I might be causing undue wear on the inverter. Feedback? Oh, while I'm thinking about it, Happy Holidays all you RVers out there!

[Festus2]

I wouldn't be concerned about causing any "undue wear on the inverter" (converter). After all, full timers are hooked up to shore power almost all the time without experiencing any converter problems caused by continual usage.

Just make sure that you check the fluid level in your batteries on a regular basis. You shouldn't have any problems with a trickle charger "boiling" your batteries dry but it's good practice to inspect your batteries from time-to-time.

[JRTJH]

I assume you mean CONVERTER, not inverter that you're concerned with damaging.... The CONVERTER is a part of the 110VAC/12VDC system and converts AC to DC to charge the battery and to run the 12 VDC circuits in the RV. An INVERTER changes battery power into 110VAC so you can power things like the TV and microwave when not connected to shore power. Everyone has a converter, about half of campers (my best guess) have or use an inverter.....

You say you have your battery disconnected and on a trickle charger and that you have your fifth wheel plugged in so you can occasionally operate the slides. There is a warning in the owner's manual stating that operating the slides without a fully charged battery connected to the electrical system can damage the slide motor and/or the converter.

I would urge you to reconnect the battery before operating the slide or the landing gear. Both of those motors use a tremendous amount of DC power and can overload your converter if the battery is not connected to help carry the load.

Otherwise, leaving your trailer connected to shore power is not going to do anything detrimental to your RV or the electrical system. You may "shorten the life" of your converter but that's really not a given. Some people only use their converter when camping and it lasts them 3 years, some use it 24/7 and it lasts them 3 years, some "abuse their converter" and it lasts them 3 years, and some just don't worry about it and it lasts them 10 years....Converters tend to have a mind of their own and break on their schedule, not on some schedule we devise for them by trying to conserve them for a "rainy day" LOL

But, I'd definitely connect the battery before operating the slide !!!!

[americanrascal]

I've been leaving my fiver "plugged in" while parked in between trips. Anybody see any problems with this? I have the battery disconnected & on a trickle charger, so no problems there. It's convenient when I need to go inside and activate the sliders or turn on lights. I'm concerned I might be causing undue wear on the inverter. Feedback? Oh, while I'm thinking about it, Happy Holidays all you RVers out there!

I leave my 5ver plugged in all the time with a surge protector. Been hooked up for about 2 months now non-stop. Checked battery level and its power this past weekend and all was OK.

[crash]

We leave ours plugged in all the time and have not had any problems so far.

[Jim7411]

Damn, I knew the RV police would catch me on that! Excuse me, "converter", not "inverter". Thanks for the info on the slide operation. I didn't think about them being DC motors. That would be an expensive and stupid mistake!

[2014Fuzion300]

I left our old camper plugged-in 24/7 for over six years and never had a problem. Now we are doing the same thing with the new one....

[byrdr1]

Mine is plugged in 24/7 when at home and I don't unhook the battery. I have a progressive dynamics converter and it has the 3 stage 12 v charger system. BUT I do check fluid levels.
same with golf cart and batteries in it all 6 of them. digital charger on it.
Just check fluids.
randy

[gearhead]

I'm confused:
If I plug the shore power cord in and have the battery switch to "OFF", does the converter charge the batteries??

[airforceret]

I've had one or more campers plugged in full time, year round, since 1999. The campers will take care of keeping the battery charged appropriately, you just need to be sure you maintain the water level in the batteries.

[hankpage]

I'm confused:
If I plug the shore power cord in and have the battery switch to "OFF", does the converter charge the batteries??

That all depends on how and where the switch is wired. Any answer would be a pure guess. Most factory wired disconnects still allow use of landing gear or power jack and breakaway switch. The only way to tell is to test with a meter at the battery.

[204Jordan]

We're "newbies" when it comes to slides, as we've purchased an '04 Springdale with a slide. Question: We had the 110 V. shore power in place and the slide moved so slowly it was barely noticeable. There doesn't appear to be any onboard switch to change power supply from 12 V DC to 110 V AC. When the shore line was disconnected it worked well on 12 V. DC. What gives here? I always thought the 110 V. juice would supercede the battery and "take over". Anyone have any ideas?

[Festus2]

The slide's operation is dependent upon a fully charged 12 v DC battery - not 110V AC. The 12v battery is being charged by the converter when you are plugged into shore power so if you are plugged in, the slide should operate normally.
There is no switch to "change power supply from 12v DC to 110v AC".
If your battery is in good condition and fully charged, your slide should operate properly unless there is some other problem involving the slide mechanism, fuse, or some other electrical issue.

[204Jordan]

I'm guessing there is another electrical issue. The fully charged battery operates the slide very well.....until shore power is connected. Shouldn't the battery continue to power the slide motor? Movement is almost nonexistent when you activate the slide switch with shore power connected. Very confusing....

[Bob Landry]

I'm confused:
If I plug the shore power cord in and have the battery switch to "OFF", does the converter charge the batteries??

No, it does not.

[rhagfo]

Well I installed a full disconnect switch and have dry storage, no shore power. Battery is still fully charged after a month or more.

[PARAPTOR]

I'm guessing there is another electrical issue. The fully charged battery operates the slide very well.....until shore power is connected. Shouldn't the battery continue to power the slide motor? Movement is almost nonexistent when you activate the slide switch with shore power connected. Very confusing....

When you plug into shore power the only thing that happens to the 12VDC circuit is the converter comes on line to supply 12VDC to the coach devices and charges the battery. I assume your converter is charging your batteries and supplying all 12VDC devices properly. If so it should be fine.

However what you could do is connect to shore power, check your slide. According to you will not work or move very slowly. Now locate the 120VAC breaker in the Power Distribution Panel labeled CONVERTER and shut it off. At this point the 12VDC circuitry is just like if you were not on shore power. :banghead: Check operation of the slide. Results??

[204Jordan]

Thanks, paraptor. Will check this out and report back.

[Craiggerry]

Hi Everyone. Long time Motor Home owner but new to fifth wheels. Where would converter be located on 2012 Cougar 29' bunkhouse 293SAB? There is terminal block in front compartment that has some circuits on it--I assume this is the battery charger--correct?