Plugging in w/out battery connected

[mets721]

I have a 2016 Cougar 327RES. In the winter I take the battery out and put it on a mender. Can I plug the RV in from time to time and operate the slides just to check on everything inside (leaks, mice, etc)? I don't want to damage anything.

[Javi]

I have a 2016 Cougar 327RES. In the winter I take the battery out and put it on a mender. Can I plug the RV in from time to time and operate the slides just to check on everything inside (leaks, mice, etc)? I don't want to damage anything.Lights yes, slides no. Heavy amp use needs the battery.

Javi

[Dave W]

If I need to extend the slides I install a fairly light 'clunker' battery that is barely able to hold a charge rather then the back breaker 65 pound Gr31. Then I can extend the slides with it plugged in via a 12awg cord.

[Terry W.]

If I need to extend the slides I install a fairly light 'clunker' battery that is barely able to hold a charge rather then the back breaker 65 pound Gr31. Then I can extend the slides with it plugged in via a 12awg cord.I have just clamped a jump box to the camper battery leads and operated my slides in the past

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[ChuckS]

Trying to operate your slides even by using your tow vehicle as a battery source is just a bad idea... the gauge of the wiring from tow vehicle and connection cable to fifth wheel is just not really sized large enough to handle the current draw...

And yea so maybe it will work but for heavens sake out a battery in the rig! Connect to the terminals and do things the correct way.. your rig will be much happier in the long run..

Short cuts usually create other issues and it cost too much to fix those issue... just saying.

[jsmith948]

If you can, leave the battery or batteries in the trailer where they belong and plug your rig into shore power. The converter will maintain your batteries and you can run the slides or lights or furnace or....
A charged battery won't freeze (well, maybe if you are in the arctic).
We leave our trailer plugged in all the time. Check the fluid levels every month.

[spicercars]

Never plug your rv into your tow vehicle without a battery to run the slides. You will overload the circuit on your tow vehicle and have real problems. Its not that hard to put the battery in the rv and then there is no chance of a problem.

[Sailorpat1954]

I have a question about batteries. On a 2018 Passport 2520RL There are 2 sets of cables at my battery’s 1 is about 4 awg and the other is a # 10.
After reading this thread I am thinking the # 4 goes to the charger/inverter and the # 10 is for the slide.
Does that sound correct

Thanks
Pat


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[JRTJH]

The 10 ga probably goes to the trailer brakes. They must be connected directly to the battery (through the break-away switch) with no fuses or circuit breakers. I'd guess the 4 ga probably goes to another 30 amp DC circuit breaker and from there divides to the converter/charger and the slides/awning and other components that don't go through the battery cutoff switch.

[Sailorpat1954]

Thank You JR


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[dcg9381]

I have a 2016 Cougar 327RES. In the winter I take the battery out and put it on a mender. Can I plug the RV in from time to time and operate the slides just to check on everything inside (leaks, mice, etc)? I don't want to damage anything.

I think most people assume you mean "plug into the truck" - in which case the opinions are above. If you mean plug into AC power, most converters, I think are 30A power, which is more than enough to operate a slide.

I'd just be wary that your battery cables are "hot" while plugged in (truck, AC power, whatever) - so you'll need to keep them clear.

[WaltBennett]

Find out what model converter you've got first off. Ours puts out 80 amps and can run the four hydraulic slides just fine. You probably have a 50 amp automatic fuse for your slides anyway and won't draw more than that to operate them.

[jsmith948]

Find out what model converter you've got first off. Ours puts out 80 amps and can run the four hydraulic slides just fine. You probably have a 50 amp automatic fuse for your slides anyway and won't draw more than that to operate them.Well...I guess I have to wonder why there is a sticker on my control panel that states a fully charged battery must be connected in order to operate the slides??

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[spicercars]

The inverter is not made to take the amount of draw that the slides take to move in or out. No matter how many amps it is. That's why they want a fully charged battery so the drain is on the battery and not the inverter.

[chuckster57]

The inverter is not made to take the amount of draw that the slides take to move in or out. No matter how many amps it is. That's why they want a fully charged battery so the drain is on the battery and not the inverter.



I think you mean CONverter. INverter makes 110VAC from 12VDC.

[mets721]

I should have clarified, I wanted to know if I can operate the slides while plugged into shore power without the battery. I installed a 30A RV outlet on the outside of my house. I wasn’t going to try and operate off my truck.

[chuckster57]

I should have clarified, I wanted to know if I can operate the slides while plugged into shore power without the battery. I installed a 30A RV outlet on the outside of my house. I wasn’t going to try and operate off my truck.
Can you? yes..Should you? NO. slides are a big amp draw, and you should have a warning sticker by the slide switches warning against operating the slides without a charged battery installed.

[Javi]

As I've gotten older I've begun to answer a question just once...

after that...

well life is a series of tests and sometime you pass and sometimes you fail... :whistling:

[jsmith948]

As I've gotten older I've begun to answer a question just once...

after that...

well life is a series of tests and sometime you pass and sometimes you fail... :whistling:There is a warning label (I hate them) on your control panel that states a fully charged battery must be connected in order to operate the slides. Why do you suppose that is??!!.

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[mets721]

Ok. I don’t recall seeing the label there, but I’ll trust that it is.

[Brentw]

Mine used to.(say that as well).. hate labels and most of them were removed.
But I suspect that heavy loads with out a battery as a sink may overload the charging system.