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03-05-2012, 01:25 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SC
Posts: 131
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Keeping Batteries Charged
What are the best ways to keep the travel trailer batteries charged when the trailer is parked for an extended period of time? Will a constant connection to an outlet keep the batteries at full charge?
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03-05-2012, 01:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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I disconnect my battery when it’s in storage. Why do you want to keep yours plugged in?
But back to your question, if you have a good three-stage power converter, it’ll drop down to a trickle to keep your battery topped off while your trailer is plugged in.
Some people use a small solar panel setup to keep the battery topped off.
__________________
-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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03-05-2012, 06:59 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Larkspur, CO
Posts: 18
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We winter our 5th wheel at the house and I plug it into a 20 AMP circuit about two weekends a month and it seems to do fine. I see no reason to keep it plugged in all the time with no real draw on the batteries. So far this winter I have not had to add distilled water. I like this better than removing the batteries and placing them in the garage where they would not freeze. Bottom-line for me is it seems to be working fine and I have power to run the slides out when I want to go inside and check the interior.
__________________
Don & Susan
Colorado
2015 Montana Mountaineer 310RET
2011 F350 Diesel 4WD Lariat
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03-05-2012, 08:32 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Full-timing
Posts: 447
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If you have access to power the best way is with a good charger that floats the battery at the proper temperature-compensated voltage, with maybe an automatic equalizing charge thrown in every once in a while. The worst way is with a crappy charger that sits at the wrong voltage for extended periods of time.
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03-06-2012, 04:21 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Ontario
Posts: 44
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install a Perko switch. It allows you to switch off the battery power to the TT. I also bought one with a key to lock it in the off position.
__________________
TT Keystone Laredo 291TG
Viking Pop-Up Trailer
TV 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Hemi Big Horn
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03-17-2012, 03:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 159
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Cougar has a battery disconnect
__________________
Ron & Mary Kankakee,Illinois: 2008 Chevy Tahoe 2012 Cougar 31 RKS
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03-18-2012, 08:18 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Snohomish WA
Posts: 15
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I dont trust the built in charger in the converter, so I remove the batterys, and keep the water topped up, and on a Battery Tender 2 bank charger in the shop. I think its a 1.25A charger.
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03-18-2012, 08:44 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Full-timing
Posts: 447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beerfix
I dont trust the built in charger in the converter,
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If it's the typical OEM unit, that's smart. Doing what you are doing (removing the batteries and using a Battery Tender) is a reasonable solution, but you can replace the original unit with a quality converter/charger for not too much money and save yourself the effort of moving the batteries around.
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03-18-2012, 09:12 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Snohomish WA
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smiller
If it's the typical OEM unit, that's smart. Doing what you are doing (removing the batteries and using a Battery Tender) is a reasonable solution, but you can replace the original unit with a quality converter/charger for not too much money and save yourself the effort of moving the batteries around.
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Yeah, I've been looking into that a little, or also how to isolate and disable the "charging" circuit in the converter, and just add an onboard smart charger.
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03-18-2012, 08:26 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 422
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I use a battery cutoff switch. A small solar panel then keeps battery topped up.
__________________
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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03-27-2012, 01:17 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Flowery Branch, Georgia
Posts: 360
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I disconnect the battery and use a solar charger keeps mine ready to use all the time.
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03-27-2012, 03:36 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 15
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All year long
I keep my trailer plugged in all year long. Have never had battery problems!
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