Newbee Battery question

[Jerry B.]

This is our first RV and I have read a lot about the importance of maintaining the batteries. Is it alright to plug the coach into my house 120v outlet using "dog bones" to step it down or is there other more efficient methods to keep the batteries charged during storage or long periods of none-use? Thanks in advance.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Jerry B.

This is our first RV and I have read a lot about the importance of maintaining the batteries. Is it alright to plug the coach into my house 120v outlet using "dog bones" to step it down or is there other more efficient methods to keep the batteries charged during storage or long periods of none-use? Thanks in advance.

I will tell what I am doing.

I am not 100% confident that the converter in our new motorhome is a good one to leave connected all the time. I have not had the time to do enough research.

However since I have heard enough bad reports on the current stock batteries, I will soon replace them anyway with maintenance free AGM batteries.

Considering all that, I'm leaving the motorhome plugged in as you describe.

Ken

[Baddad53]

I use the same set up - dog bone to 120 20 amp. No problem with house batteries since january (when I purchased it) Just had installed a "kill switch" for chassis battery just under it in the front location on passenger size. The battery died and I replaced it and added the switch. It was sitting for four weeks plugged in.

[gmc]

No problem using the dogbone - the converter/charger load isn't high.
You would want to be careful using high draw items (microwave, a/c, electric water heater, electric heater...) through that setup.

As Ag&Au said - the quality of the converters in some of our RVs have been questioned... (I'm being nice.. )

With a proper disconnect (leaving no draw on the battery) - there should be no need to have it continuously plugged it while not in use.
Some of noted a continuing draw on the coach batteries even in 'store' mode - adding a true disconnect or leaving plugged in would be needed in those cases.

I don't have the luxury of electric where I store... but have never had an issue without plugging in a month or more... (Longer than that I typically try to run the genny for a short time - which also tops off the batteries.)

I'm considering at least a small solar setup to provide maintenance - but haven't really seen the need yet.