When not in use ... charge batteries or not?

[dave.irwin.59@gmail.com]

<Thor Hurricane 29M>

Have had our rig for about two months and have a charging question.

We use our rig about one weekend a month (not including periodic longer trips).

I have installed a full kill switch on the battery (but not using it) and have been keeping the rig plugged into a 20amp power plug continuously.

Question is, should I keep it plugged in when not in use (to keep the batteries topped up) or keep it unplugged and use the kill switch on the battery until the next trip (and only plug in if a charge is needed)

It's certainly a convenience to have lights and basic power when doing a project or to keep a fridge cold but want the best decision for longer battery life.

Thanks for your input.

[ACEroad]

A thousand yeses, keep it plugged in. Battery life depends on keeping them charged. I also keep refrigerator running all the time. Once we decide to go somewhere, we can be loaded with everything on the road in 60 to 90 minutes. Have fun.

Second thought....plugged in does not keep a motor coach engine start battery charged so a battery maintainer will keep it charged if the RV is not used often. The Battery Tender Plus seems to be the best on the market.

[Lt Keefer]

I have learned to keep my coach plugged in almost all the time. I check my batteries regularly to keep them wet and when not travelling take it for a spin to exercise the chassis.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by ACEroad

...

Second thought....plugged in does not keep a motor coach engine start battery charged so a battery maintainer will keep it charged if the RV is not used often. The Battery Tender Plus seems to be the best on the market.

It should. If your chassis battery isn't charging when plugged in something is wrong with your RV. (The only Thor's that aren't supposed to charge the chassis battery when plugged in are ones on the Sprinter chassis as MB is a little finicky about that).

[Bob Denman]

Mine isn't plugged-in continuously; but it DOES get a drink from the outlet about once a Month...
As ACEroad mentioned: this probably doesn't protect your chassis batter.
Give that one some time on a Battery Tender.

[Oneilkeys]

If everything is working properly, leaving your coach plugged in should be no problem. But that’s a big “IF” in the Axis and Ace. The converter/charger that Thor installs is not reliable. If you get a good one, it seems to work. If you get a bad one, it doesn’t. I have had two “bad” ones in my Vegas and Axis and have replaced one. It is easy to check. Run the batteries down below 11.6v. Then plug in the coach and read the voltage. It should read around 14v, give or take a tenth. It is on high charge. After a day, it should read around 13.5V (normal Charge. After the coach has been plugged in for a few days, check the voltage on the batteries again - they should read around 13.1V (to keep the batteries topped off). If the charger does not go down to 13.1, you have a bad one and leaving it plugged in continuously could boil or dry out your batteries and shorten their life or even kill them. Also Your Ace should charge both sets of batteries (coach and chassis) on generator, shore power or engine. If not you have a problem with your BCC ( battery control center) or BIRD/Trombetta, whichever you have.

[Trkyte@msn.com]

Jamie,
Not all class c's have a bi directional relay Most e450 have a timed delay isolation relay that only operates when engine runs.
It is easy to tell just by looking under the hood .

Draw on the chassis battery should be no different than your personal car. Do you put a maintainer on your car when parked on vacation?

My rig is parked from November to April, store switch on, inverter off. Except for a monthly start up and short ride around the block (weather permitting) .
Coach batteries always show 12+ and rig starts with no problems.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Trkyte@msn.com

Jamie,
Not all class c's have a bi directional relay Most e450 have a timed delay isolation relay that only operates when engine runs.
It is easy to tell just by looking under the hood .

Draw on the chassis battery should be no different than your personal car. Do you put a maintainer on your car when parked on vacation?

My rig is parked from November to April, store switch on, inverter off. Except for a monthly start up and short ride around the block (weather permitting) .
Coach batteries always show 12+ and rig starts with no problems.

My Axis doesn't have a BIRD and it still charges the chassis battery when plugged in (its old enough to have the RV Custom Products board).

[Mel556180]

FYI, lead acid batteries discharge over time, even when not connected to anything.

In a discharged state the plates become sulfated and the specific gravity of the electrolyte may be permanently decreased. The battery will then not hold a full charge.

I keep a trickle charger on all my vehicles that don’t get run regularly.

[Lovemylife]

IMHO and that of the Service Manager at my Dealers. He plugs his in for about 4 days, then unplugs it. Not sure if that is good or bad, but for the last few months it has served me well. I have a phone reminder to plug her in on Thursday and unplug on Monday. (Old timers ya know!)

[Bob Denman]

That's just about what I do!
I'd say that "Great minds think alike."; only I'd never want to insult you like that!

[RichS]

I have 30 amp service hooked up to mine at home. I keep the air conditioner set fo 85 degrees. That way it keeps all the extreme heat and humidity out of the rig. I keep my battery on all the time. My house battery is 4 years old. Live in Florida

[Bob Denman]

Four years old?

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1535151713

[Lovemylife]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

That's just about what I do!
I'd say that "Great minds think alike."; only I'd never want to insult you like that!

I would be proud to be in a group you belong to..if you were talking about me. :-)

[Cpd]

Hi Bob
Hope you're "on" as you've help us a few times before.

Do you know how long the engine battery should last ?

We have a 2018 class c freedom elite. Just had to get a jump start from a good samaritan.

Thank!

[Bob Denman]

I was always under the impression that the chassis battery should last as long as one would in your car...
Provided that they are kept charged...
(My Sprinter doesn't charge the chassis battery when hooked to shore power. )

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Cpd

Hi Bob
Hope you're "on" as you've help us a few times before.

Do you know how long the engine battery should last ?

We have a 2018 class c freedom elite. Just had to get a jump start from a good samaritan.

Thank!

Anything past 2 years on an OEM battery is gravy.

[Oneilkeys]

I bought my Axis in Feb 2016 and replaced the engine battery in August 2019. How long depends so much on how you use it and how you take care if it. Engine batteries will not take deep discharges very many times before they are toast. So, depending on your parasitic loads, if you leave your rig not plugged in and let the battery run down below 11.8 v or so, multiple times, it will not last long. The same if you do not keep the water topped off. And if your converter/charger does not go into “float” mode and boils you batteries. There are lots of ways to “kill” batteries. Like everything else in an RV, maintenance is critical.

[Cpd]

We found that out the hard way today....now have a new one. The guy at the store told us the batteries they put in the rigs are usually crap..
Thanks for the reply!

[Cpd]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I was always under the impression that the chassis battery should last as long as one would in your car...
Provided that they are kept charged...
(My Sprinter doesn't charge the chassis battery when hooked to shore power. )

Thanks Bob! Had to get a new one.