Connect to shore power over winter?

[RVandTenter]

I've been reading through several recent threads about power/battery issues and haven't seen this exact question covered. This is my first winter season with our new Greyhawk 29mv and I have 120v power available and inside storage. Can I connect to the power and not have to disconnect the batteries? Or it seems I read that this could over-charge the house batteries. And from what I've been reading, connecting to shore power would not prevent the chassis battery from potentially discharging over several months so it should be disconnected? Or go do a maintenance engine exercise every month to maintain the battery? Interested to hear what others do over winter.
Thanks in advance, Richard.

[craigav]

I leave mine plugged in and I use a small charger\maintainer for the chassis battery. I have never encountered any issues in doing this. ~CA

[RPR]

Ours stays connected to shore power but is outside. If it sits for a month the generator is cranked and run with a load for one hour. Engine is cranked and run till it gets to operating temperature.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by RVandTenter

I've been reading through several recent threads about power/battery issues and haven't seen this exact question covered. This is my first winter season with our new Greyhawk 29mv and I have 120v power available and inside storage. Can I connect to the power and not have to disconnect the batteries? Or it seems I read that this could over-charge the house batteries. And from what I've been reading, connecting to shore power would not prevent the chassis battery from potentially discharging over several months so it should be disconnected? Or go do a maintenance engine exercise every month to maintain the battery? Interested to hear what others do over winter.
Thanks in advance, Richard.

When I had my 2019 29xk I would plug it in every 2 to 3 weeks for a day to charge the battery. I bought a charger that maintains the chassis battery and desulfates it. My 2021 Thor has a solar panel and it keeps all the batteries charged with the disconnect switch off, it's nice not needing the maintainer for the chassis battery

[JimD]

Solar keeps my house batteries charged and I put a trickle charger on the chassis battery. In your case there should be no problem as your converter should be the newer style that tapers its voltage to various levels. Just remember to check the water levels now and then.

As far as the chassis battery is concerned, many new rigs come with a bi-directional relay that will charge the chassis battery from the house battery charging system. If you put a voltmeter on the chassis battery when the unit is plugged in and it shows 13 volts or more, it is being charged. Problem solved.

I wouldn't waste the gas using the large engine as a battery charger. Trickle charging is much cheaper.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by JimD

Solar keeps my house batteries charged and I put a trickle charger on the chassis battery. In your case there should be no problem as your converter should be the newer style that tapers its voltage to various levels. Just remember to check the water levels now and then.

As far as the chassis battery is concerned, many new rigs come with a bi-directional relay that will charge the chassis battery from the house battery charging system. If you put a voltmeter on the chassis battery when the unit is plugged in and it shows 13 volts or more, it is being charged. Problem solved.

I wouldn't waste the gas using the large engine as a battery charger. Trickle charging is much cheaper.

And it's better for the battery

[SmokeyBear]

Originally Posted by RPR

... the generator is cranked and run with a load ...

Might I ask what you use to create the load? The only thing I can think of that could run for an hour is the A/C. In the winter? For an hour?











ther

[RPR]

Here in Alabama even in the winter there are days where it is not a problem. Run AC a little. Heat up hot chocolate in the microwave.

[dvspl]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

Might I ask what you use to create the load? The only thing I can think of that could run for an hour is the A/C. In the winter? For an hour?

During the summer I run the A/C and during the winter I run a small electric ceramic heater. Either one draws about 13 amps. The converter will add another few amps, depending on what charge mode I put it into.

[RVandTenter]

Thanks for all the input. I'll hook up to shore and check the chassis battery with the voltmeter to see if it's receiving some charge. unfortunately the indoor storage is 20 miles away so I can't just pop outside and check on everything.

[Jagiven]

It is fine to be plugged in. If you have the OEM batteries they tend to be wet cells. You should check the fluid levels periodically. If the fluid level needs to be at minimum above the cells and below the bottom of the caps. If you need to add fluid, only use DISTILLED water, no other type of water.

The chassis battery is not connected to the coach wiring to keep it charged. So you might want to add a small battery maintainer or disconnect the battery.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBear

Might I ask what you use to create the load? The only thing I can think of that could run for an hour is the A/C. In the winter? For an hour?











ther

I have 2 electric heaters I use when it's cold and running the generator

[Raines]

I installed a Trik-L-Start product on my Redhawk to keep my engine battery charged while plugged in. They are inexpensive and easy to install and work as advertised. You can just plug in your motorhome and forget it. All batteries will be fully charged.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by Raines

I installed a Trik-L-Start product on my Redhawk to keep my engine battery charged while plugged in. They are inexpensive and easy to install and work as advertised. You can just plug in your motorhome and forget it. All batteries will be fully charged.

Looks like a great product

[Spurr76]

I’m new here with an older Jayco Designer that I just bought. We’re in the process of upgrading it for travel at the moment. We live in Minnesota so obviously very cold weather. Our RV is now parked next to the garage, so outside with a cover on it. My thinking is to start the chassis motor once a week and let it warm up to temp and at the same time plug in shore power until my batteries are topped off. That way the truck motor and tranny fluids are warmed up and circulated and the house batteries get charged. I would unplug the shore once batteries were sufficiently charged without risking over charging them. I’m new to this so let me know if I’m wrong or there’s a better way..

Thanx..

[DonLegg]

I plug in my chassis battery maintainer to one of the three 12vdc outlets in the cab area of my Alante 26ay and plug in the maintainer power cord into the 120vac receptacle in the right seat console. The maintainer sits on the floor in front of the right seat. I also plug in a digital volt meter to one of the other 12vdc outlets in the dash area so that I can always check the chassis battery voltage. It normally reads 12.6 volts.

[cherv]

our class c sits in our driveway when not on the road plugged in 24/7. use trickle charger on chassis batt. no issues since new 4 yrs ago. will use multi meter to check chassis batt. this week and report back. our class c is a 2019 Jayco 22j

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by Spurr76

I’m new here with an older Jayco Designer that I just bought. We’re in the process of upgrading it for travel at the moment. We live in Minnesota so obviously very cold weather. Our RV is now parked next to the garage, so outside with a cover on it. My thinking is to start the chassis motor once a week and let it warm up to temp and at the same time plug in shore power until my batteries are topped off. That way the truck motor and tranny fluids are warmed up and circulated and the house batteries get charged. I would unplug the shore once batteries were sufficiently charged without risking over charging them. I’m new to this so let me know if I’m wrong or there’s a better way..

Thanx..

I'm for keeping the batteries charged up, but perhaps using a battery maintainer or two would be better. Even removing them and storing them in a warmer atmosphere like the basement, with maintainers attached.

The reason is that for the engine and transmission to get to full temperature you'd have to actually drive it for a minimum of 16 miles or longer, depending on the outside temperature. The colder it is, the longer it takes. Another consideration is the condensation generated in the exhaust system won't dry out, so water will collect inside, and can cause premature corrosion. I used to start a previous motorcycle once a month for the same reason, and it cost me a new, and expensive set of mufflers. Just my experience.

[mjdcwo]

I store our 2021 Greyhawk 29 MVP in my barn plugged in for the winter with the Battery switch turned off and a trickle charger on the chassis battery. The house battery charges from the converter even if the battery switch is off. I run the generator every other month for about 1/2 hour under load of an electric heater. This works great.

[PAL70]

iI have a Melbourne an I connect 2 battery maintainers, one for coach and one for
chassis. I have a 7 day timer and run the maintainers for about 3.5 hours per night. This will not over charge or cause the water in the batteries to dry out. It has worked very well over the past seasons.