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Old 07-31-2016, 11:59 PM   #1
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Don't leave your trailer plugged in because of the battery?

My friend who used to work at the service dept of an RV dealership told me the one downside to keeping your rig plugged in at home all the time is that its bad for the battery. He said this for two reasons: 1) the inverter on the Jayco trailers will not send the proper voltage to the battery to charge it fully and 2) it never stops charging it.

He recommended a battery tender device for when you just have it plugged in all the time and only need to use the lights, etc. once in a while.

Thoughts?
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Old 08-01-2016, 04:08 AM   #2
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This "RV tech?" is wrong. It is amazing how many of the RV places don't KNOW what they should. And disseminate this faulty information.

Most newer RV's (~2008 and newer) have a 3-stage converter (not inverter). It is an EXCELLENT charger. It does bulk charge, maintenance charge and float charge.

Mine has been plugged in at home for years. Have added less than an ounce of water to the battery in all that time. No problems.

Go back and advise that "tech" to learn how these things work before giving people bad information.
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Old 08-01-2016, 04:23 AM   #3
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I agree. My rig has been plugged in with me in it full time since August 2010 and I still have the same 2 batteries. They are 6 volt T-105's that I put in the first week of full time. Their water level is checked every spring and fall and they are still going strong.
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Old 08-01-2016, 04:46 AM   #4
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I also think your friend is wrong. I keep my RV plugged in all the time and did the same with my boat for all the years I had it with no negative effects on my batteries.
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Old 08-01-2016, 05:14 AM   #5
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Your tech is wrong. The smart chargers in most rv's now do a much better job of saving your batteries than the old battery tenders.
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Old 08-01-2016, 05:22 AM   #6
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keeping it plugged in at home or at a seasonal site is no difference. I think your tech friend is wrong. I leave mine plugged in since we got it and I'm on the same battery for the past 3 years.
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Old 08-01-2016, 05:36 AM   #7
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In fairness to the Tech, we do not know when he worked in the industry. If he worked on RVs a long time ago his advice may have been prudent. Today however, the smart chargers/converters installed in the new units are really good at what they do, charging batteries.

Old school, you will boil the batteries as they were nothing more than 12v convertors. I had a 30 pound 12v transformer in a '91 Georgie Boy motorhome.

I have a 3 stage PD Smart charger/converter with Charge Wizard in my current trailer. I have it plugged in 24/7, except when on the road, and the same battery that was there when I got the trailer 4 years ago is still going strong.

Depending on the charger/converter installed in your RV will determine if it is safe to keep it plugged in and on charge all the time or not.
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Old 08-01-2016, 05:37 AM   #8
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As in most RV dealership personal... they know nothing about BATTERIES, the POWER CONTROL Center (how it operates electronically), and absolutely nothing about SOLAR, but say they do..... It is OK to leave your late model TT plugged in.
Don

Here is how current SMART POWER CONTROLLERS in TT's handle their charging responsibilities.
Attached Thumbnails
BATTERY - ELECTRICAL - PD4000 Battery Charging Stats.jpg  
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Old 08-01-2016, 06:22 AM   #9
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Not to mention that the really good aftermarket smart chargers, such as the Progressive Dynamics models with Charge Wizard, run a desulphate cycle every so often (I think it's every 24hrs for 20min) which further extends the life and performance of your battery(ies) by cleaning the plates with temporary higher voltage. I think of it like a regen cycle on a diesel.
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Old 08-01-2016, 07:02 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tnchuck100 View Post
This "RV tech?" is wrong.
Go back and advise that "tech" to learn how these things work before giving people bad information.
[QUOTE=Marcm157;433883]I also think your friend is wrong. QUOTE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1 View Post
Your tech is wrong.
[QUOTE=RollingDownTheHighway;433891]I think your tech friend is wrong.
QUOTE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65 View Post
As in most RV dealership personal... they know nothing about BATTERIES, the POWER CONTROL Center (how it operates electronically), and absolutely nothing about SOLAR, but say they do..... It is OK to leave your late model TT plugged in.
Don
Not sure, but I think you're tech may be wrong.....
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Old 08-01-2016, 11:22 AM   #11
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I just wish this group could be a little more clear with their answers.....

For the record this is not somebody from the Jayco dealership but rather an old friend that used to work in the field for 25 years. He retired about 10 years ago, which might explain why his advice was well-intentioned but clearly out of date. This is exactly why I posted the question here before making any decisions.

Thanks!
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Old 08-01-2016, 12:24 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EV4D View Post
I just wish this group could be a little more clear with their answers.....

!
Como en la mayoría RV personal concesionario... no saben nada sobre las pilas, el centro de CONTROL de potencia (cómo funciona electrónicamente) y absolutamente nada sobre SOLAR, pero decir que hacer... Está bien dejar su último modelo que TT conectado.
Don

Aquí está cómo corriente controladores de potencia inteligente en mango de TT sus responsabilidades de carga.

Don
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Old 08-01-2016, 12:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65 View Post
Como en la mayoría RV personal concesionario... no saben nada sobre las pilas, el centro de CONTROL de potencia (cómo funciona electrónicamente) y absolutamente nada sobre SOLAR, pero decir que hacer... Está bien dejar su último modelo que TT conectado.
Don

Aquí está cómo corriente controladores de potencia inteligente en mango de TT sus responsabilidades de carga.

Don
I agree. I think. Maybe.
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Old 08-01-2016, 01:45 PM   #14
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Most late model RV's have in their power converter the 3 stage charger installed and do a good job maintaining your battery. For an even better maintenance if you have a progressive power converter 9000 series install the "Charge Wizard" for around $35.00 (it just plugs in the converter) and you have a smart charger which fully maintains your battery.
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Old 08-01-2016, 01:53 PM   #15
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I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I believe your RV tech is dead wrong.
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Old 08-01-2016, 01:54 PM   #16
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Retired for 10 years and in the business for 25 years. His knowledge base is a bit out of date. The new converters are as good or better than most of the free standing battery maintainers. The new built in charging units are 3 stages, as noted above.

The key is to check your battery water levels once in a while. If you are hard on your batteries and run them way down on charge, and charge them up, they will boil off a bit of water, no matter what charger you use. Doing this over and over, is hard on the battery, as the battery has a lot of power being sent to it at first. This is when it is very important to check your fluid levels a few times a year.

I have been using the same battery for the past 4 years. Being the cheap Interstate battery that came with it, I expect it will be needing replacement next year (4-6 year life).

The key is check you battery water level occasionally, and only used distilled water to top it off.
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Old 08-02-2016, 04:50 PM   #17
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I have been using the same battery for the past 4 years. Being the cheap Interstate battery that came with it, I expect it will be needing replacement next year (4-6 year life).
What brand of battery will you replace it with?
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Old 08-02-2016, 04:56 PM   #18
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I have been using the same battery for the past 4 years. Being the cheap Interstate battery that came with it, I expect it will be needing replacement next year (4-6 year life).

The key is check you battery water level occasionally, and only used distilled water to top it off.
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What brand of battery will you replace it with?
I'm like Ja... I also have the same Interstate battery that came with our 2013 X23B and I will probably replace it with the same when the time comes.
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