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12-03-2011, 05:27 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ione
Posts: 582
M.O.C. #11371
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Power, converter, battery, 110v
Question:
When running on the battery and the battery dies can you put a charger on the battery without disconnecting the battery and not hurt the converter?
Frank
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12-03-2011, 06:29 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Castle Rock
Posts: 248
M.O.C. #11369
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You should be ok if you charge at a low rate.I use 6 amp as the high to re-charge connected to the converter.I do not know what most converters are rated for up a little caution would not hurt.Having lights etc on will slow the re-charge so would be best to re-charge with batteries disconnected for a while.I use a battery charger that has 2,4,6 amp charge rate and do not have the converter connected.
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12-03-2011, 07:51 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: South
Posts: 2,499
M.O.C. #5140
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If you have power to run a battery charger, why not just plug the Monty in (even at 20 amps) and use the on board converter/charger?
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12-03-2011, 07:57 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Siloam Springs
Posts: 2,206
M.O.C. #8890
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When our converter quit charging we had to keep a battery charger connected all the time to keep thing going.
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12-04-2011, 05:01 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ione
Posts: 582
M.O.C. #11371
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When you are NOT hooked to 110v power your heater,lights,waterpump and other things are 12v and run off the batteries. When you ARE hooked to 110v power are the heater, lights and waterpump still running through the 12v batteries or through the converter changing the power from 110v to 12v?
Frank
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12-04-2011, 05:12 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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I would guess the answer is both, the battery acts as a reserve when the converter can't keep up with the load
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12-04-2011, 05:50 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ione
Posts: 582
M.O.C. #11371
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Do trailers have to have a battery in them to use operate? I thought if you had them hooked to 110v you did not need batteries. If that is so the convertor would have to handel the power conversion to 12v, I guess.
Frank
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12-04-2011, 05:54 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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I'm no electrician, to say the least, but the slides on ours won't go in or out if the battery is dead even if it's on shore power.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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12-04-2011, 11:57 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 854
M.O.C. #5592
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Am electrician will be along soon, I would imagine, but I believe the 12v system runs off of the battery at all times, the converter maintains the battery as well as provide the amperage needed under a heavy load.
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12-04-2011, 12:03 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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On ours the battery and the converter join together on the breaker panel so I would think it's kind of a group effort
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12-04-2011, 02:47 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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I've run 12V things without the battery connected including landing gear and slideouts. Things seem to work better and faster with the battery, but in my '06 the battery does not seem to be required for short term needs.
I don't think this is a good idea since the battery helps the converter as needed. Keep in mind the converter affects how much the shore power is being used, so if the the battery isn't there and you are using a lot of 12v stuff off the converter, this will leave less for the 110v needs.
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12-05-2011, 09:07 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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One other item to think about is that the battery is needed for the brake break-a-way to work.
You also want to keep your battery charged this time of year so it doesn't freeze. Uncharged battery will freeze, while a charged battery will not.
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12-05-2011, 05:09 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 593
M.O.C. #8238
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Having just gone through a class on maintaining and operating your RV, we learned that it is absolutely necessary to keep the battery(s) in place with the converter for the 12 volt system. Reason (as told) is that at times, the load on the system can actually exceed the capabilites of the converter, and then the battery(s) act as a buffer to keep the converter from "overworking" itself. Especially high draw items, such as the slides, landing gear, awnings, etc, but you'd also be surprised at how fast the load adds up with all the other so called "minor" items in the trailer.
__________________
Terry and Patsy
Vietnam Veteran, US Navy
2017 3810
2015 GMC Sierra 4X4 3500 SRW
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12-06-2011, 03:17 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,659
M.O.C. #9969
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Agreed about the "Minor Loads". If you're using standard lights, those 921 Wedge bulbs draw 1 1/2 amps each, so in our unit we have three ceiling fixture with two bulbs each, so each time you open the door, a nine amp draw, wouldn't take long to kill a battery (obtw-we've changed most of ours to LEDs with a fraction of the draw).
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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