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05-01-2013, 12:34 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location:
Posts: 18
M.O.C. #3391
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Plugged in 24/7
I just installed a new battery on my Mountaineer, should I leave the shore power (20 amps) plugged in all the time it is setting at home? Is there some switch I can install that doesn't keep the battery charging all the time? What do you do?
Thanks for any help you can offer...Happy Camping!
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05-01-2013, 02:44 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 4,200
M.O.C. #11401
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Mine charges full time. The power converter controls the flow of current to your batteries as needed.
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05-01-2013, 02:45 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: North East
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #10758
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Mine is always plugged in also, just check the water in the battery every couple of months.
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05-01-2013, 02:49 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Shipman
Posts: 552
M.O.C. #10136
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We charge fulltime as well..even during the. Winter months with no problems....
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05-01-2013, 03:56 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Salisbury
Posts: 561
M.O.C. #6935
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Mine stays plugged in all the time also. Ditto on keeping water checked in battery. I found out the hard way. Batteries ain't cheap.
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05-01-2013, 04:28 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Before we fulltimed we kept it plugged in all the time. Now that we fulltime we still keep it plugged in all the time.
__________________
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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05-02-2013, 04:53 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hollister
Posts: 1,043
M.O.C. #10764
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Fulltime plugged in, too.
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05-02-2013, 06:02 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
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Never keep charger/Converter on during the Winter. Removed Battery keep in garage with battery Tender I think you are reducing life of the Converter when running 24/7
Their is a breaker that you can turn off to cut off power to the Converter/Charger also turns off some wall outlets. I would do that when I used those plug in rodent things.
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05-02-2013, 06:11 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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Ken ... further explain your theory on converter lifespan ... you've got me interested. Does this effect fulltimers?
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05-02-2013, 09:01 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Littleton
Posts: 183
M.O.C. #9998
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Kept mine powered up for 3 years with no problems. One time recently I did not keep the 115v hooked up and both batteries ran down all the way. That certainly does not help a battery, so have had to replace both. Also had periods of a couple of months in storage with the isolator open and when returned, had fully charged batteries.
__________________
2010 Mountaineer 285 RLD, 330 watts solar, 600 watts sine inverter, 3 type 31 agm batteries, Traveler antenna
2010 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW, 18k Reese slider, Honda 2000i, Firestone airbags
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05-07-2013, 01:12 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Wylie
Posts: 532
M.O.C. #9139
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You don't mention the year of the trailer, so if you intend to keep plugged in all the time, make sure the charger is a multi stage charger. A multi stage charger will monitor the condition of the battery and not over charge/boil the battery the way some of the older/cheaper single stage chargers will.
I do not have access to power where my trailer is stored so I installed a battery disconnect at the battery. I can leave the trailer for long periods of time with the power disconnected and still have full batteries when I return (6 months is longest my trailer has ever sat in storage at one time). The battery disconnect that was installed by Keystone/Montana does not completely kill power to the entire trailer. Last spring I had the trailer battery disconnect turned off (factory installed one) but forgot to use the battery disconnect that I installed to kill power to entire trailer. After sitting for 5 weeks my batteries were so low I could not operate the landing gear. I had to leave the trailer umbilical cord connected the truck while running for over 30min before enough power transferred from the truck to retract the landing gear. Otherwise it would pull too much current from the truck and blow the fuse for the umbilical cord.
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05-07-2013, 04:47 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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I'm not sure how being plugged in all the time would hurt the converter. What am I missing? As fulltimers we're plugged in all the time we're not on the road. This converter is the original in this Montana and will have been in use for seven years in August. I do think checking the water occasionally is important, though.
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05-09-2013, 07:17 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Centerville
Posts: 1,350
M.O.C. #9051
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by sreigle
I'm not sure how being plugged in all the time would hurt the converter. What am I missing? As fulltimers we're plugged in all the time we're not on the road. This converter is the original in this Montana and will have been in use for seven years in August. I do think checking the water occasionally is important, though.
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I have to agree, mine has never been off shore power since day one , unless on the road, thats going on six years. I too cannot think of a reason it would effect the converter, I have had no problems with it, can't say the same for the transfer switch.
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