Wear and Tear on my charger/converter during long BF storage

[stevek]

I keep my Born Free plugged in to 110 volt for very long periods of time while it is in storage,
and keep thinking about the "wear and tear" on the Converter.
And if the Converter goes bad, the expense $$$ and energy to replace it.
I tend to be very cheap/ conservative $$$.

Wouldn't I be better to turn the main Born Free switch OFF,
and use a SMART trickle charger to keep my 2 ea 12volt batteries charged and forget about/ turn off the Converter while in storage?

[whemme]

Steve, since your Born Free is a 2011 year model, it probably is equipped with a modern 3-stage charger/converter. If so, it would be safe to continue to use it to keep your house batteries charged while in storage.

[Roger H]

How long is "long?" I store mine over the winter in November. I disconnect the chassis starter battery at the terminals, and just turn the coach switch to "off." There is no noticeable difference in the Spring in the level of the batteries when I take it out of storage in late April or early May. I don't see any need to keep it plugged in at all, whether or not there's "wear and tear" on the converter. If the batteries are well charged when they're stored, and there's no load on them, they won't discharge enough over the winter to be concerned about them.

[perleys]

Roger I am glad to read your comment. I do the same thing, have charged batteries, turn off the main 12 volt system switch and turn on main power in the inside breaker box to store my BF for the winter. For me is MO is November to March. I might get out there twice in the winter and turn everything on and run both the truck engine and the generator. I have never used a trickle charger in by BF or my previous camper van and keep wondering what I am missing?

[stevek]

What about your engine battery? What about transeint energy losses running the engine battery down.
I my case I have the engine battery tied (wired) to the 2 coach batteries. Can't remember the name of the "switch" I used to do this, but installed it myself.

My Born Free is stored for about 9 months at a time.

[perleys]

Steve with that switch system do you shut off the whole system with the switch which would include your engine battery? I am been ok so far but I do run the engine every month or so.

[stevek]

This is what I used. Not really a switch, couldn't think of a better word.
Keeps the engine battery charged via the coach batteries. And maybe vice versa, not sure?

[stevek]

Just checked, they are still made. Still pricey! 50 bucks!!

[Roger H]

What about your engine battery? What about transeint energy losses running the engine battery down.
I my case I have the engine battery tied (wired) to the 2 coach batteries. Can't remember the name of the "switch" I used to do this, but installed it myself.

My Born Free is stored for about 9 months at a time.

Steve... if you disconnect the poles from the battery, there aren't any "transient energy losses". The battery just sits. Nine months is no big deal.

[randallrae]

https://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-supp ... intenance/ good info.