Care of Deep Cycle Batteries

[camai7]

I don't believe anyone responded to the Eckert's question re the impact of solar panels on battery maintenance. Should one do anything different while motor home is in storage?

Also, when should one turn off the battery master switch when hooked up to electricity while actively travelling - i.e, is every time you hook up or when you are stationery for 1 week, 1 month, etc?

[whemme]

Jim,

If your coach is equipped with the standard Magnetek/Parallax 7345 single-stage charger/converter unit, then I would recommend after 3-days in an RV park hooked up to shore line AC power that you then disconnect your house batteries by shutting off the battery master switch. Continued charging after 3 days will be over-charging with resultant water loss from the battery cells.

[Robert D. Grant]

Bill,

Hard for me to remember to turn off master switch after 2 or 3 days as you suggest (probably another sign of advancing age lol). Is there any downside to turning it off every time you hook up to power?

Bob

[whemme]

Bob,

Assuming that your drive time to your RV park of choice was maybe 4 to 6 hours or more and that you had your battery master switch on during the drive time there, then your house batteries should have been fully charged from the Ford chassis 130-amp alternator. Knowing this to be true, when you arrive at the RV park and hook up to shore line power, then I would suggest that you should shut off your battery master switch as no further changing should be necessary and would just contribute to over-charging and water loss if the switch was left on under these conditions.

[Robert D. Grant]

Bill,

Thanks. Yes, generally speaking we always drive 4 to 6 hours before hooking up.

Bob