Periodic Starting -- Is it Wise? - Page 2

Dan Bowman · 01-06-2008, 03:36 AM

I sincerely appreciate all the good advice. Unlike Pusherman and some of the others, I live in warm country, so I intend to take my MH on the road for a 30 plus mile run once a month with the generator running at full load.

One of items that shows up in the responses is the battery charging. My storage unit allows me to just keep my unit plugged in. I am assuming that it is not harmful on the batteries to keep the unit plugged in and the batteries always charged.

I apologize if this is stupid question but I have discovered over the years, that what is obvious to me is not always obvious to others and can in fact be dead wrong.

Thanks,

smlranger · 01-06-2008, 04:21 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dan Bowman:
I sincerely appreciate all the good advice. Unlike Pusherman and some of the others, I live in warm country, so I intend to take my MH on the road for a 30 plus mile run once a month with the generator running at full load.

One of items that shows up in the responses is the battery charging. My storage unit allows me to just keep my unit plugged in. I am assuming that it is not harmful on the batteries to keep the unit plugged in and the batteries always charged.

I apologize if this is stupid question but I have discovered over the years, that what is obvious to me is not always obvious to others and can in fact be dead wrong.

Thanks, </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dan,

I leave my rig connected to shore power all the time and the 3 stage inverter/charger does not overcharge the coach (house) batteries. You do have to periodically check the water level in the batts.

However, if your's does not have a battery disconnect switch to isolate the chassis batteries, Freightliner's are pretty notorious for discharging the chassis batts over time. This is due to various parasitic loads on those batteries (engine and transmission ECU's, etc.). You can add a disconnect switch or install a Battery Minder (I use one of those...great little gadget) or a Trickle Charge device. Either of these will maintain your chassis batteries well.

Dan Bowman · 01-06-2008, 06:11 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by smlranger:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dan Bowman:
I sincerely appreciate all the good advice. Unlike Pusherman and some of the others, I live in warm country, so I intend to take my MH on the road for a 30 plus mile run once a month with the generator running at full load.

One of items that shows up in the responses is the battery charging. My storage unit allows me to just keep my unit plugged in. I am assuming that it is not harmful on the batteries to keep the unit plugged in and the batteries always charged.

I apologize if this is stupid question but I have discovered over the years, that what is obvious to me is not always obvious to others and can in fact be dead wrong.

Thanks, </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dan,

I leave my rig connected to shore power all the time and the 3 stage inverter/charger does not overcharge the coach (house) batteries. You do have to periodically check the water level in the batts.

However, if your's does not have a battery disconnect switch to isolate the chassis batteries, Freightliner's are pretty notorious for discharging the chassis batts over time. This is due to various parasitic loads on those batteries (engine and transmission ECU's, etc.). You can add a disconnect switch or install a Battery Minder (I use one of those...great little gadget) or a Trickle Charge device. Either of these will maintain your chassis batteries well. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

SMLRANGER,
Is the auxillary battery switch the same as a disconnect switch? When I switch this off, the microwave, clocks, etc go off but I would think those items only drain the house batteries. If that isn't the disconnect switch you are talking about, I don't believe I have one.

Thanks,

Pusherman · 01-06-2008, 06:14 AM

smlranger is referring to a battery disconnect switch for the engine (chassis) batteries, not the auxiliary battery switch, which turns off the coach batteries.

Winnebago began installing engine battery switches (called a GUEST switch) at the rear in the engine compartment above the radiator. I believe they began installing them in the DP's in 2006 or so.