This makes batteries less efficient when converting electricity, and it renders them unable to hold a charge.įrequent undercharging can cause your batteries to start “leaking energy.” When combined with the hidden consumption of your heating systems, sensors, and alarms, you may be looking at a completely flat battery after a few months of no charge and no use. This creates sulfation, or the accumulation of sulfur, around the batteries. On the other hand, undercharging refers to regularly letting your batteries drop below 80% or 70% of their total capacity. In this way, you can keep the energy coming into your RV, which will prevent undercharging.Īs we have seen before, overcharging can permanently damage your battery life.
One of the most effective ways to prevent overcharging and protect your RV batteries when plugged for long periods is to install a modern converter or electrical management system. Do Converters Protect Batteries When Plugged in for Long Periods You will need to check the clocks, maintain the thermostat, and clean the fridge more often.
If you choose this route, you will also need to adjust your maintenance schedule. Often, the best way to do this is by activating the heating and by leaving the fridge or other parasitic loads (such as clocks or gas detectors) consuming a steady trickle of energy. Ideally, the batteries should always remain at 97% to 99% charge throughout the offseason. The easiest way to prevent overcharging your RV batteries is to ensure you are constantly consuming some of this energy.
To prevent this, some owners leave the RV plugged while “trickle charging.” Then, they make sure to enter the RV at regular intervals to turn on the heating, which protects the internal system from frostbite.ĭepending on the frequency, some owners may also turn on a few lights or just spending a few hours watching TV inside the RV to prevent overcharging. In icy regions, the weather could damage some electrical systems, pipes, and appliances inside the RV. The second reason may be to prevent cold damage. If this is done without any safeguard or protection for your RV’s batteries, it can lead to trouble.
Once anchored and hooked to shore power, it is very easy to leave it there until it’s time to take off again, maybe three to six months later. When many vacationers return home for the winter, they often leave their RVs parked at home for a few months. People who leave their RV plugged in all the time usually do it due to one of two reasons: Why Would I Even Want to Leave my RV Plugged In