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  1. #1
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    Battery Charging Question.

    Hello,

    After about 2 weeks of sitting unplugged, our new 2800BH's battery was drained to nothing.

    The master disconnect was left in the "on" position, so I figured misc electronics drained it down.

    My question is: Will the battery stay charged, if plugged in, with the master switch in the "off" position or does it need to be in the "on" position to maintain a charge?

    I'm trying to determine if I'm better off leaving switch "on" and using the RV's charging system or shutting "off" switch and using a Battery Tender directly to the battery. I would prefer to leave the systems off when not in use but wondering what others are doing.

    Any experiences or insights would be appreciated.

    Thanks for your time.

  2. #2
    Long Hauler D2Reid's Avatar
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    There have been many write ups about the master switch not turning everything off. Also many write ups about how draining a battery to zero damages them and they will no longer retain a charge properly and have to be replaced.

    In my RV when I turn the master switch off it the converter does not charge the battery.

    I am continually hooked up and on shore power so my converter charges constantly. I have to monitor the water level in my batteries as this tend to boil the water off. It's slow, so I end up adding about a 1/2 cup of distilled water a year.

    Battery switch off battery tender on may be enough charge to overide the parasitic drain, I have not read about anyone who does this.

    Absolute best way to store is to disconnect the battery terminals, then attach a new smart trickle charger to the battery. Stops all parasitic drain, keeps the battery at optimum charge without over charging/boiling the battery.
    Dallas
    2017 Momentum 376TH, 2019 Ford F450, Dual Rear Wheel, 4x4, diesel.
    2015 Harley-Davidson Street, XG750

  3. #3
    Rolling Along OurNewEra's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CHASE455 View Post
    Hello,

    After about 2 weeks of sitting unplugged, our new 2800BH's battery was drained to nothing.

    The master disconnect was left in the "on" position, so I figured misc electronics drained it down.

    My question is: Will the battery stay charged, if plugged in, with the master switch in the "off" position or does it need to be in the "on" position to maintain a charge?

    I'm trying to determine if I'm better off leaving switch "on" and using the RV's charging system or shutting "off" switch and using a Battery Tender directly to the battery. I would prefer to leave the systems off when not in use but wondering what others are doing.

    Any experiences or insights would be appreciated.

    Thanks for your time.
    Ditto on what @D2Reid said.

    When I park our trailer at storage for anything longer than a week I remove the battery and bring it home. I connect a Battery Tender Junior 12v charger/maintainer to the battery to keep it topped off.

    https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...69784302&psc=1
    Mike & Lisa
    Central Florida
    2021 Imagine 2970RL
    1996 Chevy K3500 Crew SRW 7.4L Gas

  4. #4
    Big Traveler Keebler's Avatar
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    When I am going out every couple of weeks, I avoid disconnecting my battery by using a true battery disconnect switch; something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-Water...s%2C201&sr=8-4

    Simple to install and truly disconnects all power. For longer periods of inactivity, then remove the battery and use a tender as mentioned above.
    2017 Ford F350 Platinum 6.7L PowerStroke DRW
    2017 Solitude 379FLS

  5. #5
    Rolling Along jjbbrewer's Avatar
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    My experience is that "parasitic drain" is the boogie man of this forum. The drain on my Momentum with the disconnect off is so small that I don't even think about it until winter storage.

    But others have killed their batteries in a week with the disconnect off, so YMMV.

    As best as I can tell unless you install an ammeter, there's no way of telling how much parasitic drain you have.
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  6. #6
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    Thanks everyone!

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