Battery - Charging

[murfette]

How often do u charge the battery when u are not using the RV? Own a fifth wheel and want to make sure we don't kill the second battery. Any advise would be great. Thank you. :rolleyes:

[poppopyank]

you should use a deep cycle batt: butt i level my camper hooked up all the time at home the transformer well shut off when charge is complete.
as long as you dont have anything turned on in side it wont use much power

[lensmanicu]

Go down to your local walmart store back in the automotive department you can get a battery terminal that you would connect to the negative post of your battery which will allow you to disconnect the ground when the camper is not plugged in. In actuality what you are doing is disconnecting the battery from the camper when it not plugged in.
In case you are not aware you have several saftey sencors which are on all the time if you dont disconnect the battery these sencors will drain the battery.
I have the same problem I live in town and were not allowed to leave the camper where we live.

[frank]

The battery disconnect is a good idea but I would put it on the hot side of the battery. If you disconnect the ground side you are still putting power out and if you should develop a short it will still cause a major problem.

When you put it on the hot side you kill the power at that point.

You can also shut off the 12 volt breakers, or pull the fuses, on those items that are drawing the juice. Probably a propane detector and a carbon monoxide detector. The Tv amplifier can be shut off, the frig can be shut off-remmeber that your controls for the frig are 12 volt.

A trickle charge is best of you can do that.

Enjoy!!

[hunter03872]

Not a reply but a Question

have to jump start engin Battery but when I shut down will not restart. Alt. is charging at 14 volts when off battery is at 12.3 volts. its like it draing battery just as fast as its charging

Thank You
Bob

[murffdog]

Not a reply but a Question

have to jump start engin Battery but when I shut down will not restart. Alt. is charging at 14 volts when off battery is at 12.3 volts. its like it draing battery just as fast as its charging

Thank You
Bob

Do you have an "old" battery? Sounds like it's is not charging! Also, any auto parts store, NAPA sells "battery savers" which hook up and maintain your batteries.