higherroad
Atlanta
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Joined: 01/31/2006
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Is it recommended to keep the camper plugged in all the time when it's parked at home in the driveway to keep the battery charged even if my camper is an old 1992 Roadtrek with an old Magnetek 6300B converter/battery charger that works well but gets warm. Do I run a fire risk at all? What do you do?
And on another note (while I have your attention and expertise):
Do I need to use an AGM battery in the sealed compartment under the van or just any deep cycle marine battery? Any good battery recommendations for a budget minded owner?
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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Joined: 07/10/2002
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Ours is plugged in all the time but we have a smart converter that keeps the battery from overcharging. I question whether a 1992 model would have such a device.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
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naturist
Lynchburg, VA
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If you still have the original converter, probably not a good idea. If you had a new "smart" converter, that would be a good idea. Rather than replace the converter, you might consider adding a battery cut-off switch and a "battery minder." The cost of going that route instead is probably around $50-$60.
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georgelesley
Minnesota
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I use two trickle chargers, one to the chassis battery, one to the coach batteries. All were fully charged and needed no water this spring. Agree with above post, without a "SMART" charger you will likely cook the batteries. I doubt an old converter is designed to be on all the time.
George & Lesley
2013 Winnebago ERA 70A
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higherroad
Atlanta
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Can I add a trickle charger onto my existing converter? Any recommendations on make/model?
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tempforce
Pacific Wonderland (in the summers)
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smart trickle chargers on the coach and motor batteries.
somewhere in the texas 'lost pines'
'08' Dodge mega limo-cab, 409, kelderman rear air ride, max brake controller.
'02' 34' Holiday Rambler TT, the Gypsy Wagon.
'83' Ford Ranger with a 2.2 Diesel, little smoke
'56' F100 project truck
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garym114
Bluff Dale, Texas
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I have a 65 watt solar panel on the roof. Keeps the six 6v and the 12v chassis battery up. Don't have to worry about adding water very often
2000 Sea Breeze F53 V10 - CR-V Toad
Some RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered.
Get a Digital Multimeter and Learn How to Use It
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thriftydutch
Ontario, Canada
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You really don't need it plugged in all the time. I have the same conveter/battery charger and it gets hot if you leave it plugged in at home. I run a fridge on two house batteries all the time when traveling and boondocking and don't need to charge the batteries before leaving home.
My batteries are Costco #27 deep cycle marine and are 7 years old.
1990 L.E.R. Dodge B 250 Class B 17'
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You can't take the Fisherman out of this Camper
Ontario, Canada
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For the last 10 years my 2002 Cougar has been parked (stored) beside the house every winter for about 8 months. I have 2 deep cycle batteries in it and it is plugged in through a timer that is on one hour per day. The current batteries (which are 4 and five years old respectively) are still going strong. I can check to make sure the batteries are charging every night since I have an LED night light in the window which comes on when the timer clicks on and I can see it through my house windows. I have the night light plugged into the same circuit that the converter is on and the other circuit breakers are turned off (except for the Main of course). It works for me... even when I am in Florida for 4 months during the off season! One hour is not enough to overheat the charger or batteries and I have never had a problem with the batteries overheating or drying out due to loss of electrolyte.
1960's: Tents.. 1970's: Soft top & Hard top P/U.. 1980's: 17' RV.. 1990's: 24' RV.. 2000's: 2002 Cougar 276EFS; 2005 Laredo 29GS; 2002 GMC 2500HD Ext Cab 4x4;(Nfld/Labrador-Yukon/NWT/Alaska-Gaspe', Que./Florida!!)
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Davydd
Minnesota
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The simple answer is no you cannot leave your B plugged in all the time with that Magnetek converter because there is no intelligent charging. You will burn your batteries out including AGMs. You'll have to perform very careful battery management during the off-season (easier said then done) or you should consider replacing the the converter with a Progressive Dynamics 9200 series converter with the built-in Charge Wizard battery manager and have a little more no-brainer peace of mind. I think most Bs use the PD9240 or PD9245 converter now.
As for battery management you might be better served removing your battery and storing it in your house and using a small battery charger as necessary when you store over the winter. If you leave it in, that suggested automatic timer method might be the best because I know it is very easy to forget.
I learned all this from experience.
Davydd
2011 Great West Van Legend Sprinter B Camper Van
Visited states in an RV
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