Battery Charging Question
 

I am sure this has been asked before but searching threads did not find.

Does the house power need to on to charge battery when hooked to shore power? The trailer is being stored and I turn the switch to all off but leave plugged in during the winter.

Hopefully the battery has maintained a charge.

Thank you all!

Rod

If you are plugged into house power (or shore power) and the battery is hooked up in the trailer, and the converter in the trailer is working properly, then the battery will be receiving a "float charge" which will generally keep it charged without overcharging it.

Your question stated "Does the house power need to be on...?" - yes, the receptacle you are plugged into needs to be live (a lamp would light if you plugged that into it), for charging or charge maintaining to take place. And I'm talking about what you are plugged into here.

Rereading your post, I think you may be asking if any switches in the trailer need to be set to "on", specifically the 3-way Master Switch that lets you raise/lower the top, or turn everything but the refrigerator off, or deliver power to the interior lights, water pump, fans, etc.. It does not matter what you have on or off INSIDE the trailer. If plugged info shore power, you will charge/maintain the battery if everything is working right.

- Jack

Thank you
 

Jack,
Yes I was asking about the position of the 3-way switch. It is currently turned to the center (off) position while it's been plugged in to shore power during winter storage.

Thanks,
Rod

Rod, plugging into shore power should be keeping your battery charged that way.

There's an easy way to see if your converter is working. Test the voltage at the battery terminals - if it's anything above 13V, the converter is charging/maintaining the battery. If it's below 12.7V, the battery is NOT receiving a charge.

- Jack

Just to add to J&J answer..which i agree..If when you plug in, battery is really low...It may not get it up ..Its a maintain charger,,designed to keep a idol (fully charged battery) at full charge...not charge a dead battery.