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08-13-2014, 01:42 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 33
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50 Amp service in garage. Now what?
We have a 2010 Sunstar 32k and I have added 50 amp service to our home garage where we keep the RV. The main reason I did this was so when we have visitors I could pull the RV into the driveway and be able to plug in so the guests could use the RV. The plug is inside the garage but the cord will reach with the RV in the driveway.
Prior to this I have always used the disconnects to turn off power to the Coach and Chassis when not using the RV. Now that I have 50 amp service in the garage does it makes sense to keep the RV plugged in when I’m not using it? What if it will go 2 months or more without use? What are the pros and cons to doing so?
Thanks for any advice you can offer on this.
Ken
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08-13-2014, 01:52 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 14
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You could put some kind of timing device on this? Having it on 24/7 is probably a bit wasteful and unnecessary. However, having it plugged in and getting some kind of timed charged once a week would probably be a good compromise. Don't know how expensive or difficult that would be but it might be worth considering.
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1999 - National Tropi Cal
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08-13-2014, 01:58 PM
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#3
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Willow Lakes RV & Golf Resort, FL
Posts: 39
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As long as you monitor your battery charge and insure that your inverter or convertor is not "cooking your batteries" you'll be fine. I too have a pad now and our last S/B. Always left the coach on shore power to keep the frig up and in summer run one AC to prevent mold and mildew. Winter some heat to the bays. Just monitor your water level in the house batteries assuming there lead acid. Most technicians I have quizzed state it's better to run your coaches systems.
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Clay & Pebble.. Miss Butter our sweet Goldie (Jan. 2005-Jan. 2015) Sissy our Border Collie
2012 Providence 42 M. Spartan Chassis, 450 ISL
Ford Edge toad, RM All Terrane, TST TPMS, SMI Air Force One, RVM95.... 
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08-13-2014, 02:02 PM
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#4
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 115
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Have had ours plugged in for 13 yrs with no problems.
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2001 Horizon 2004 jeep GC
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08-13-2014, 02:13 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kwilkins
We have a 2010 Sunstar 32k and I have added 50 amp service to our home garage where we keep the RV. The main reason I did this was so when we have visitors I could pull the RV into the driveway and be able to plug in so the guests could use the RV. The plug is inside the garage but the cord will reach with the RV in the driveway.
Prior to this I have always used the disconnects to turn off power to the Coach and Chassis when not using the RV. Now that I have 50 amp service in the garage does it makes sense to keep the RV plugged in when I’m not using it? What if it will go 2 months or more without use? What are the pros and cons to doing so?
Thanks for any advice you can offer on this.
Ken
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Ken
There are no cons that I can imagine.
Turn every thing off, (just like you do in a house when you leave), and plug the coach in.
Mine is, (and has been), plugged in for 14 years, sometimes for as long as 8 months......... (unless it is moving or we're boondocking or otherwise camping without an electrical hookup).
Mel
'96 Safari, 133k miles
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08-13-2014, 08:53 PM
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#6
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Murphy, NC, USA
Posts: 296
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Hi,
I'm on my fourth coach and always leave it plugged in 24/7 with no problems.
Once a month when I run the generator I check the fluid levels in all 3 batteries. I have a battery tender on the chassis battery as every time you go in an out the steps activate which is on the chassis battery.
My new coach has 50 amp however I only have 30 amp at the garage plus a 20 amp. I purchased a cheater cable and plug in the 30 amp cord to it plus a 20 amp cord and wholla (sp) I have 50 amps. During the heat of the summer I set AC's to come on it it gets over 85 degrees inside and the batteries are fine and it is ok inside.
Keep it plugged in and just keep an eye on batteries.
__________________
2014 Winnebago Adventurer 35P,Ford F-53, V-10
2011 Ford Escape,2000 Roadmaster Tow Dolly
"Have a Great Day, Enjoy RVing." 
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08-13-2014, 09:46 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 17
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I saw it as unnecessary drag on my electric bill, no matter how slight. I keep a cord out there and ready, I disconnect the battery if it's going to sit very long but I haven't experienced the draw that some people see, so I've had no issues letting it sit a couple of months. Two weeks before a known trip I'll plug in, check the converter, batteries, etc.
Other than possibly overcharging your batteries (If the converter is working then this shouldn't happen.) there's no harm in keeping it plugged in.
__________________
2001 HO Cummins powered Dodge 2500
2014 Sierra 346RETS
Nights camped in 2014-28
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08-13-2014, 09:57 PM
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#8
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Peru heading for Brasilia, Brazil
Posts: 55
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Just make sure it is wired correctly for RV use.
__________________
Tony Lee - International Grey Nomad. Picasa Album - Travel Map
RVs. USA - Airstream Cutter; in Australia - MC8 40' DIY Coach conversion & OKA 4x4 MH; in Germany - Hobby Class C; in S America - F350 with 2500 10.6 Bigfoot camper
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08-13-2014, 10:10 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 227
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Prior to having solar panels, I stored our coach plugged in with a timer set for about six hours a day.
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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08-13-2014, 10:37 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 42
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24/7 on our driveway.
It's always ready to go!!!!!!
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2006 Monaco Signature 45' Commander IV ISX 600 dance:
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08-14-2014, 11:31 AM
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#11
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 851
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TO leave plugged in or not....
Answer depends on converter
Good 3 stage converter.. IOTA with IQ4, Progressive Dynamics with Wizard, Assorted Xantrex models, MOst inverter/converter models, Even a WFCO. and a host of others.. Plug it in
Magnetek 6300 Upgrade converter to Progressive Dyanmics Inc 4600
Parallex 7300... Not sure what I'd do
Models listed are examples.. The 7300 is a decent power supply. the 6300 is not.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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08-14-2014, 12:28 PM
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#12
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 1
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plug in- keep an eye on batteries
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Tom and Gail McKeon plus Chief
2007 Beaver Contessa 42' Tag CAT C9
2010 Jeep Wrangler 1997 HD Roadking on Hydralift
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08-15-2014, 12:08 AM
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#13
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 184
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I have a garage with and leave my 2011 plugged in for months with no problems. The coach spent a full year on an owned lot with 50A to run the Aquahot. The batteries are fine.
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08-15-2014, 08:26 AM
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#14
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Weyauwega, WI US
Posts: 1,486
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I also leave mine plugged in 24/7 when I am not out on the road. I have a Trickle-start installed so the coach and the chassis batteries are always ready to go. Never had any battery problems.
Don
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Don & Bev Morgan Weyauwega WI, 05 Itasca Horizon 40KD, 400 HP Cummins, Delorme GPS LT 40, Toad 07 Saturn Vue AWD, Air Force One, TST 510 TPMS, Mayor of Weyauwega 2007 - 2013, Waupaca Co Board Supervisor 2010 - 2014
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08-15-2014, 08:53 AM
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#15
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 16
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We leave ours plugged in and ready to go. Food in the fridge, clothes in the closet and full of fuel. We leave the cold climate of Missouri in early January and don't usually even winterize the RV when it turns cold in December. Just turn the thermostat to 50 and connect the Aqua-hot exhaust to an outside exhaust.
__________________
2007 Dutch Star 4320
2010 Mazda Miata 6 speed
Roadmaster tow
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08-15-2014, 12:28 PM
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#16
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kjburns
I have a garage with and leave my 2011 plugged in for months with no problems. The coach spent a full year on an owned lot with 50A to run the Aquahot. The batteries are fine.
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Thanks for the reply, and to all for their replies. When you leave the RV for months in the garage plugged in do you hit the house and chassis disconnect switch. Or do you leave the batteries connected?
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08-16-2014, 01:13 AM
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#17
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 184
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I leave it all on just like when we're using the motorhome.
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08-16-2014, 05:48 AM
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#18
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MN,USA
Posts: 217
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We always leave the coach "on" similar to what another said with the refrigerator running and ready to gol. We have done this for years and with a good multi stage (replaced) converter the batteries rarely need watering. I like the convenience and the standby for emergencies. We have never had a problem since 1977!
__________________
2004 Itasca Sunrise 36', Workhorse
2003 Suzuki XL7
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08-16-2014, 06:08 AM
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#19
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
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when plug in do the start batteries get a charge, and if they are low do use acid or distelled water ?. we have to store for 3 days for a wedding i have 2 batteries disconect on panel and a disconect on the converter should i turn all 3 off. the frig will be empty
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08-16-2014, 06:32 AM
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#20
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Bolivia, NC
Posts: 183
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Quote:
Originally Posted by new rver
when plug in do the start batteries get a charge, and if they are low do use acid or distelled water ?. we have to store for 3 days for a wedding i have 2 batteries disconect on panel and a disconect on the converter should i turn all 3 off. the frig will be empty
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When plugged in, all batteries should get charged. Never add acid to a used battery, only distilled water.
Leaving the rv stored for 3 days with no external electric supplied & frig empty, I would hit the disconnects for house & chassis.
__________________
Dan Sees,
2013 Winnebago Journey 42e, 2014 Featherlite Car Hauler 3110 17.5', 2008 Mazda MX5,
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
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