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question on electricity during storage

Yahoo Message Number: 55129
Got our inspire to the covered rv storage today. I winterized the plumbing and took it to the facility and plugged it in as i normaly do during trips. My question is should i leave it for a few months this way or should i have shut down the battery switches. Your thoughts?

Rod

05 inspire

Re: question on electricity during storage

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55139

According to a recent Motorhome magazine tech article you should not leave the coach connected to shore power indefinitely while in storage as even the float charge will eventually cause the battery electrolyte to evaporate. If it goes below the lead plates the batteries can be ruined. I have always thought applying a float charge would be a good thing but obviously one needs to check the electrolyte levels and that seems to be the writer's point.

AGM batteries would not have that problem.
We leave ours with the battery switches set to off and have not had any unusual battery problems. We seldom leave it for more than a few weeks (6-7 tops) however.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: question on electricity during storage

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55141
Hi Bob,

If the inverter/charger is programed correctly, the float voltage should not boil out the battery electrolyte. There should be enough parasitic loads on both battery banks to allow enough drain for the inverter/charger to float the batteries correctly if hooked up to 120 VAC. I have found that some of the "Tech" information in the Motor Home rag to give erroneous information. One size does NOT fit all. One needs to check a coach in storage every couple of weeks if possible.

Chuck & Mary B

Red Bluff, Ca.

Shelby Dog, Miss Kitty, Mr Lucky Cat

Re: question on electricity during storage

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55173
I would be concerned with the length of time you are planning to have your unit in storage. You said, "a few months". I have always been told that the motorhome systems need to be exercised, i.e. brought up to normal operating temperature, every month or so. This keeps various seals from drying out and refreshes the lubrication on the many moving parts. That means the air conditioners, generator and engine. I try to do that every 30 days. "Try" is the operative word. It usually ends up stretching to 45 days or so.
As far as leaving the unit plugged in, I have asked that question of several experts. The answer has always been that it is OK if you have a three stage charger. I believe all CC motor homes have three stage chargers. If in doubt, use a timer on the power cord. You would have to step down to a 15 or 20 amp plug (depends on the rating of the timer) and if all you are doing is running the charger and parasite loads, that shouldn't be a problem, IMHO.

Jim Biestek

'04 Intrigue 11783

Re: question on electricity during storage

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55175

I suspected the magazine answer might be a one size fits all reply - they need to consider the total audience and keep it simple. Many systems are not programmable and can cook the batteries. The antique shore power charging system used in our old 1975 Winebago would cook the batteries in about three weeks as it had only one setting. On. I agree the charger/inverters used in our coaches are sophisticted enought to avoid most if not all of the usual problems.
As for exericizing systems, engines, etc. seal technology has progressed leaps and bounds. Much, not all, of this advice goes back to the early days of air conditioning systems. Most systems today do not require exercising to keep seals, etc lubricated. I said most, not all. Diesel fuel is also apparently very stable - this is according to Caterpillar factory advice not my opinion. So getting "fresh fuel" into engines is not necessary.
The questions of starting up engines periodically has been discussed seveal times on the Cat list. In short it is not necessary under almost all of the conditions we are likely to experience. An example used is farm equipment that is used one month a year and sits the rest of the time. One of the Cat engineers stated his diesel fuel for a farm tractor is now three years old with no deterioration and no problems starting or running. So this appears to be right up there with the old saw that a diesel engine needs to be warmed up for 30 minutes before driving and it seems the folks who still believe this always park next to us and break camp at 5:30AM. A diesel also uses fuel on idle at a rate comparable to any other internal combustion engines. Truckers run theirs forever in most cases because they aren't paying for the fuel! The advice is as soon as any warning lights (such as inake air heater is still on) go off, start driving normally. By the time you reach the entrance ramp the engine is ready to go. In fact, you can idle a properly designed diesel system forever and it will never reach operating temperatures without a load. There is actually more harm done running these systems at low/no load and then shutting them off because it didn't get hot enough to vaporize the water, etc formed as port of combustion. So I have given up entirely "exercising" my coach systems. The only "system" I personally feel might need attention is tires. With the weights we have moving the rig a few feet to put the weight on a different spot would be good. If I am at the storage lot for some other reason I might move it a bit to help the tires but that's it. Our Inspire is now 6 years old, about 40,000 miles and I can see nothing that has been harmed by this supposed neglect. And I am very pleased to ignore the monthly notation in my Outlook calendar to run the engine, generator, A/C's, etc.
If you live in a high temp, high humidity area an antimicrobial might be needed to keep things from growing in the diesel fuel. Even for that keeping the tank full will reduce that possibility. Otherwise the Cat advice is no stabilizers are needed for even long term storage. Obviously that doesn't mean forever! But seasonal storage does not require frequent exercising of systems. I have a better idea. Take the coach and go somewhere. Lots more enjoyable.
Above I have repeated advice from what I believe are reliable sources. I also don't find any advice to run systems in CC supplied literature and documents. But I am always willing to learn and change.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: question on electricity during storage

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55180
Ours sat in the garage for a little over 18 months totally unused when I had heart surgery. Checked batteries (all wet cell) monthly and topped them off - only maintenance done until I got it ready for the next trip.
Mechanic came out when inspection was due and checked everything required for that - he might have started it to check air systems.

Mike Cebula
'95 Magna 5266

Robert Handren wrote: