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wolf146 · 06-26-2013, 05:41 PM

Unless you travel frequently, and want the trailer "ready to go" why waste the energy keeping it plugged in 24/7? I put the trailer plugged into a timer which turns on for about a two hour period in order to keep the battery charged. Wolf146

PharmGeek · 06-26-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf146

Unless you travel frequently, and want the trailer "ready to go" why waste the energy keeping it plugged in 24/7? I put the trailer plugged into a timer which turns on for about a two hour period in order to keep the battery charged. Wolf146

I'm about to buy my first AS....

Interested in answer to this question - perhaps to run ventilation fan in summer to expel trapped heat?

interstateflyer · 06-26-2013, 08:09 PM

I left my 2005 AS Interstate plugged in 24/7. Just sold it with the original LifeLine 12 volt. Also had a 125w roof solar panel.

**DKB_SATX** · 06-26-2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interstateflyer

I left my 2005 AS Interstate plugged in 24/7. Just sold it with the original LifeLine 12 volt. Also had a 125w roof solar panel.

Interstates have an inverter/charger, not the Parallax single-stage converter that trailers get.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 06-26-2013, 11:33 PM

Hi, my batteries are plugged in 24/7 to a Battery Tender Plus. My shore line cord is only plugged in a few days before a trip. And my refrigerator is only used on trips and emptied when we get home.

LFC · 06-27-2013, 04:13 AM

Almost two years ago I bought the biggest Optima deep cycle they made I first had it in a 1999 19' Bambi and now it's in a 2000 25' Safari....both had original convertors and were pretty much kept plugged in with no problems so far.

dirigible25 · 06-27-2013, 10:29 PM

I permanently mounted a plug in on my battery to quickly connect and disconnect a "Battery Tender". This will charge the battery to a certain level and then go to a trickle charge to maintain the battery at a peak charge without overcharging. I don't plug in the trailer itself to 120v. With the set up the way I have it, the fantastic fans can run (and close when it rains), and can use the 12V lights if need be. I do plug into 120V the night before we head out in order to cool the fridge. Never had a problem with this setup.

Skater · 06-28-2013, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf146

Unless you travel frequently, and want the trailer "ready to go" why waste the energy keeping it plugged in 24/7? I put the trailer plugged into a timer which turns on for about a two hour period in order to keep the battery charged. Wolf146

It doesn't use that much, and it's nice to not have to unload things like mayonnaise, chocolate for s'mores, etc. Plus the power in our area seems to go out too often, and it's nice to have a backup fridge ready ro go. But we also go camping at least once a month from spring to fall...so it depends on your definition of frequently, too.

LFC · 07-05-2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Omni=Lithium?

If it's a P-Lax it's junk, our 7455 fried the Factory batteries while on the dealer lot, and the second pair 18mos later.
Two sets of bad batteries, I don't think so.

IOTA DLS 55a IQ4 and two Lifelines, 5 Seasons and counting.

Bob

At your recommendation I bought the IOTA DLS 55a IQ4

janeinthemtns · 07-16-2013, 12:54 PM

Can someone tell me where the inverter and converter is located in an 85 Excella? I would like to see what I've got. I have a solar panel. I can see it from the second story of the house. The refrigerator worked until I unplugged the pickup. Now only the lights and fan work. One of batteries is disconnected. Everything is working in the trailer. It was thoroughly checked out at Holiday in Albuquerque before I brought it home. I'm on a learning curve here. It's a steep one. Thanks for any info.

LFC · 07-16-2013, 04:00 PM

Should be in the front possibly under the couch.

Seecue · 08-11-2013, 02:26 PM

Can anyone confirm that I have a 3-stage converter/charger factory installed in my 2013 Bambi Sport? It is a WFCO "Power Center". The part # is WF-8955ANPB and not listed on the website, although the description of a similar part (WF-8945ANP) indicates 3-stage charging. The AS user manual simply says "Although the converter is an excellent battery charger, the converter does not require a battery to be connected to it for proper operation". I am assuming that the converter I have is 3-stage, and I don't need to worry about leaving the AS plugged in at home to maintain the battery. Am I right?

aftermath · 08-11-2013, 04:30 PM

You have a converter that "converts" your 110 household power to 12 volts to run all the lights and appliances in your trailer, except for the AC of course. It also "converts" the 110 into 12 volts to charge your house batteries. It is the charging feature that is at question in this thread. A modern 3 stage charger will charge AND protect your batteries from over charging. Your converter will not keep your batteries charged when you are not hooked up to power.

I purchased my 2006 in 2009 and the PO had left it plugged in almost continually from the time he brought it home. The batteries were toast and I didn't find out until I went out with it for our shake down trip. I learned all about sulphated batteries and the importance of a good converter. I now have an IOTA and am pleased with it.

aftermath · 08-11-2013, 04:33 PM

Misread your post and didn't answer your question. When they said that you didn't need a battery connected simply means that your converter will continue to convert 110 to 12 volts even without a battery.

When they said it is "an excellent" charger I wouldn't assume that it is a three state charger without confirming that. Yes, they are great chargers but not ones I would leave my charged battery connected to. I hope that makes sense. I suppose it is always wise to check out claims made by any manufacturer, Airstream included.

idroba · 08-11-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seecue

Can anyone confirm that I have a 3-stage converter/charger factory installed in my 2013 Bambi Sport? It is a WFCO "Power Center". The part # is WF-8955ANPB and not listed on the website, although the description of a similar part (WF-8945ANP) indicates 3-stage charging. The AS user manual simply says "Although the converter is an excellent battery charger, the converter does not require a battery to be connected to it for proper operation". I am assuming that the converter I have is 3-stage, and I don't need to worry about leaving the AS plugged in at home to maintain the battery. Am I right?

I don't know for sure, but my 2014 FC 20' did not have a 3 stage charger system and it was one of the firs things I changed. But mine was a Paralax 55 amp converter charger. I changed it out to a 45 amp Progressive Dynamics with built in charge wizard which is their 3 stage unit.

Seecue · 08-11-2013, 09:19 PM

Did a bit more internet digging and have confirmed that the stock "power center" in our 2013 16' Bambi Sport includes 3-stage charging: bulk at 14.4, absorption at 13.6 and float at 13.2. The product is from "World Friendship Company" (WFCO), a Chinese company whose name is a somewhat bad attempt at good marketing :-). Will assume this is a good product, until proven otherwise, and use it to maintain the battery between trips. But they recommend watching the battery fluid when plugged in to shore power for more than 30 days. So they acknowledge the possibility of boiling the battery, even with a 3rd stage trickle charge, if plugged in 24/7 over an extended period. When in extended storage, we will disconnect entirely (via an isolator switch if we can get that installed, so parasitic loads won't draw down the battery) and charge up once a month or so for maintenance. Please chime in if I am missing anything.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-12-2013, 04:24 AM

Colorado Winters....might be better to remove batteries during the off Season.

Bob

**DKB_SATX** · 08-12-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seecue

Did a bit more internet digging and have confirmed that the stock "power center" in our 2013 16' Bambi Sport includes 3-stage charging: bulk at 14.4, absorption at 13.6 and float at 13.2. The product is from "World Friendship Company" (WFCO), a Chinese company whose name is a somewhat bad attempt at good marketing :-). Will assume this is a good product, until proven otherwise, and use it to maintain the battery between trips. But they recommend watching the battery fluid when plugged in to shore power for more than 30 days. So they acknowledge the possibility of boiling the battery, even with a 3rd stage trickle charge, if plugged in 24/7 over an extended period. When in extended storage, we will disconnect entirely (via an isolator switch if we can get that installed, so parasitic loads won't draw down the battery) and charge up once a month or so for maintenance. Please chime in if I am missing anything.

When I bought my Argosy, it came equipped with a WFCO converter that had been installed by the PO several years before I bought the trailer. It took decent care of the battery for the first year I had the trailer. When the converter was about 4 years old it started to misbehave, I could see the lights getting brighter then dimmer every minute or so, and it was annoying. So, if it behaves like the one I had, you'll know if it goes bad!

As I said, it was on the order of 4 years old before it had a problem, and seemed to do a decent job up until then. I chose a different brand to replace it,*but it looks like that's something you can put off for quite a while. It doesn't hurt to put a voltmeter on it from time to time, to make sure that it's behaving as designed.

janeinthemtns · 08-14-2013, 08:17 PM

Would you pull the batteries out even if you had the trailer plugged in? I'm down here in way north central New Mexico mountains.

rodsterinfl · 04-23-2014, 03:44 PM

Get a portable battery charger to keep the batteries up and everything else off. My father uses pro mariner for the many building generators' batteries around our area that he services. They found it to be a reliable option (after regularly replacing others)ProMariner

The Prosport line is what I have, the 6amp with one set of leads. I hook one lead to the negative of one battery and the positive to the other battery as they are parallel wired. Technically you can get the two lead model, the Prosport 12 and hook to both batteries for a supposed more accurate feedback to the charger. These are designed to be around water. Just remember to leave the interior battery switch on USE to charge the battery.