O/T Camper battery

Your opinion, When we open the camper up for the season, not full timers just weekenders, I leave it plugged in to electric all the time when sitting at home so ref. will be ready to go at any time, we don't unload ref after each time. By leaving it plugged in like this is this harder on battery or should we unplug it after each time, batteries not lasting over 2 years. These are pretty good deep cycle ones. Thanks

Mine is pluged in at all times during winter as well, it hasen't been used for a few years and batteries are shot, probably 10 years old, but I still have lights in it when I want to use them. Actually 2 campers being used for storage now.

Measure the float voltage. It maybe too high and is boiling the battery to ruination.

Are you using conventional flood lead acid batteries, or AGMs? The AGMs are know for going bad unless charging is perfect and never "equalized" from overvolting. If you ARE using AGMs, you're falling for advertising hype and wasting your money.

I've got several campers and many deep cycle batteries we use in our RVs and solar banks. I've used Trojan T-105s and also clones made by Deka. Flooded lead acid batteries golf cart batteries - 6 volts. I've never had one last LESS then 7 years. I've got some now on their 9th year. Even the cheap semi-deep cycle 12 volt batteries that Walmart sells tend to last me 4-5 years.
I don't keep any of them a charger. Some I bring in the house and charge once during the winter. Others I stick into some of my diesel tractors for starting, when needed. They sit all winter with no problems.

Ive had RV's for years and some of the old chargers tended to overcharge n ruin the RV Deep Cycle Battery if it was kept plugged in for extended periods, however the later smarter chargers tended to fix that problem.......Regardless, once its home just setting there for long periods I would NOT leave the automatic charger on all the time. Instead maybe plug it in just a few days every now n then. Ive not used AGM but read some literature they were more sensitive to charging voltage so not sure how they will perform in an RV system

John T

Batteries are not all the same. In my 47ft sailboat I had three banks of batteries. One for"house" current 1 for Starting and the laast in reserve. The starting batteries (four group 30's) were AGM batteries and I never had to change them in 12 years. Granted they were military type as is sold to our military. These were charged at 14.4 volts by alternator and were only used when starting the diesel engine. Therefore, very seldom discarged much. The house bank was 4 group 30 gell cells and the were charged at 13.8 volts and were constantly in use to run the electonics(radar, GPS Loran, autopilot depth sounder, speedometer, lights , refrigerator, freezer and several other duties when at anchor and sailing. I could stay at ancor for 5-6 days withoiut chrging. These batteried were in the boat for almost 14 years and never failed me. The resaerve bank was again AGM and were there for 8 years, very seldom used. The nice thing about AGM is you can leave it run down for months and it will recharge fast. The gell cells had an even discharge rate . After 12 years I changed them out just to have new technology and gave them to another boat owner who installed them in his boat. Now, as for your camper(had one of those also with two AGMS) I would certainly buy a new batterey charger and a good AGM battery. Henry

John T. The gell cells are very sensitive to charging and need to charge at 13.8-13.9, no more. Never had a problem with AGM's but they were only charged by alternator. I believe that most chargers today charge at 13'8-14.2 so could cause a problem. I currently have AGM's in two cars, one tractor. No problems in 3 years. Henry

I've come across many AGM failures, mostly in solar battery banks. Main issue is the "equalization" mode that most good quality battery bank chargers have. In general, battery banks are supposed to be overvolted every few months to preserve life. This mode called "equalization" on most chargers. Works fine on flooded lead acid batteries, and tends to ruin AGMs, thus the problem.

AGMs can be fine, but I've yet to see any on the market that are cost-effective as compared to conventional FLA batteries, in long-term deep cycle type use. If you own a piece of equipment or a battery bank, and tend to keep it many years - then you can calculate your battery cost by price per month per watt. Taking into consideration, the new price of the battery, average life span, type of warranty, actual cost of warranty if batteries not stocked locally, etc. - it's not too hard to figure.
I priced a 1200 amphour battery bank recently. Using flooded lead acid batteries, it'd have a cost of $10.30 per month for 10 years.
Same 1200 amphour bank with AGMs has a projected cost of $41 per month for 5 years.
Obviously, this can change quickly if prices change between the two battery types at differing rates.

You might want to be checking your voltage to your batt.My last 2 fifth wheels 12 volt converters were fine and put the correct voltage to the camper circuits,but the converter-battery charge feed was a constant 14.5 V regardless of battery cond.and like B&D said would boil the batterys dry.If we have to park the camper and need to maintain the ref.,I have a older Conv.batt.on line and doesn't seem to bother it as bad as a deep cycle and I don'tcare if it does harm it.