Should we leave the T@B plugged in while storing?

HappyCamper2024

Hey y'all, we did it. We bought our first camper! 2023 T@B with some boondock features (Signature Series). We'll be parking it uncovered at the top of the driveway for now.

Do y'all store these things plugged in? I expect for a while we'll probably spend time in there, feeling it out, acclimating the dog,  etc. It's got a 180 watt solar panel and we live in a sunny place. Will the solar keep it topped upenough for occasional use? Should we keep it plugged in if it's going to be used in the driveway occasionally? Any tips? 

Yes, we are excited!

pthomas745

Some owners do, and it is generally fine. To leave the battery charged, just leave the battery switch on.

If you decide you do not need to be plugged in, you have options.

Want to use the trailer, but not using shore power?  Leave the battery switch on.  Your solar charges the battery no matter what position the switch is in. (On or off, the solar will always charge the battery).  With the switch on, you will always have at least 12V power (lights, etc) in the trailer.

My trailer is right behind my house, I leave the switch on, the solar panel gets plenty of sun, and keeps the battery charged.  If I'm away from home and the trailer: I turn the battery switch off.  A fully charged battery will hold a charge for a long time, and any little bit of charging can be provided by the solar panel.

HappyCamper2024

Thanks, that helps a lot.

 I right in guessing that plugging it into house will not enable AC?

pthomas745

The air conditioner?  Or "alternating current?"

When you plug in the trailer....you are basically setting it up to use "shore power".....or, the same type of power you have in your home.  The trailer becomes an "extra room" if you will with 120 volt electricity.  There are several limitations of "how many amps" you can use inside the trailer on "shore power", depending entirely on what size circuit you are plugged into.

When I plug my trailer into "shore power" at home, I am on a 20 amp circuit breaker from my home's breaker box.  I am limited to 20 amps inside the trailer.  The air conditioner units in the newer Tabs use about 9 amps.  The Alde, on the 2KW setting, uses just over 15 amps.

Imagine your kitchen with a single 20 amp circuit and maybe 2 plugs on that single circuit.  Run the coffee maker and the toaster and you will probably trip that circuit breaker.  Those are the types of things to think about when on "shore power".

Cherokee

I use a small trickle charger that keeps my  battery cells fully charged rain or shine when ever I park my T@B - a fully charged battery will  last a lot longer

AnOldUR

@HappyCamper2024 Do you have a lead acid/AGM or lithium battery. There is different information on what state of charge to store a lithium, but most will agree that it should not be connected to a charger in storage.