keeping hooked up to shore power

We have had our 2013 171 hooked up to shore power since we bought it in 2013.  We did switch to an AMG battery when we bought it and have not had any problems whatsoever.  We keep the reefer on year round as we keep some staples in there.  I am getting ready to winterize it and we do keep the small electric heater on all winter with the Pod covered and the shower vent open about an inch.  We maintain the internal temp at about 50 degrees.  May be overkill, but I'm happy.  Safe Travels.

The reason I keep it plugged in is so all of the things that are 110v will work when I turn them on, like the TV A/C etc.

Furpod has been plugged in when at home for 5 years. Not an issue. 

Originally posted by techntrek You save some money if you disconnect and use a battery tender.  The converter isn't designed to be the most energy efficient solution to keep your battery topped off.  Or completely disconnect the battery and then every 30 days reconnect everything and charge it overnight.

If all you are talking about is the converter, how much money a month are you getting in to?  3¢, $3, $30 a month? 

I keep my pod plugged in partly to keep the battery charged and ready, but also because it's right out back and I get in there from time to time and like being able to flip switches and make things happen.  Not enough to spend $30 a month for the privilege, but I don't think it's anything like that.

As far as any other negatives (other than cost) I've seen absolutely no downside to keeping the pod on shore power all the time, going on 3 years now. 

TT

Originally posted by Tars Tarkas Originally posted by techntrek You save some money if you disconnect and use a battery tender.  The converter isn't designed to be the most energy efficient solution to keep your battery topped off.  Or completely disconnect the battery and then every 30 days reconnect everything and charge it overnight. If all you are talking about is the converter, how much money a month are you getting in to?  3¢, $3, $30 a month?  I keep my pod plugged in partly to keep the battery charged and ready, but also because it's right out back and I get in there from time to time and like being able to flip switches and make things happen.  Not enough to spend $30 a month for the privilege, but I don't think it's anything like that.As far as any other negatives (other than cost) I've seen absolutely no downside to keeping the pod on shore power all the time, going on 3 years now.  TT

By keeping the Pod connected all the time, you're also powering the propane detector and smoke detector. Based on what others have said, it seems that this is around a 1 amp draw (at 12 volts) or 12 watts.

12 watts x 24 hours a day x 30 days = 8,640 watt hours or 8.64 kilowatt hours. At the national average of $.12 per kWh, that's around $1 a month.

If you're off-grid and making your own power from solar panels, which I believe that techntrek is doing, then that's something to be concerned about. But if you're grid-connected, it's not.

Since we never set foot in our Pod unless we're getting it ready for a trip or actually on one, I have no need to leave mine plugged in. I take our batteries out of the Pod when it's not in used and leave them on a Battery Minder #1500 in our garage 24/7. I guess some people find it easier to leave the Pod connected to shore power all the time rather than move the batteries (which really wouldn't be necessary since a battery maintainer could be placed on the batteries while they're still on the Pod but disconnected from it).