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Do you plug in while in storage?

August 29, 2020, 10:24:24 am

I am considering changing storage locations but the new place only has 15a power.  Where I'm at now I have 15a and 30a and run the ac/heater all the time. I know I need the 15a to keep the batteries charged. Both spots are covered. Do most of you keep your inside climate controlled while in storage? The ac on is nice especially here in Texas but is it really necessary?

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Re: Do you plug in while in storage?

Reply #1 – August 29, 2020, 10:39:02 am

I use a small dehumidifier and a couple fans to circulate the air to keep the inside dry when it's in covered storage.  If you run the air conditioner for a while before parking then the dehumidifier will work ok to keep humidity levels down.  We have about the same temps and humidity here in LA that you do.
If covered then the inside should remain about the same as ambient temperatures so that shouldn't be a problem.  Controlling humidity is the problem to keep mold down inside.

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Re: Do you plug in while in storage?

Reply #2 – August 29, 2020, 11:00:15 am

Once your batteries are charged you won't use much to keep them charged, only a few amps.  If a small dehumidifier works on 10 amps or so you would probably be OK.  Where you are humidity, as Forest said, is the problem.  Keep your coach dry.

Ours is plugged into 30 amps when in the barn.

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Re: Do you plug in while in storage?

Reply #3 – August 29, 2020, 11:07:57 am

Keith,

15 amp is fine.  We also run a small house-type dehumidifier (30 pint) set on the kitchen counter, draining into the sink.  Set it at 50%

It will pull a lot of water out the first 24 hours, then very little with the coach closed up.  No mold or mildew ever.

Same for the sailboat.

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Re: Do you plug in while in storage?

Reply #4 – August 29, 2020, 12:38:03 pm

I am the one of the votes (above) for "A/C or heat on all the time".

We don't have a cover so our coach bears the full brunt of the brutal West TX sun.  Our coach is plugged into 50A in our driveway.  We keep our residential fridge & freezer full of food, and the cabinets stocked with canned food and boxed dry goods, so I try the keep the interior temp of the coach between 55 and 75 degrees.  This means running both roof airs in the summer, and heaters in the winter.  Yes, it costs us for the electricity but fortunately grid power is (relatively) cheap where we live.

If I did not run the A/C in the summer, the interior temps would get very high - well over 120 degrees, I am sure.  I personally believe keeping the coach interior at a moderate temp year round helps preserve everything inside: the tile floor, the wood cabinets and walls, the clothes, shoes and bedding, the furniture, and the electronics.  This is just my opinion.

Afterthought:  It is also nice having a (already) cool and/or warm coach to retreat to when grid power fails inside our house.  Power failure is sadly not uncommon around our neighborhood - usually due to lightning strikes or drunks running into power poles and knocking them down.

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Re: Do you plug in while in storage?

Reply #5 – August 29, 2020, 01:22:47 pm

50 amp plug in.  I'm the other vote moderate temps. 
  I'm basically ok with temp over 90 .. But the DW  IS NOT.  Doesn't want her canned goods to go bad and I have noticed stuff like Velcro let's go when the temp gets up there. 
 If I had the temp controlled garage it would be in it of course but until then she gets the respect she deserves and plugged in.

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Re: Do you plug in while in storage?

Reply #6 – August 29, 2020, 01:36:01 pm

I keep her plugged in 30 amp and use an electric radiator heater when cold with the furnace as backup. I also keep the AC on and run a home compressor style dehumidifier set at 40. The coach is covered and open on all sides. I will always pay more money for 30 amp and covered. As others have pointed out, everything goes to poop real quick with the sun and heat.

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