After raising my Hi-Lo can I remove the Hi-Lo’s battery without hurting the AC/DC con

[hookkey]

Here’s the situation – I have an inflatable fishing boat that requires a battery for the trolling motor, me, not wanting to purchase and maintain two batteries would like to swap the deep discharge battery that I have back and forth. I realize that I must have the battery connected to the Hi-Lo when running the hydraulic unit but what I’m asking is if I can run just off the converter with the battery removed once I’m setup and plugged into AC at the campground? I do realize that with the converter operating I will probably need to keep the Hi-Lo’s positive battery connection isolated while it is disconnected to prevent it from touching the negative terminal or the frame and hurting the converter..

 

[PopRichie77]

Interesting question, I don't think it will hurt the converter, but depending on the converter design it may have no output without a battery. I would try this at home first. Others may have a different opinion.

 

[JackandJanet]

I don't think I'd want to try it. The battery may possibly "buffer" the converter's output to keep it at or near 13V (similar to the way a battery controls the output of an alternator). Without the battery in the circuit, you may have an unregulated voltage that could possibly damage things.

- Jack

 

[RichR]

I think that is something you wouldn't want to try without consulting the manual for the converter or contacting the manufacturer first. It may be better to go buy a separate battery and charger.

 

[MStoneham]

I've removed the batteries several times with the trailer connected to 120 V with no problems. You cannot raise the unit without a battery, but all other electrical systems work fine. I've done this when I knew I was going dry camping a few days and wanted to make certain the batteries were fully charged and in good working order.

 

[firemarshal]

Good question, and Jack's reply is one aspect I hadn't thought of. I'm usually dry camped when I use my trailer battery for my pontoon. You could just throw your Frig onto LP while you're out fishing.

 

[PopRichie77]

The fridge requires 12 volt power for the control board.

 

[JackandJanet]

The fridge requires 12 volt power for the control board.

Yes, and it's the electronic control boards I'm concerned with. They absolutely need "regulated" voltage. The fridge has one. If you have a CD/DVD player, it will have one. And, I worry that the converter "expects" to "see" a battery in the circuit.

Now, my concerns may well be totally unfounded.

- Jack

 

[RichR]

I think that is something you wouldn't want to try without consulting the manual for the converter or contacting the manufacturer first. It may be better to go buy a separate battery and charger.

As I said, see above. Then you don't have to worry about it. The expense may be worth it.

 

[retiredcamper47]

I went to a website called rvadvice.com and checked out some of the q & a's about running a trailer without a 12v battery installed. The answers were the same as what Jack, PopRichie, and RichR had given. The one answer said that "it would eventually cause the converter to fail and is hard on the control boards for your appliances". The other answer said to "think about the battery as a filter for the electrical system's 12v side". Hope this helps to clear things up.

Bob

 

[firemarshal]

I went to a website called rvadvice.com and checked out some of the q & a's about running a trailer without a 12v battery installed. The answers were the same as what Jack, PopRichie, and RichR had given. The one answer said that "it would eventually cause the converter to fail and is hard on the control boards for your appliances". The other answer said to "think about the battery as a filter for the electrical system's 12v side". Hope this helps to clear things up.

Bob

Thanks to you guys for digging into this. My frig has lasted over 20 years and I'd like to make it last a lot longer... Will use the time to defrost my freezer when I'm fishing...

 

[Atlee]

Thanks to you guys for digging into this. My frig has lasted over 20 years and I'd like to make it last a lot longer... Will use the time to defrost my freezer when I'm fishing...

If your fridge is 20 years old, it doesn't have an electronic control board. The fridge in my current 1996 model B does not have an electronic control board. It will use DC when traveling, but the DC can be completely disconnected, and the AC or LP part will work just fine.

 

[firemarshal]

Fridge...

Cool, thanks, I'll double check in my Fridge manual... I have the Dometic 2401...

If your fridge is 20 years old, it doesn't have an electronic control board. The fridge in my current 1996 model B does not have an electronic control board. It will use DC when traveling, but the DC can be completely disconnected, and the AC or LP part will work just fine.