By Steve Savage, Mobility RV Service
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Many RVers like to keep their campers plugged in with the refrigerator going when it’s sitting at their house. Doing so will not damage the refrigerator or anything else that is running, like the power converter. But like most things in life, there is a downside.
All electrical components have a lifespan, just like an electric light bulb only burns for so many hours before it has to be replaced. The same holds true for the parts in your refrigerator and power converter. When they’re left on constantly, you’re using part of their lifespan. They won’t last as long that way, as compared to if they were simply cycled a couple of hours a month when at the house and then used steadily while camping.
At the same time, it’s not a good idea to simply leave everything turned off. Even batteries will spontaneously discharge but, again, nothing is gained in terms of longevity by leaving things on when they are not being used.
It’s your call. Use the lifespan while parked at the house or when camped; but either way, when something is turned on its lifespan is depleted to a degree.