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01-28-2018, 07:50 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 14
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Dead Battery Question
We picked our Sprinter about 3 weeks ago from the dealer. We took it to storage and I checked and doubled checked that the battery disconnect was off. I stopped by yesterday and the battery was dead. My question(s) are...
1. Is this normal for a battery to drain in a matter of a couple of weeks with the Batt disconnect off.
2. Should I consider replacing the battery?
Thanks
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01-28-2018, 08:24 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilli22
We picked our Sprinter about 3 weeks ago from the dealer. We took it to storage and I checked and doubled checked that the battery disconnect was off. I stopped by yesterday and the battery was dead. My question(s) are...
1. Is this normal for a battery to drain in a matter of a couple of weeks with the Batt disconnect off.
2. Should I consider replacing the battery?
Thanks
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The battery "cutoff " really isn't a DISCONNECT, there are safety items and hardwired items that are never disconnected until the battery cables are removed.
So, yes it is normal
Javi
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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01-28-2018, 08:38 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 14
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Funny, I was told by several salesman that the Battery Disconnect was to prevent "phantom drain" on the battery.
One day, I will learn not to believe everything I hear.
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01-28-2018, 08:43 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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They are partially correct, without the disconnect the battery will die in 2 to 3 days. With the disconnect a week or so.
Before I had power to leave mine plugged in at the storage facility, I simply removed the ground on my battery. When I returned and was ready to use the trailer I simply hooked it back up.
It really isn't that difficult to put a real disconnect in the battery cable, after doing so it will completely disconnect the drain on the battery.
Javi
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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01-28-2018, 08:44 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 14
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Thanks Javi
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01-28-2018, 09:00 AM
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#6
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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^^ What Javi said. Do a search on the forum and you will find a plethora of reading material.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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01-28-2018, 09:02 AM
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#7
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilli22
Funny, I was told by several salesman that the Battery Disconnect was to prevent "phantom drain" on the battery.
One day, I will learn not to believe everything I hear.
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They're salesmen. 'Nuff said.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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01-28-2018, 09:20 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Salesman, rv, truck, car, furniture, were their lips moving?
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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01-28-2018, 09:28 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,338
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Funny true story: guy buys a $350,000.00 motorhome. salesman (years of experience) comes to say hi after we did some warranty work on it. Next thing I know he's in my bay asking if I could explain some lights on the auto level panel. I go out to the coach and look, In this particular system the lights on the panel will tell you which side is low...Explained to the customer and the salesman says " I never knew that"...
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-28-2018, 11:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Boise
Posts: 221
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Funny true story: guy buys a $350,000.00 motorhome. salesman (years of experience) comes to say hi after we did some warranty work on it. Next thing I know he's in my bay asking if I could explain some lights on the auto level panel. I go out to the coach and look, In this particular system the lights on the panel will tell you which side is low...Explained to the customer and the salesman says " I never knew that"...
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This is why I keep pushing for techs to also walk customer thru their new boats at our dealership. We regularly have customers bring their boat back in because feature aren't working right only to find it's operator error, and the common gripe is their salesman never showed them. Had one customer get upset about the upcharge to winterize his transom shower on his new boat this fall. Wasn't mad about the charge, was mad because he didn't even know he had a shower!!
Jwill, I have one of these(Not exactly this one) on my ground leg from battery to frame. Flip the switch and it's all disconnected. There are lots out there that are lockable so you need a key to turn it on, or like mine does, you pull the entire red switch off and I put it in with all wheel chocks and leveling plastics.
https://www.ebay.com/i/252928985773?...D1426774897049
__________________
97 F250 7.3L
06 Springdale 269RLLS
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01-28-2018, 11:35 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeheel4life
This is why I keep pushing for techs to also walk customer thru their new boats at our dealership. We regularly have customers bring their boat back in because feature aren't working right only to find it's operator error, and the common gripe is their salesman never showed them. Had one customer get upset about the upcharge to winterize his transom shower on his new boat this fall. Wasn't mad about the charge, was mad because he didn't even know he had a shower!!
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Yeah, our walk-thru was a complete joke. To every question that we would ask we got a standard answer from the kid, who looked liked he was still in high school, contact the manufacturer or look in your owner's manual. At one point when showing us the Sound Bar features, he said "This model doesn't come with AM/FM. To which my wife responded, "So what happens if you push the AM/FM button on the sound bar." His answer... that must be new for 2018.
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01-28-2018, 01:50 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 19
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I did this inexpensive and easy kill switch install on the negative side of my battery. Works great.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
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01-28-2018, 03:23 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,330
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Another true story. Our neighbor in Clewiston RV Park has a 2013 model Montana. We were discussing black tank rinses and how often to use it. He mentioned how he would like to have one and I said that one could be easily installed for about $60.00. His face lit up and he said "Let's go with it!" I walked him around to his water service panel and pointed out the black tank rinse connection and held my hand out, palm up. Nope, no $60.00 has greased my palm yet, but he has taken a good ribbing for awhile now.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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01-28-2018, 04:07 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Verona, KY
Posts: 320
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__________________
New: 2021 Solitude 380FL
Old: 2016 Alpine 3600RS
Tow: 2017 F-350 DRW diesel
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01-28-2018, 04:18 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bainbridge NY
Posts: 214
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I got this one from harbor freight,
have one under the fender of my 442 also.
__________________
2017 Keystone 1750rd
2006 Hummer H3
1968 Oldsmobile 442
1983 Honda CX650C
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01-30-2018, 10:31 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 14
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Thanks again for everyone's input. I am already looking into adding one of the solutions suggested.
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01-30-2018, 11:20 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,211
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwilli22
Thanks again for everyone's input. I am already looking into adding one of the solutions suggested.
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There's a lot to learn about camping trailers, I know first hand, as I was a Noobie about a year ago. This is a great forum though, with an abundance of knowledgeable and experienced folks, so don't hesitate to ask away. So many on here have helped me tremendously over the last year or so.
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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01-30-2018, 01:55 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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We used to use these on show cars back in the day.
Cheap and simple to install.
https://www.amazon.com/Post-Battery-...ery+disconnect
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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01-30-2018, 02:21 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bainbridge NY
Posts: 214
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 66joej
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these work good for many years THE GREEN KNOB yours wasn't green
its a pain to open battery cover on RV and to have to pop the hood on a car every time you shut it off and on.
harbor freight one I had for 8 years on the trailer and 442 always works.
__________________
2017 Keystone 1750rd
2006 Hummer H3
1968 Oldsmobile 442
1983 Honda CX650C
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01-30-2018, 03:28 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Acton
Posts: 127
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Lots to learn indeed!! I recently had a dead battery issue. Apparently you can't pull the electric brake cable to act as a added measure of protection against rolling when parked on an incline for ANY amount of time And I did have the battery disconnect turned off.
__________________
2018 Keystone Laredo 298RL
2003 Keystone Laredo 27RL
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie DRW
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