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06-16-2018, 05:43 PM
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#61
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
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My camper didn't come with a battery , none of them do , from this dealership . They put one in , when you purchase your rig.
Maybe when they put it in , they did something wrong. Because I was losing power just by turning on a led light.
But , when I purchased a 2nd. Battery from the Les Swabb Tire and Battery store , and the salesman took the tire to clean the connections
And install the extra "cross over cables" ( as I call them).
Things have been running excellent. No drain at all.
I will just have to keep testing features , and see what , if anything happens. So far , pretty slick. I'm happy.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.
2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
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06-16-2018, 05:55 PM
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#62
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,316
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As a rule, no trailer will come from the factory with a battery. One exception is Heartland, they put a gp24 battery but include 2 gp27 boxes. Motorhomes will come with chassis (engine) battery and house battery(s). I worked for a very short time for a dealer that installed reconditioned batteries in new units and whatever was “laying around” in a used unit. Batteries aren’t cheap and some dealerships won’t spend anymore than needed to “get it over the curb”.
It is possible that your original battery is defective, and a hydrometer test would reveal it. We use Interstate batteries and a few months ago ran into a batch of gp27 batteries that were no good off the shelf. As long as your up and running, I would use it til you need new ones. Always replace them in pairs.
__________________
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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06-16-2018, 09:04 PM
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#63
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
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Hello Chuck , when I took it to the tire/battery store , the asst.manager put it on a meter. And it tested fully charged. BUT , it had been recharging off my truck battery for a 1 hour trip from the sticks into town.
But , wow , what a great improvement with this new duel set up.
I am sure pleased with this difference.
The guy cleaned the cables that attach to the battery , excuse my newbie explination for that.
It was as if he used something like sand paper and made them look cleaner. Then after everything was completed , he put something like a jelly on them.
I apologise for my woman's explination , that most likely is off the wall and nothing close to what I should be typing .
Bare with me you guys. I promise I'll get this right some day. Lol.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.
2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
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06-16-2018, 10:35 PM
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#64
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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Testing with LEDS is not much of a test, turn on the furnace, refer, water pump from time to time, hot water tank. Test it has YOU will use it. That would be the point of a test.
__________________
2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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06-17-2018, 08:12 AM
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#65
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Folsom
Posts: 366
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My rig had 2 golf cart batteries. I added a 100 watt solar panel and 40 watt mppt charge controller. Found that batteries didn't have quite enough juice to keep led lighting, heater, satellite receiver, and tv (with a 110 volt inverter) operating overnight boon-docking. Remember you don't want to draw batteries below 12 volts. Added 2 more batteries wired in series/parallel with an additional 100 watt panel. Now have enough juice for boon-docking and 200 watts is enough to charge batteries during the day for next night. Also added an 8 hour (tic-tock no elect draw) timer to control inverter. I set it to turn off during night to save juice.
__________________
2002 Montana 3250RL upgraded a bunch
2005 Ford F-250 6.0 Bullet Proofed - SOLD
2017 Ford F350 6.7 Lariet
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06-17-2018, 08:46 AM
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#66
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 196
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Until the tariff I was told I sold more individual solar panels in my state than anyone else. FYI: Deep cycle marine batteries and rv batteries are crap - They are just slightly better than using a regular car battery. A true 12v deep cycle battery weighs about 150 pounds. You are much better off using 2 6v golf cart true deep cycle batteries than any fishing or rv. They are $80 at costco or batteries plus. Why are they better? Amp hours (cranking amps for our purpose is worthless - and anytime you see cranking amps it is a warning sign that it isn't a deep cycle battery). The golf cart batteries have 2-4 times as many amp hours as marine 'deep cycle' batteries. Plus, you can drain them down more without damaging them. They will last 5-10 years vs a marine deep cycle lasting 6 months to 1.5 years - for the same money. Simply hook them up in series if you have a 12v system. Add groups of 2 in parallel if you find your batteries aren't lasting as long as you need them.
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06-17-2018, 08:47 AM
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#67
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Mountains
Posts: 59
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couple thoughts...
Have you double checked to see your button behind TV for searching channel's is not on...
Also, do you have a led light bulb above table or in any of your lights. I was shocked how much they drained our battery.
As for solar, we are spoiled. Bought our camper with 150 watts on roof. Love it....never have any problems....
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06-17-2018, 10:23 AM
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#68
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Kirby, AR
Posts: 14
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This is a very timely discussion for my needs presently. I have had similar needs to Glenda Clark as well.
My unit is less than 6 months old, with pair of big 12V batts. Can’t see the sides of strapped in batts to know if they are 24's or 27's, but they are huge. I have recently purchased the 120 Watt Nature Power Briefcase solar panel that according to my volt meter puts out good voltage.
However, if much usage of batts overnight, the solar panel will not charge from depleted state. Trouble shooting says if battery level is too low, charge first, but that is why I got solar panel . . . To charge batteries. If you have alternate charging source, why have a solar panel? Is there anyway around this? Hope you guys with experience are still monitoring.
I am mostly wanting to keep good enough charge to run electric panel on fridge to keep cold. I understand about the parasitic drain, and in reading others exchanges, have decided I may need to unplug 12v Furion TV's when not in use. This rig was already planned and built when I got it, and there are 3 TV's, as well as the sound system. I see where I can unplug the TV's, but not sound system. I guess I could pull fuse???
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06-17-2018, 11:13 AM
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#69
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pa
Posts: 75
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Nice reply Chuckster57.
Everyone’s situation is different, what works for some may not be good enough for others. 20 Watts 8 hrs a day may work 80% of the time for some folks and the other 20% just doesn’t matter. Some people don’t even need or want electric. It’s all prospective.
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06-17-2018, 12:22 PM
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#70
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Warne
Posts: 61
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenda Clark
The guy cleaned the cables that attach to the battery , excuse my newbie explination for that.
It was as if he used something like sand paper and made them look cleaner. Then after everything was completed , he put something like a jelly on them.
I apologise for my woman's explination , that most likely is off the wall and nothing close to what I should be typing .
Bare with me you guys. I promise I'll get this right some day. Lol.
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Glenda, battery terminals (the "posts" that the cables connect to) are notorious for getting corroded, and if badly corroded it severely impedes or even prevents the flow of electrical current. So cleaning with an abrasive material like sandpaper or fine wire brush (there are specialty tools made for this purpose) is a good idea every few months, especially in humid climates. That "jelly" he put on the battery terminals is likely a dielectric grease designed to inhibit corrosion and enhance the conductivity (flow of current) of the post and cable connection.
If your unit sat on the dealer lot for some time before sale, and the dealer did not check the cable connections closely, there may have been some corrosion which added to your problems.
Hope this helps.
__________________
Larry J Ford (SWNC)
2016 Passport Ultra Lite Express 199ML
2013 Ford F-150 XLT Supercab, 3.5L V6 ecoBoost (turbo), 3.15 RAR, 8600 lbs. Tow Capacity, Equalizer WDH
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06-17-2018, 12:59 PM
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#71
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Fargo
Posts: 95
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Glenda, also remember that when you push the button to see the battery level and the furnace and/or water pump are running the indicator will likely show empty. Mine always did, but when installed a volt meter directly to the battery I always got a "true" reading of the battery, even when those were running. Has to do with the voltage loss in the wiring and how or where the indicator is wired in.
Also in my "just sold" rig, we would boon dock for about 48 hours on 2 old, mismatched 12 volt batteries with no problems, 3 night would be too much. Added 160 watts of portable solar and only worried about power after the third day overcast. Yeah, then we got out the generator.
Best way to find out is live in it when in your driveway, on the batteries. Just to find out how long they last. That 20 watt solar will do nothing other that keep unused fully charged batteries "topped off".
Good luck and hope you get many wonderful days (and nights) boondocking.
Tom
__________________
2015 F350, 2019 Arctic Fox 27-5L, Wonderful tolerant Wife and 3 perimeter alarms
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06-17-2018, 01:23 PM
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#72
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Potsdam
Posts: 319
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The answer to your "phantom" battery drain may be in a reply by JRTJH on a post entitled "Constant Battery Draw" by jhuffman here: https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url...3&share_type=t
In short, on many Dometic refrigerators apparently there are heaters in the doors to reduce condensation on the door seals that draw 2.5 amps. There is no on/off switch for these heaters. Constantly on that's a whopping 36 amp hours a day, the majority of the capacity of a single group 24 battery being drawn down to the minimum recommended 50%.
That explains why I still have to run my generator a few hours every evening to top of my dual group 31 AGM batteries even with my 100 watt solar panel putting out 15 to 25 amp hours a day here in upstate NY, near the Canadian border.
I have an inquiry in to Dometic to confirm the information that was provided in the other thread. I'll post when/if I hear back from them.
__________________
2015 Bullet 220RBI
2019 Chevy Colorado extended cab V6 3.6 liter
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06-17-2018, 04:49 PM
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#73
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Gold Beach
Posts: 0
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Had original battery in my HM310RE just sizzling and burnt it out less than 1 yr old. Had a technician park next to me and he tested my elec system with no error just a cheap factory installed battery. He recommended I put in a H3 AGM battery with reserve of 160. Auto zone for 199.99 free 3 yr replacement no acid or gel. Very happy I met this guy who does electrical for a living
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06-17-2018, 05:04 PM
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#74
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Ronkonkoma
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenda Clark
Took my camper out last weekend , the Battery drains way too fast.
Had the furnace on for awhile. It was cold out. I realise your running the electric off battery , the fan/blower , and igniter off propane.
But should battery fade that quick ?
I had to get up at 3 am , plug power into my truck , leave truck running , to charge my battery back up , just so I could get some heat inside camper.
32 degrees.
Upon leaving , went straight to Les Swabb and bought another battery, to run duel batteries on camper. Salesman installed it with cable connections for duel battery connections. He also recommended getting a good size 12 volt , 20 watt , solar panel maintainer. That way when I'm out in the sticks , I can attach it to the battery , and move it around with the suns position. So , I bought one of those too.
This is getting pricey to have an RV.
ANY ONE HAVE THIS ISSUE TOO ? I can't be the only one that this has happened to.
Any words of Wisdom here you guys ?
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This has been happening to me as well. Even though I hook it up to my truck and run the generator during the day (battery will show full charge on wall meter). If I don’t hook it up to power and let the battery charge overnight before I go out it will die every time right around 3 am. Even though that wall meter says it has a full charge it really doesn’t.
I have a radio that has no shut off for the display so it drains the battery pretty low between camping trips. Going to get a bigger battery and install a battery switch so that it doesn’t get drained so low between trips.
Not sure if my issues are the same as yours but I was banging my head against the wall when the fridge would go out at 3am because it didn’t have enough power (while running on propane).
Hope it helps!
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06-17-2018, 05:22 PM
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#75
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Tonasket
Posts: 127
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Mine drained down and was on "E". I couldn't even turn on an LED Light in the middle of the night. Everything was flickering , including the carbon monoxide sensor on the floor.
Had to go out in the middle of the night , plug it into my truck , let the truck run for 30 minutes. Unplug from the truck again.
Went back up to Full , on the board on the wall.
It was cold , turned the furnace on for about 15-20 minutes , shut it off.
Checked a few hours later , back down to "E".
Pain in the 6.
Drove straight to a tire and battery store 1 hour from my camping site , purchased a new battery , had everything prepped/cleaned , installed.
Been off shore power for 3 days now. NO LOSS OF POWER AT ALL.
For me , this made a huge difference. But , I need to start testing stuff to run it down and see what happens. Too hot to run furnace right now.
90 degrees in the day.
I did buy a 12v 20 watt solar panel , see what that does. Haven't used it yet. Will try it out soon though , just for the heck of it.
__________________
2018 Keystone Bullet Premire ultra lite. 19FBPR.
2016 Chevy Silverado , 1500.
5.3 liter V8
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06-17-2018, 05:46 PM
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#76
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,741
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Several posts refer to the "battery meter on the wall". That LED set of lights is only indicating the voltage and not the ampacity, or capacity of the battery. Therefore, if you check the battery while it's being charged, either by TV, shore power, whatever it will read "full" as the charger is applying a typical 13.4 - 13.6 volts to the battery. A defective battery with a defective cell will read the same as a newbattery. The only way to tell the truecondition is to take the battery to a garage or parts store that has a load tester. Most auto parts stores will test a battery at no cost.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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06-18-2018, 03:40 AM
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#77
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hartford WI
Posts: 34
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A good investment would be a DVOM. DVOM means Digital, Volt,Ohm,Meter. Find a trusted auto tech , electronic tech,or electrician to show you how to use it. The volt scales and amp scale will help diagnose a lot of concerns. Trying to explain how to use and read the amp scale may be a little hard to do without actually seeing it done, but using that scale will tell you how much amps are being used at any time. With the meter on the amp scale you will be able to see your draw drop when you disconnect or pull fuses on different components. The volt scale will give a true readings of your batteries voltage . But a load tester will tell you your batteries overall condition.
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06-18-2018, 03:53 AM
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#78
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Richmond TX
Posts: 69
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Charging from Truck Connections
I have one thing to add to the many helpful replies you have gotten. Your trailer battery may not receive a 'full' charge from your truck even if you hook up and drive all day. I was warned about this on the walk through when I bought my 3150RL in 2012 and in my experience I have found it to be to be true. I don't have the expertise to cite the amps, watts, battery specs, and wire gauges, but I guess the wire that delivers truck power from my F350 diesel is too light or has too few amps to efficiently charge the battery fully . And 30 minutes is never enough to fully charge a battery no matter what charger is used.
Hooking up for 30 minutes or driving 6 hours to my next destination will only deliver a partial recharge to my battery, and I don't know how many hours it would take to fully charge it. The battery might get enough juice to deliver the needed volts for a short time, though. If this was your primary method of charging your battery, it may also have ruined the battery because of it's chronically low charge state, which damages the lead plates through 'sulfonation'.
I was told that the best ways to fully charge the battery was to plug the camper full time into proper power, use a battery charger or trickle charger, or use a properly configured solar charger. And of course allow enough time to completely charge the battery.
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06-18-2018, 06:13 AM
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#79
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Fargo
Posts: 95
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This is a site that the information is dead on. Great place to learn, probably more than you want.
https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/...solar-systems/
__________________
2015 F350, 2019 Arctic Fox 27-5L, Wonderful tolerant Wife and 3 perimeter alarms
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06-18-2018, 06:28 AM
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#80
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Tucson
Posts: 4
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Our 2018 Keystone Hideout had an Interstate Battery in it, purchased the trailer in February brand new, by April and a couple of outings later I noticed the battery wouldn't hardly last over night. Took the battery to Interstate and they tested it and it was bad, gave me a new one and everything is good again.
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