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Old 07-29-2021, 10:09 AM   #1
Jon Herrick
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Power issues with Cougar!

Hello all, We have a 2020 Cougar 29rld and are having power issues! Was camping two weeks ago and batteries would only charge to 12.9 amps, using a generator! With the gen I could get them up to 13.8 and then when I shut off the gen and they would drop right down to 12.9 or so! I was able to make due with this for a week until I headed home! I thought the batteries might be bad!

I had two newer batteries that were fully charged at home and installed them in the trailer but I had the same result. Batteries read 12.9 amps! What could be going on? Inverter?
Heading out again Sunday, not sure if I can get it fixed by then though! Still under warranty but can’t get it in soon enough!

Thanks,
Jon
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Old 07-29-2021, 10:23 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Herrick View Post
Hello all, We have a 2020 Cougar 29rld and are having power issues! Was camping two weeks ago and batteries would only charge to 12.9 amps, using a generator! With the gen I could get them up to 13.8 and then when I shut off the gen and they would drop right down to 12.9 or so! I was able to make due with this for a week until I headed home! I thought the batteries might be bad!

I had two newer batteries that were fully charged at home and installed them in the trailer but I had the same result. Batteries read 12.9 amps! What could be going on? Inverter?
Heading out again Sunday, not sure if I can get it fixed by then though! Still under warranty but can’t get it in soon enough!

Thanks,
Jon
They should read 12.9 or so volts when fully charged ..the other voltage is the charger voltage your reading(13.8) ..they are 12 volt batteries not 13 or 14 volt
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Old 07-29-2021, 10:53 AM   #3
Jon Herrick
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Doh, yes! Probably worrying about nothing, quick post didn’t write all that was going on! Batteries were depleting quick with nothing being used, hadn’t noticed it last year. Maybe the other batteries will be better!
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Old 07-29-2021, 10:58 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by Jon Herrick View Post
Doh, yes! Probably worrying about nothing, quick post didn’t write all that was going on! Batteries were depleting quick with nothing being used, hadn’t noticed it last year. Maybe the other batteries will be better!
Let us know how it works out and post any issues that come up
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Old 07-29-2021, 11:46 AM   #5
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Here is a chart showing the battery state of charge relative to the voltage.
Anything over 12.6vdc is fully charged
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Old 07-29-2021, 11:55 AM   #6
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Batteries depleting faster than usual is probably a non led light left on maybe in the cargo area or someplace you wouldn't notice it. One way to check for amp draw when "everything" is turned off is to use a VOM. Here's a vid that might help.
https://www.google.com/search?q=chec...hrome&ie=UTF-8
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Old 07-29-2021, 01:21 PM   #7
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You just can't turn "everything off" 12VDC unless you disconnect the battery. The stereo relies on 12V to retain programmed info, the gas monitor is 12V and there are likely some other things. When I parked my trailer last year for a month I found the gas alarm going nuts when I didn't have the camper plugged into at least a 15A extension cord to keep the battery up.
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Old 07-29-2021, 03:43 PM   #8
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I did not mean to suggest that you could turn everything off. I was meaning to say when you "think" everything is off but the batteries still drain faster than normal you can can use a VOM as demonstrated in the video to determine if there is in fact excessive amp draw. Normal amp draw would be less than 1 amp. Anything more would be suspect.
Apologizes for any confusion.
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Old 07-29-2021, 06:38 PM   #9
Jon Herrick
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Thank you all for your suggestions! Last year using the trailer I don’t recall having this issue, I will be watching it closer on our upcoming trip!
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Old 07-29-2021, 07:09 PM   #10
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Batteries? Two batterie? Two 6 volt or two 12 volt? Are they true deep cycle batteries or are they "marine cranking/deep cycle" batteries the dealer put in? Have you let the batteries drain down to less than a 50% state of charge? If you have let them discharge too far then they may be damaged and won't accept a full charge. Best way to find out is to pull them out and have them load tested. Just about any auto parts store will test them for free.
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Old 07-29-2021, 08:54 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Canonman View Post

... Normal amp draw would be less than 1 amp. Anything more would be suspect...
Maybe a little higher. My 2020 Cougar 26RBSWE draws about 1.85 amps an hour (per BMV-712). I think most of that draw is from the InCommand, but I haven't tested my theory to be certain. My reading is NOT with the battery disconnect in the off position. Simply a reading while camping with all 12v devices turned off.
The list of items that are "Parasitic draw" is surprisingly long. Next time it's in storage with the disconnect switch OFF I'll take another reading.
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Old 08-09-2021, 07:36 AM   #12
Jon Herrick
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Thanks again for the info you all posted! The original batteries were toasted so I used the others on our week long trip! They worked very well, kept charged with my 90 watt zamp solar panels and Honda generator!
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Old 08-12-2021, 08:23 PM   #13
tanglemoose
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inverter

We found our inverter on all.the time on the OTG package was running our battery down...
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