Batteries losing charge.

[hatstomper]

We have had the 5er parked for exactly 2 weeks today. When we parked it it was at full charge according to the console. We went over today to load stuff and I checked the console and its down to 1/3. Is this normal? Everthing appears to be turned off. We had 2 6V installed when we bought the unit in June.

[dlhoppe]

Yeah, lots of parasitic draw in an RV. The electronic controls for the appliances, stereo system, LP detector, etc. It's best to disconnect the batteries when stored.

[Boyd]

It's possible you are not getting a true reading from your console. You many not be as low as 1/3 but closer to 1/2 charge. Even that would not be good. A fully charged battery should not be losing it's charge at the rate you are reporting. Your console may be reporting a full charge immediately after charging but you need to wait about 3 hours before you can get an accurate reading as to their true charge. Use a hand-held volt meter to get exact readings.

[bikendan]

when the trailer is parked/in storage, due to the parasitic power drains, you either have to keep it hooked up to shore power or install a battery disconnect switch.

[hatstomper]

Thsi is what I have come up with. Am I on the right track? It appears fairly simple. I just need to find out what hooks where.

Battery Isolator Switch - Pico

[Boyd]

Originally Posted by hatstomper

Thsi is what I have come up with. Am I on the right track? It appears fairly simple. I just need to find out what hooks where.

Battery Isolator Switch - Pico

That's it. But, you MUST have one similar to that on board already.

[Boyd]

Stomper, I do believe I stand corrected!

Check this out: Battery shut off

[hatstomper]

Originally Posted by Boyd

Stomper, I do believe I stand corrected!

Check this out: Battery shut off

I found out from a tech at the dealership that since we have the polar package (Canuck Eh) our tank heating blankets are on all the time. (silly) Stupid me most of the 5er's we look at had a switch on the panel to turn on/off but no such thing on the Wildcat. They just stay on. So they along with the other parasites are drawing the power from my batteries. I have installed the battery cutoff switch and we'll see what happens. Next is a switch or pull the fuse on the heating pads. Anybody have any info on this true/false.

[fonzie]

I have been an electrician for 35 years, disconnect the battery.

[dlhoppe]

Originally Posted by hatstomper

I found out from a tech at the dealership that since we have the polar package (Canuck Eh) our tank heating blankets are on all the time. (silly) Stupid me most of the 5er's we look at had a switch on the panel to turn on/off but no such thing on the Wildcat. They just stay on. So they along with the other parasites are drawing the power from my batteries. I have installed the battery cutoff switch and we'll see what happens. Next is a switch or pull the fuse on the heating pads. Anybody have any info on this true/false.

Tank heaters on permanently? That would do it. You definitely need to get them "switched". That just doesn't make sense that there's no way to turn them off. I guess if you don't camp anywhere south of the arctic circle it might make sense.

[onequicksportster]

I wouldn't think the tank heaters would stay on all the time. They should either have a switch or are controlled with a thermostat,either way I don't think it would be good for them to stay on all the time.. I would dig deeper into that..

[SaskCampers]

Tank heats on full time sounds like a load of some very smelly stuff to me. Our FR control center has a switch to turn them on and off. If yours does not have one some where I would be putting that as job one and calling the factory rep about it.