|
07-03-2018, 11:46 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 3,188
|
Replacing the battery in a 5th wheel
Our battery is 3 years old and not holding a charge for very long.
My questions are,
Do I disconnect the A/C power to the trailer?
Do I turn the battery disconnect switch?
Both?
I will replace the battery with a similar battery. We do not dry camp so I am guessing about any automotive battery will work.
__________________
Tom & Renée
Durham, NC
2021 Jayco Class C model 27U
|
|
|
07-03-2018, 12:13 PM
|
#2
|
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
|
My f'ver is three years old and the battery is still holding strong!
Don't go for a car battery, but get a deep cycle or marine battery!
|
|
|
07-03-2018, 12:34 PM
|
#3
|
Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
|
Your assumptions are the best method.
Turn off (unplug from shore power) and disconnect the battery switch.
Take a photo or otherwise mark the connections as to which post the wires attach.
You wouldn't be the first to hook one up backwards. You'll be back asking how to diagnose the battery protection fuses in the converter.
Even with being plugged in most of the time, as mentioned, look for a true DEEP CYCLE battery and not a DUAL PURPOSE battery like most dealers install.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
|
|
|
07-03-2018, 01:03 PM
|
#4
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
|
We, like you, don't dry camp (boondock) so the most our battery has to run is the fridge controls and LP/CO monitor on the way to the campground. I use a combo marine battery and they will usually last 4 to 5 years.
When and if we start making longer trips where we have to run the fridge longer then I will reconsider the battery situation.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
|
|
|
07-04-2018, 02:27 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: NJ
Posts: 606
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bama Rambler
We, like you, don't dry camp (boondock) so the most our battery has to run is the fridge controls and LP/CO monitor on the way to the campground. I use a combo marine battery and they will usually last 4 to 5 years.
When and if we start making longer trips where we have to run the fridge longer then I will reconsider the battery situation.
|
It certainly makes sense to disconnect both...its probably safer and can't do any harm. Having said that, the time I replaced my battery I failed to disconnect either (I didn't think of it) with no apparent harm.
__________________
DrLewie
Flemington, NJ
Former: 2007 Cardinal 30W LE
Now:2018 Arctic Fox 27-5L
2008 Ford F-250 Long Bed Diesel
Total of 30 Months on the Road Since 2008
|
|
|
07-04-2018, 02:44 PM
|
#6
|
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
|
I'm used to storing my 5'ver next to the house and plugged in 24/7...
But I can't do that at my new place in the desert of AZ...
Looking for a solar trickle charger...any ideas here?
|
|
|
07-04-2018, 02:54 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,290
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnD10
I'm used to storing my 5'ver next to the house and plugged in 24/7...
But I can't do that at my new place in the desert of AZ...
Looking for a solar trickle charger...any ideas here?
|
Get a panel big enough to replace all the little draws on the battery as well as regular internal discharging in the battery.
Head for Amazon and look at the hundreds of possibilities as well as user reviews. If all you are interested in is maintaining a battery when in storage mode the panel doesn't need to be that big but it should have a quality controller to prevent over voltage.
Solar's not real big where I live because our Sun spends all it's time in Arizona Even now it's just under 80 degrees but sky is overcast. Just enough light one doesn't need to turn on any in the house.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
|
|
|
07-04-2018, 04:07 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 3,188
|
Quick trip to Wally World today. Of course they are open on July 4th. Now have a new marine deep cycle battery that is the same size as the former one. The deinstall reinstall was a snap.
__________________
Tom & Renée
Durham, NC
2021 Jayco Class C model 27U
|
|
|
07-04-2018, 04:14 PM
|
#9
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
|
Glad you got it changed out without incident.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
|
|
|
07-05-2018, 09:58 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,306
|
Probably didn't last for lack of maintenance. Be sure to check the water level even on a new battery. Most batteries I buy are all ready low on water brand new from the store. Try to never discharge below 50% and when you do be sure to recharge it immediately. With most rigs it doesn't pay to leave the [B]Con[B]verter on all the time as most will boil the water out of the battery. I use an after market battery maintainer with power shut off to the cabin during storage. Most solar maintainers require the battery to be charged to begin with and will not bring a discharged battery up to charge. A little maintenance will save you some bucks with batteries getting in the $100 to $200 dollar range.
__________________
2003 Duramax
2017 Crusader 315
2016 Boston Whaler Montauk 150
Former Montana owner
Colorado Cruiser, Over the Pass and Down the Hill
|
|
|
07-05-2018, 10:14 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Yellowknife
Posts: 1,162
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnD10
I'm used to storing my 5'ver next to the house and plugged in 24/7...
But I can't do that at my new place in the desert of AZ...
Looking for a solar trickle charger...any ideas here?
|
Just to maintain the battery, I wouldn't get anything less than 75 watts. That should let you run the fridge as well (on propane), but likely not much else for any amount of time.
__________________
2007 Rockwood 2701SS
2017 Ram 2500 Granite Crystal SAP Laramie 6.7L
2014 Triumph Bonneville. NH Togas, tuned
1953 GMC 9314
1982 GoldWing Interstate
|
|
|
07-05-2018, 02:58 PM
|
#12
|
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lins
Just to maintain the battery, I wouldn't get anything less than 75 watts. That should let you run the fridge as well (on propane), but likely not much else for any amount of time.
|
I still have the 5'ver plugged in to my home at the moment (still unloading stuff)...
Right now at 12:56 pm and 112.6 degrees outside, the fridge just can't handle that kind of temps.
I shut if off two days ago as it was almost 90 degrees in the fridge while it was running.
That's Yuma, AZ for 'ya!
|
|
|
07-06-2018, 08:58 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 242
|
check
check the water level in the batterys every 6 mo./use distilled water to fill..
__________________
Save a beer for me!!! Happy Trails....Be Safe....
|
|
|
07-06-2018, 09:53 AM
|
#14
|
Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnD10
I still have the 5'ver plugged in to my home at the moment (still unloading stuff)...
Right now at 12:56 pm and 112.6 degrees outside, the fridge just can't handle that kind of temps.
I shut if off two days ago as it was almost 90 degrees in the fridge while it was running.
That's Yuma, AZ for 'ya!
|
Yea, but its dry heat!
LOL!
[emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
|
|
|
07-06-2018, 11:02 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,290
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunnyinfla
check the water level in the batterys every 6 mo./use distilled water to fill..
|
I'd check more often if battery has been frequently discharged and recharged, especially in hot weather.
I prefer to check monthly when using trailer. Better to check and not need to add than to pop the caps and see the tops of plates.
|
|
|
07-06-2018, 12:12 PM
|
#16
|
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
Yea, but its dry heat!
LOL!
[emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]
|
Ain't that the truth...
Took this yesterday of my Atomic Clock...
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|