Freedom 246rks battery dead

[cardp1]

I had just read somewhere that people disconnect their battery when not using the trailer. Well yesterday I went out and my battery was dead. it's only been unplugged for 10 days. So is taking the battery box apart and disconnecting each time the best way to handle this or can I just throw the main breaker. Nothing was left on that I could tell just stray voltage?

[Mr. Dan]

Throwing the main breaker won’t help since breakers are for the 120vAC side. Dead batteries are on the 12vDC side. Are you sure you don’t have a battery disconnect switch?

[Flybob]

There are parasitic current draws ( CO/Propane detector, TV, DVD player) that will kill the battery is a week or two. You have five options.

1. Disconnect negative cable from battery when storing
2. Adding a battery disconnect switch that will do the same thing only easier.
3. Add a battery tender ( not a trickle charger) to compensate for the current drain.
4. Leave the unit plugged into shore power.
5. Remove the battery and take it home.

Option 3 and 4 are only available if you have power available ( even 15A outlet) where you store the RV.

[chaps2018]

If you wanted to use a breaker this would work. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIGK346...a-351181099581

As noted above, I would suggest a disconnect switch. BEP 701 Battery Switches - On-Off https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DUUL9W..._JKcKAbP3E4J9T

Either way it is better to disconnect the battery as there are parasitic drains on it.

[CedarCreekWoody]

I added the BEP switch listed above to my negative cable. It kills everything.

[cardp1]

Thanks all I'll be installing a disconnect i think

[cardp1]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Throwing the main breaker won’t help since breakers are for the 120vAC side. Dead batteries are on the 12vDC side. Are you sure you don’t have a battery disconnect switch?

I don't know if one but I'll check again thanks

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by cardp1

Thanks all I'll be installing a disconnect i think

It's another example of a bad PDI from the dealer.
This should have been covered during the walkthrough.
Nearly ALL RVs have parasitic power drains.

As FlyBob listed, one of those things need to be done, otherwise the battery will be dead in a few days.

[rlocicero]

Those small draws should not be enough to kill a good battery in a week or 10 days they only draw milliamps worth of power. No different from the car on the car Dealers lot with the radio and the pcm etc..You may just have a weak battery.Chronic problem, have the battery checked to make sure it is good. I believe you can buy solar powered trickle chargers that you can connect to them also.

[stevegotl]

I also have the 246rks and the same thing happened to me. I also installed a battery disconnect switch and haven't had any problems since. I don't know why they don't simply add this to all units... sheesh.....

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by rlocicero

Those small draws should not be enough to kill a good battery in a week or 10 days they only draw milliamps worth of power. No different from the car on the car Dealers lot with the radio and the pcm etc..You may just have a weak battery.Chronic problem, have the battery checked to make sure it is good. I believe you can buy solar powered trickle chargers that you can connect to them also.

Let's do some arithmetic. A typical battery is 50 Amp-hours. A 200 milliamps draw per hour would draw 5 amp-hours in a day or completely draw the battery for in ten days.

[Flybob]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Let's do some arithmetic. A typical battery is 50 Amp-hours. A 200 milliamps draw per hour would draw 5 amp-hours in a day or completely draw the battery for in ten days.

Per Mfg spec. The CO/Propane detector alone is 130ma.

[Cougarfan]

I have the 246RKS and yes, I had to install a battery cutoff switch as well. No issues since then.

[sweet lou]

Hi Guys
I also have 2015 246rks and yes battery goes dead. What I found out there was a .250ma draw (1/4 amp). Using a Fluke meter checking for a draw. Found out the radio is the problem. Fuse is located bottom right of the fuse panel. I pulled mine. The radio doesn't sound good to me anyway. If you should go boondocking the radio will pull battery down quickly. 1/4 amp is a big draw.

goodday
lou

[glsimms]

Originally Posted by sweet lou

Hi Guys
I also have 2015 246rks and yes battery goes dead. What I found out there was a .250ma draw (1/4 amp). Using a Fluke meter checking for a draw. Found out the radio is the problem. Fuse is located bottom right of the fuse panel. I pulled mine. The radio doesn't sound good to me anyway. If you should go boondocking the radio will pull battery down quickly. 1/4 amp is a big draw.

goodday
lou

Hey a member for 2 years and 1st post!! You must have been doing some serious lurking....

[pastorlarry]

Originally Posted by Flybob

There are parasitic current draws ( CO/Propane detector, TV, DVD player) that will kill the battery is a week or two. You have five options.

1. Disconnect negative cable from battery when storing
2. Adding a battery disconnect switch that will do the same thing only easier.
3. Add a battery tender ( not a trickle charger) to compensate for the current drain.
4. Leave the unit plugged into shore power.
5. Remove the battery and take it home.

Option 3 and 4 are only available if you have power available ( even 15A outlet) where you store the RV.

Would a solar maintainer charger work?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by pastorlarry

Would a solar maintainer charger work?

Easiest fix is adding a battery disconnect switch.

[pastorlarry]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Easiest fix is adding a battery disconnect switch.

Thanks