Brand new FR Salem...dead in 2 days

jerwilson · 05-13-2017, 07:07 AM

Hey all...I am new to this and unfortunately had a terrible exp at CW as far as orientation goes. I drove the RV to storage and 2 days later went to go check and it's dead. Everything was off as far as I know. How do I charge it? It's not a normal plug I can plug in anywhere. Do I just deal with it and charge it when I plug in at campsite? Isn't it bad for it to keep going dead? Sorry for the ignorance, just new to this and want to understand. Thanks all!!

-Jeremy Wilson, Summerville, SC

ScottBrownstein · 05-13-2017, 07:11 AM

Yes it is bad to let it stay discharged as it can permanently damage the batteries. When you say it is not a normal plug, I assume you mean the it is a 30 or 50 amp plug. You can get an adapter that takes your plug down to a regular 15 amp receptacle, which will be plenty to run your converter that will re-charge the batteries. It will, however, take at least 15 or 20 hours to re-charge.

youroo · 05-13-2017, 07:14 AM

You need to read "12 Volt side of Life" there are Many reasons for Discharge of Battery in a RV most are hidden! Total disconnect of Battery or your battery will be "Dead" when you return to the storage area!

Youroo!!

jerwilson · 05-13-2017, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

Yes it is bad to let it stay discharged as it can permanently damage the batteries. When you say it is not a normal plug, I assume you mean the it is a 30 or 50 amp plug. You can get an adapter that takes your plug down to a regular 15 amp receptacle, which will be plenty to run your converter that will re-charge the batteries. It will, however, take at least 15 or 20 hours to re-charge.

Thanks Scott!!! One more follow-up question. What do people do to keep the batteries from dying on a regular basis? Unfortunately I can't keep it at my house so I have to put it in storage during the week when we are not using it. So it is inevitable that the batteries will die. What do people do to get around this? Thx. Jeremy

jerwilson · 05-13-2017, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youroo

You need to read "12 Volt side of Life" there are Many reasons for Discharge of Battery in a RV most are hidden! Total disconnect of Battery or your battery will be "Dead" when you return to the storage area!

Youroo!!

Gotcha! Thanks!!

Oaklevel · 05-13-2017, 07:18 AM

Any RV battery will go dead in a few days if you do not have a battery disconnect . If it did not come with one add one.

There are parasitic draws on the battery such as the CO detector. Your tow vehicle will also charge the battery but it is more like a trickle charge / very slow. Do not tow with a dead battery it it needed for the break away device.

ScottBrownstein · 05-13-2017, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerwilson

Thanks Scott!!! One more follow-up question. What do people do to keep the batteries from dying on a regular basis? Unfortunately I can't keep it at my house so I have to put it in storage during the week when we are not using it. So it is inevitable that the batteries will die. What do people do to get around this? Thx. Jeremy

There is usually a disconnect switch that disconnects the batteries from everything but a few "safety" kinds of loads like LP detectors and such. If you find that the disconnect switch isn't there or you still draw down in a week, you can get a battery disconnect switch at Walmart or some auto parts store and install it on the battery negative. It will completely disconnect everything regardless of the main disconnect switch. They cost less than $10. You can find one here...https://www.walmart.com/ip/MATCC-Sid...&wl13=&veh=sem

**Flybob** · 05-13-2017, 07:27 AM

As others have mentioned, add a disconnect switch. As a temporary solution until you can accomplish this, remove the wire connected to the negative terminal of the battery. You also asked about the type of plug so I will assume that the storage facility has at least a standard 120VAC outlet. If that is the case, you can add a battery maintainer like the ones below. They are microcontroller controlled and will charge the battery as needed. Although more expensive, I like the CTEK as it has additional features.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...ry+tender+plus
https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-864-A...attery+charger

Oaklevel · 05-13-2017, 07:31 AM

Here is a good RV electrical system YouTube video....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DpIzugALqc

BooBoo23 · 05-13-2017, 08:03 AM

This is what I installed. Mounted right on top of the battery box.

Steeljag · 05-13-2017, 08:13 AM

All good info ! You may want to test the battery, or take the battery and have it tested. Who knows how long it sat on the dealers lot going dead, recharged, etc.

The problem with a charger at the storage lot is others with sticky fingers !

jerwilson · 05-13-2017, 08:14 AM

Thanks everyone!!!!

mgarland48 · 05-13-2017, 12:38 PM

To be sure my batteries did not have a discharge of any kind (until I got solar) I would just disconnect the Positive & Negative cables from the batteries as soon as I parked it at storage. That was a sure thing.

Until you get a battery disconnect set up should you not have one.

CaptnJohn · 05-13-2017, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BooBoo23

This is what I installed. Mounted right on top of the battery box.

I installed a similar switch along with a 2nd battery. After 2 1/2 months still a near full charge.
Sad your orientation did not go well. Never sign papers until you are 100% satisfied. CW spent nearly 3 hours on our psi and was much more in depth than we needed. Never let anyone rush you through that. I tried to hurry them as this is far from my 1st.
Yes, not good to discharge. Remove cables, open water level fill caps, and use a battery charger. Much more efficient.

DouglasReid · 05-13-2017, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerwilson

Thanks Scott!!! One more follow-up question. What do people do to keep the batteries from dying on a regular basis? Unfortunately I can't keep it at my house so I have to put it in storage during the week when we are not using it. So it is inevitable that the batteries will die. What do people do to get around this? Thx. Jeremy

READ the thread suggested earlier, but in the meantime, when you park it, disconnect the NEGATIVE battery cable. It will not spark like the positive one would and NO current can leave the battery if it is disconnected. When you return, reconnect Neg cable and your battery should be near the state of charge you left itwhen you parked and disconnected it

aceinspp · 05-13-2017, 02:06 PM

Being that you have a new tt chances are you have a disconnect switch and this could be turned off indicating dead battery. Check to see if you have one and if so check to see if it is in the on or off position. Later RJD

ScottBrownstein · 05-13-2017, 02:16 PM

Unfortunately you got a less than ideal walk through but chances are you wouldn't have known the right questions to ask anyway and the person who did it wouldn't necessarily know the answers.

First...the negative cable might give a small spark if the positive cable does, no problem just means that some current is flowing. If you do not want to leave the TT plugged in all the time then a disconnect switch on the negative cable is best. If you already have one on the positive side, there are still probably a few things that do not go through that switch and your batteries will go dead in a week or so. I bet your battery wasn't that well charged off the lot so you went dead in two days. You have a converter that charges the battery from shore power and it should keep everything up to snuff even if you are plugged into a regular AC outlet with an adapter. You should know that if you use the disconnect switch, it will prevent your converter from charging the battery when disconnected. You will probably still have 12 volts in the TT from the converter and lights and other things will work, but the batteries are not connected so the converter can't charge them.

You shouldn't need a separate trickle charger as your converter should have a trickle mode the automatically drops the voltage to keep the batteries in good shape.

If you disconnect the negative or positive cable, the battery should be fine at least for a month, as long as it was charged when you disconnected it.

Finally, this isn't rocket science even though it may seem to be right now.

wbell · 05-13-2017, 10:56 PM

I have been taking the house battery out of the RV and putting on trickle charge in my garage. A lot of boat owners I know do this with their boat battery. By doing this I know the battery is charged when I go to use.

Joelhughes · 05-13-2017, 11:14 PM

There is multiple things that'll draw from the battery. A battery disconnect is a good start. You can get the clamp style directly to the battery (easiest) or the hard way, mounting, running cable etc. Harbor freight has a 1.5 watt solar charger $12. Plug that in (alligator clamps) and throw it in a window or an inconspicuous location. Obviously, have a battery disconnect. Keeps mine topped off! And if it gets stolen, only out $12

poddy47p · 05-14-2017, 07:37 AM

There is a power switch by our door,by awning button,turn power off,on,we have been doing this for 3 yrs,no problems

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