Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-09-2016, 10:22 PM   #1
KFS
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3
Draining battery when plugged in? Help!

Super newbie here. We've owned a new to us 2006 Salem for all of 8 hours and already managed to end up in the dark!

Plugged in and all lights, fridge, slides, etc. worked. 9 hours later husband left lights on the surprise me. Surprise is that micro is on but lights are dead. Will work if plugged into fresh battery.

So common sense says its draining the batteries rather than using electrical.

Feel free to mock us (we are) but what should we look for first. The good news is our neighbor is an RV repairman but I'd rather not become the laughingstock of the neighborhood if we can help it (yet).


Previously owned a 1995 Fifth Wheel. We never bothered to have a battery. This is why we can't have nice things! 😆
KFS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 04:32 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
ilmor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
It the RV's master battery switch was off this would happen. It must be on so that the charger / converter can keep the batteries charged when connected to shore power.

Since you've run your battery all the way down, you should ideally remove it and get it fully charged. Also check its water levels.

I also recommend this good reading!

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)
__________________
former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0

ilmor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 04:44 AM   #3
World Wide Wanderer
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Sprung Leak, NC
Posts: 1,732
Sounds like either the converter breaker is turned off, blown fuse to the battery from the converter (there are two) or the converter is bad.

Easiest way to check is to plug the trailer in to house power, make sure all the breakers in the trailer are on and check the voltage at the battery. Anything under about 13.5 volts DC means no power getting to the battery to charge it up. The fact that the microwave was on and the lights were dead says there is zero output from the converter. So fuses or bad converter or possibly a bad connection. Time for the dealer to step up and fix it ASAP.

Aaron
__________________
Aaron & Rhonda
wahoonc & Airangel60

2016 Coachmen Concord 300DS
2015 Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 06:02 AM   #4
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,604
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilmor View Post
It the RV's master battery switch was off this would happen. It must be on so that the charger / converter can keep the batteries charged when connected to shore power.

Since you've run your battery all the way down, you should ideally remove it and get it fully charged. Also check its water levels.

I also recommend this good reading!

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)
that year trailer didn't have a factory battery disconnect switch, unless a previous owner installed one.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 06:53 AM   #5
clr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hawkins, Texas
Posts: 1,243
If the unit had a battery disconnect and it was pulled the lights that are mostly DC powered in most units would not have worked in the first place. Most converters will still produce DC power even without a battery installed. So if no DC power the converter is the problem, check the AC breaker for the converter, also check the 30-40 DC output fuses (reverse polarity). Press the battery test button on the holding tank check panel, if all the lights are lit then the converter is putting out DC if not there is a problem with the converter.
__________________
Chuck & Sandra
Engineer/Teacher
2010 F350 CC 6.4
2015 Prime Time Sanibel 3601
clr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 07:48 AM   #6
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
She said that it was plugged in and to begin with everything worked. Then later, only the microwave light was on (probably all the 120 volt stuff works).

So here's what I take from it. The battery was good and supplying 12 volt power to the unit. The converter wasn't charging the battery.

Either the converter is bad, or the converter breaker is open (tripped), or there's a loose connection between the converter and battery. There could be a fuse in the line, but most of the time a blown fuse will prevent the battery from powering the RV.

The first thing to check is the converter breaker in the power panel.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 01:10 PM   #7
KFS
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3
It appears to have been a fuse.

$1

Appreciate all the input so much! We knew our old unit inside and out. Familiarizing ourselves with this one is a priority and all your assistance is appreciated!
KFS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 01:32 PM   #8
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Thanks for coming back and letting us know what it was.

I'm glad it was an inexpensive fix at least. Here's hoping all your troubles are as easily and cheaply fixed.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2016, 05:15 PM   #9
Member
 
milvet33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 55
Battery

Make sure that your battery disconnect switch is in the on position.
milvet33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, drain

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:21 PM.