Opps...i pulled the brake-away switch ....

[D-mo]

This is kinda funny, kinda expensive, yet something i think i should share with you .. you can all laugh and point later ... , but im sure its happened to someone else out there in RV land.
So I take the Aframe up a day before my wife comes camping to set it up, grab in some good fishing .. and enjoy a nice evenings fire, with good book and a glass or two of vino.
As I'm leveling out from front to back, I unknowingly pinch the brake-away wire under the front cranker post, causing it to dislodge, and turn the brakes on. I go throught the rest of the setup, leveling it back down in the front, side to side,ect. Solar is all set up .. Im ready for a nice evening.
I wake up the next morning to find the fantastic fan/create a breeze fans running very slowly ... and turning on the overhead lights i get just a dim reminder of once was ....
I jump out of bed ... ok .. well crawl ... and start trying to diagnose the problem. Dual 12volt deepcycles should not be killed overnight by two fantastic fans. I go out to check the batteries, and one is at 6.2 volts and the other is 9.5 ... definately a problem ..
So I pull the batteries out of the unit, take them down to the local garage, only to find both batteries are not true deep cycles, but some sort of RV/Marine battery not worthy of the price I paid for it at Canadian Tire/ and both have dead cells.
Back to the trailer i go ...after finding two new true deep cycles, thinking that i have solved the problem. When i was installing both batteries I just seemed to recollect a post here on using your brake away switch as kind of an electronic chocking device .. at one time or another ..
so reaching down .. i was able to freely pull the insert away from the switch .. therefore that brakes have been locked down for about 18 hrs. This was the source of my problems ....
So whatever you do ... do not ..
a) buy cheaper batteries particularly Nautaluis brand for inflated prices ..
b) get the brake-away wire under the front post of the trailer ...


hope my confession helps someone out there ...

d-mo

[Jeep4Two]

Sorry for your troubles. I'd never thought of that happening. My unhitching routine has me placing the cable around the top of the AFrame and hooding it to the bold on the WDH behind the propane tanks, so its up and out of the way.

I do that as a way to avoid tripping or stepping in it, but now to prevent accidental activation of the breakaway system

[neil.ervin]

I've not heard of the distinction 'true deep cycle'. How would I know which is good or bad?

Thx.

[Pooneil]

Originally Posted by neil.ervin

I've not heard of the distinction 'true deep cycle'. How would I know which is good or bad?

Thx.

There are combo deep cycle/marine starting batteries and "true" deep cycle batteries. Most dealers put combo batteries on campers. True deep cycle batteries are are made for RVs, trolling motors, solar power and motive application. They have heaver plates that should not be used for cranking.

Exide (now in restructuring) is one of the battery makers the makes both.

exide-nautilus-marine-deep-cycle

exide-nautilus-marine-dual-purpose

[Pooneil]

Originally Posted by D-mo

hope my confession helps someone out there ...

d-mo

Confession is good for the soul, particularly about SPUTS. I hope your's has a better one on the next trip.

[neil.ervin]

I run dual 6v deep cycle golf car batteries in series (giving me 12v). I've been told that these are the BEST batteries for heavy cycle use. Is this true? Golf carts lose a lot of their charge throughout a golfing day.

And how do I know that a battery is 'true deep cycle'. Salesfolks are not always honest...or knowledgeable..

Thx.

[Campwell]

Pulled my break-away on my first day of driving a 5th wheel. Lucky for me the dealer warned me ahead of time about the extra long cable on the Cedar Creek. I had planned to do something with it more long term when I got home with the new rig. I ended up pulling it out 2 times before I got home - extra long cable combined with a SuperGlide gliding and turning equals a pinched and pulled break-away.

The solution was a coiled break away cable and a large chain loop mounted on the unlatch arm on the hitch. This way the Pin Box and the moving part of the SuperGlide can move together. The coiled cable has a nice red plastic cover on it so I can see if it is in place from the rear view mirror.

[Pooneil]

Originally Posted by neil.ervin

I run dual 6v deep cycle golf car batteries in series (giving me 12v). I've been told that these are the BEST batteries for heavy cycle use. Is this true? Golf carts lose a lot of their charge throughout a golfing day.

That is my understanding too. It should give you a long battery life while dry camping.