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09-13-2016, 09:58 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 106
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Typical battery drain ?
We have a new Cruise Lite 171rbxl which we took out over the Labor Day weekend. We were connected to shore power the entire time and the battery showed full charged when we left the campground. We parked the trailer on Monday afternoon.
On the following Saturday, I checked the battery level and it showed 2/3 charged. Is this normal ? I would have expected to see it still fully charged.
Is disconnecting the ground the only way to prevent any power drain ? And is that advisable ?
__________________
Allan and Angie
with our little dog Phoebe
________________________
2018 Hemisphere 272rl
2017 Ford F250 XLT 4x2 6.2L 3.73
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09-13-2016, 10:19 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 1,075
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I suggest installing a power cutoff switch. There are parasitic drains on the battery such as smoke and LP detectors.
__________________
Lee and Anne
2016 F250 2WD CC SB XLT 6.2 3,295 lb payload cap.
2014 Salem Hemisphere 282RK 8k lbs loaded, Equal-i-zer WDH, TST 507 TPMS
2021: 35 nights already booked so far
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09-13-2016, 10:27 AM
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#3
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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It's possible you have a battery disconnect
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09-13-2016, 11:18 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 106
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
It's possible you have a battery disconnect
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There is not one around the battery. I'll have to trace the cable down to find out !!!
__________________
Allan and Angie
with our little dog Phoebe
________________________
2018 Hemisphere 272rl
2017 Ford F250 XLT 4x2 6.2L 3.73
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09-13-2016, 11:56 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,847
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If you don't keep the trailer plugged into shore power or install a battery disconnect switch, your battery will be dead in a few days.
__________________
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
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09-13-2016, 12:32 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 593
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Might also want to have the batteries load tested to make sure you are getting full capacity.
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09-13-2016, 12:46 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 8
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power
You should put the disconnect switch on the positive side of the battery.
David & Janet
2016 Vibe
2015 GMC Sierra
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09-13-2016, 01:08 PM
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#8
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1+ Yrs of Trailering :0)
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern California
Posts: 17
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A power cutoff switch is crucial. Without one you have no other choice than to disconnect the battery when not using the trailer or you need to install one. This switch was included in our trailer.
Another possibility is that you have a bad battery, which was our experience after buying a new Rockwood 2504S. The battery would not hold a charge and we couldn't get two days out of it with minimal battery use. The dealer checked the battery, confirmed it was defective, and replaced it. We have not had a battery drain issue since it was replaced.
Just another joy of life with a RV :0)
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2016 Ford F150 XLT Supercrew 3.5L EcoBoost (Twin Turbo V6 w/Max Tow)
2015 Rockwood 2504S MiniLite
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09-13-2016, 01:57 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,275
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I agree that you need to use a battery cut off switch for storage. I wonder what you are using that tells you battery status? Many are not accurate. If your drain is higher than mine, the battery is bad, or your monitor is not accurate could explain a lot. Take a specific gravity reading (if not sealed type) after letting it rest ... with no load and not having been charged for several hours.. this you can do yourself but if you want an autoparts store test it, charge it well first.
WW
__________________
Hyper Lite was sold
2017 F-250 4x4 6.2L Gas
I can't fix everything, but I can make it so nobody else can
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09-13-2016, 02:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 1,460
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alarge1
On the following Saturday, I checked the battery level and it showed 2/3 charged. Is this normal ? I would have expected to see it still fully charged.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WolfWhistle
I wonder what you are using that tells you battery status? Many are not accurate.
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If you're using the "idiot lights" on the panel, it's far from accurate. From my experience on one or even two 12V systems, Full=plugged into shore power, good=anything over half discharged, fair=you've pretty much drained the battery to the point of hurting it's life span, and weak=you might as well toss it. The only time I've ever had the lights show full charge on battery alone was when I went to larger 6V and that only lasted a few hours with nothing running.
But, yeah...normally without being plugged in you can kill a battery in about a week with nothing more than the detectors running.
__________________
2015 Chevy Silverado LTZ - HD tow package
2017 Rockwood 2703WS Emerald Edition
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09-13-2016, 02:52 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dnjsellars
You should put the disconnect switch on the positive side of the battery.
David & Janet
2016 Vibe
2015 GMC Sierra
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Wondering why the positive side when most who want a for sure kill switch put it on the ground cable.
But here, problem solved. Put a WindyNation.com 100 watt solar system on the roof and never worry again about batteries.
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09-13-2016, 04:59 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 24
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Normal battery draw
The propane and CO detector if you have one will continuously draw power and drain your battery. I installed a battery cut-off switch to save the battery from fully draining. Even with a battery cut-off switch you should charge the battery once a month when in storage or get a trickle charger/maintainer.
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09-13-2016, 05:18 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 686
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Those battery cut-off switches are nice. If you need power when the TT is not in use, especially in the evening darker hours, just turn the switch and walah, you have power, instead of lugging the battery back to the TT. UGH!
As others said, there is parasitic drain on the batteries and these switches will help minimalize the drain, but still need to plug in to shore power periodically to maintain full capacity.
__________________
Rick & Brian
2023 Flagstaff 206STSE
2019 Flagstaff HW29SC ( sold )
2017 Salem Cruise Lite 232RBXL ( sold )
2014 Ford 150 XLT 5.0 2wd
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09-13-2016, 06:00 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,275
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I have four six volt GC-2s... at 65# each... lugging not possible but not necessary with 450w solar. I recently modified by cabling and adding a good 175A breaker... so the marine switch (1, 2, both or none switch) is no longer necessary. My point is that "cut off" was on the negative side. The breaker, now, is on the positive. My suggestion is that everyone get a Trimetric TM-2030 or a very good monitor. I don't know how I ever did without it. No more guessing! Its a fairly easy DIY project.
WW
__________________
Hyper Lite was sold
2017 F-250 4x4 6.2L Gas
I can't fix everything, but I can make it so nobody else can
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09-13-2016, 08:03 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,484
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I have the same trailer. No cutoff switch, so I installed one from amazon (on the negative post). You will need to install switch or remove ground cable. Great trailer, we love it!
Drop me a message if you have questions.
__________________
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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09-13-2016, 08:49 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 686
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody
I have the same trailer. No cutoff switch, so I installed one from amazon (on the negative post). You will need to install switch or remove ground cable. Great trailer, we love it!
Drop me a message if you have questions.
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Same here. Had no switch, watched a youtube video, purchased a switch, and installed to the Negative post as well. Works perfect! I know there are various types out there. Here are some pics showing the install and the Switch Key I have. Such a time saving gadget. Comes with 2 keys. I keep one hanging in the TT, for easy & quick access, due to the key has to remain in the switch to engage battery, otherwise the battery is disengaged when the key is taken out.
__________________
Rick & Brian
2023 Flagstaff 206STSE
2019 Flagstaff HW29SC ( sold )
2017 Salem Cruise Lite 232RBXL ( sold )
2014 Ford 150 XLT 5.0 2wd
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09-13-2016, 09:46 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom48
Wondering why the positive side when most who want a for sure kill switch put it on the ground cable.
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Ditto...especially when the most common cut off is specifically sized for the negative post and you can damage the battery by trying to MAKE it fit on the + side.
" Battery Master Disconnect Cut OFF Switch Brand new battery master disconnect kill switch and starter immobilizer for cars and trucks with Top Post batteries. This switch fits the slightly smaller negative post of all standard sized automotive top post batteries. "
__________________
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Cam
2015 Georgetown 280DS
2019 Vespa Primavera 150's (pair)
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09-14-2016, 07:34 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 106
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Good to hear that someone else has this same trailer. So far that is only 3 of us that I know of !!!
__________________
Allan and Angie
with our little dog Phoebe
________________________
2018 Hemisphere 272rl
2017 Ford F250 XLT 4x2 6.2L 3.73
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09-14-2016, 07:41 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,275
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__________________
Hyper Lite was sold
2017 F-250 4x4 6.2L Gas
I can't fix everything, but I can make it so nobody else can
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09-14-2016, 08:02 AM
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#20
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Happy Camper
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 295
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I just had a cutoff switch installed. I think all campers should come with them.
__________________
2021 Forest River Sabre 37FLL
Towed with 2019 Silverado 2500 HD
B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck hitch
Anderson Ultimate Connection 5th wheel hitch
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