Battery drain

[steph45601]

When you have no shore power and your fiver is stored for a while how do you not drain the battery? We flipped the main breaker but the Co monitor is still on and so is the power to the sound bar. There is a battery disconnect in one of the compartments but it doesn't seem to do anything that I can figure. We are taking the camper in for warranty work and want to have everything properly shut down so the battery doesn't die for the deal
Ed. There has to be something I don't know. Never had this with our MH.

[steph45601]

I guess I should've mentioned we have a 2016 Sierra 371 REBH

[SeaDog]

Removing the rig from shore power and switching the battery disconnect off should remove all power from the rig.

[denali15]

The battery disconnect only turns off / disconnects the inverter and not power to the unit. This was confirmed with FR engineers.

I installed a separate disconnect on the batteries. This way I can totally turn the power off to the unit.

[PSEYFRIED]

I always pull my battery out completely when j bring it in for warranty since it is usually there for a while in the winter. I keep it on a trickle charger. When the dealer needs to open the slides they use a jump box or spare battery to do the work they need.

[Mikep-sc]

I have the same problem with my 2016 Sierra. Appears as if the built-in battery switch only cuts of the inverter. After several weeks of being in storage, my battery's are completely discharged. I like the battery cut off switch you installed however I hesitate to do this because of its effect on the six point leveling system. In my old 5th Wheel Cougar, if the battery was disconnected, I'd receive an RF Jack error which indicates a power failure. My question is, on the Forest River units, in my case a Sierra, does a battery disconnect affect the leveling system (memory)?
Thanks.

[chop249]

Originally Posted by Mikep-sc

I have the same problem with my 2016 Sierra. Appears as if the built-in battery switch only cuts of the inverter. After several weeks of being in storage, my battery's are completely discharged. I like the battery cut off switch you installed however I hesitate to do this because of its effect on the six point leveling system. In my old 5th Wheel Cougar, if the battery was disconnected, I'd receive an RF Jack error which indicates a power failure. My question is, on the Forest River units, in my case a Sierra, does a battery disconnect affect the leveling system (memory)?
Thanks.

Are you referring to the return to start with auto level? I've found that even with the return to start I always have to adjust to get the correct hitching height. I wouldn't worry about it and put the disconnect in. I have the switch, I just need to make time to go get the cables I need to finish the install.

[Mikep-sc]

Appreciate your response Chop249. I'll install a battery disconnect on the neutral side of the battery and I'm sure that will put.this issue to rest. As far as the LCI Leveling System is concerned, in my old Cougar, whenever I disconnected the battery or it went dead, I'd receive an error message on the Leveling Panel to that effect. I had to reset the unit by dropping all the jacks at least 9" to allow the automatic leveling function to work. Not a big deal, by a pain. Was just wondering if this was the case on my 2016 Sierra. I'll soon find out when this disconnect is installed. Thanks again for your advice. Much appreciated.

[270S]

Originally Posted by denali15

The battery disconnect only turns off / disconnects the inverter and not power to the unit. This was confirmed with FR engineers.

I installed a separate disconnect on the batteries. This way I can totally turn the power off to the unit.

Attachment 103513

LOOK at your picture. You have hot wired items not controlled by the disconnect switch - Those will drain. Move them to the other side of the disconnect switch. RV manufacturers have them there for Liability & Lawyer reasons, they don't care if you drain.

[Mikep-sc]

FR engineering confirmed that completely cutting off battery current will not have an effect on the leveling system. They stated the RF Jack... error I received with my old unit was indicative of a trying to operate the system with a low voltage (battery almost discharged) condition and not a total battery disconnect.

[CHICKDOE]

i have the lippert 6 point leveling system. I totally disconnect it from the battery using a disconnect switch I installed. i have not had any problems with it when i reconnect 12 volt power. one thing i like is that i am forced to reconnect 12 volt power in order to use the levelers to raise the trailer to hook up. this way i am assured that i have good 12 volt power for the break away switch when i hook up and tow.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

i have the lippert 6 point leveling system. I totally disconnect it from the battery using a disconnect switch I installed. i have not had any problems with it when i reconnect 12 volt power. one thing i like is that i am forced to reconnect 12 volt power in order to use the levelers to raise the trailer to hook up. this way i am assured that i have good 12 volt power for the break away switch when i hook up and tow.

X2.

In reply to a previous post: I also had the return to unhitch height​ 'problems'. Found out I was creating my own problems. The return function actually returns to the height​ that the last auto level was invoked at. Since I always take most of the weight off the truck so it doesn't 'pop up' so much when driving out from under the king pin, and THEN invoke Auto level, it always returns too high for the next hitch.

[chop249]

I just installed my disconnect switch today. I've been meaning to get to it. Here you go:
Installing an RV Battery Disconnect Switch - Long Winding Roads

[Houseboater -2- Camper]

Works great, no more dead battery !!!!!