Why when running battery ...

dcavaiani · 11-10-2016, 03:52 PM

Do many appliances and power outlets not work? Battery IS fully charged.

**ependydad** · 11-10-2016, 04:02 PM

Your camper has 2 distinct power systems - battery power (12v) and shore power (120v).

The appliances and power outlets are 120v and only work if you're plugged into electric.

The lights, heater, fridge (possibly), and camper systems (slides, jacks, etc.) are 12v and work off of the battery.

You can buy and install an inverter to convert 12v to 120v, but you have to be careful with usage. It can take a lot of battery power to power the simplest of appliances. Most camper's don't come with inverters but you can add it on.

**ependydad** · 11-10-2016, 04:08 PM

The 12v Side of Life might help you. This diagram does a pretty good job of explaining things:

It's overwhelming at first, but don't worry- it gets easier and clearer to understand as time goes on.

dcavaiani · 11-10-2016, 04:16 PM

Excellent Reply, Thank You!!

**bikendan** · 11-10-2016, 04:29 PM

Your dealer should have explained how the two different systems work.
Another example of poor dealer PDI.

Oaklevel · 11-10-2016, 04:49 PM

What they said !!!!

Lots of good info here if you are new welcome !!!!!!!!!

chop249 · 11-11-2016, 06:14 PM

Some of the newer units with residential fridges have inverters that will power those going down the road. They won't run on propane like the older RV fridges did. You'll have an INVERTER switch in your control panel by the front door. Good info on the BE CAREFUL aspect of adding your own for the other appliances. You need to calculate what each appliance will need Watts/Volts/Amps/Ohms conversion calculator and be aware that your batteries will not last very long. (Don't strand yourself with the slides open and jacks down.) If you dry camp a lot and need to have the inverter power you are going to need to add batteries to your system http://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/batterycon-1.pdf

dcavaiani · 11-11-2016, 06:34 PM

Ours is permanently parked, so not a big deal. A previous post explained exactly why we don't get power to certain devices/areas when running on just the battery. There is an inverter toggle on the control panel, but it is not activated. Just like two of the three slide out toggles, which are also not activated. The slide out issue, which is an unpredictable snafu, i.e., the random selection of the extending/retracting of a CERTAIN slide-out, is a real dilemma in my mind!

5picker · 11-11-2016, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcavaiani

Ours is permanently parked, so not a big deal. A previous post explained exactly why we don't get power to certain devices/areas when running on just the battery. There is an inverter toggle on the control panel, but it is not activated. Just like two of the three slide out toggles, which are also not activated. The slide out issue, which is an unpredictable snafu, i.e., the random selection of the extending/retracting of a CERTAIN slide-out, is a real dilemma in my mind!

You likely have hydraulically operated slides.
They are hooked in series through the hydraulic pump circuit.
The slide with the least amount of resistance will go in/out first and then the hydraulic circuit will start pushing/pulling the next of least resistance. The slide with the least resistance isn't always the same either. Depending on slide size, temperature, rain, dirt, etc. it could start with any of them.

dcavaiani · 11-11-2016, 07:06 PM

Interesting, and accurate for our camper, by not great logic by Forest-river! Just wonder if the cylinder reservoir will be less full when the slides are extended? We have no breather cap on the reservoir, and the TM fluid is only half full with the slide outs extended.

5picker · 11-11-2016, 07:14 PM

Yes the fluid from the reservoir fills the hydraulic cylinders (to push out the slides) and then returns when retracted. You should only check the level when all are retracted. The fill cap likely has a breather built into it.

dcavaiani · 11-11-2016, 07:24 PM

Thank you. I have no cap at all on the reservoir - wide open.

NMWildcat · 11-11-2016, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcavaiani

Thank you. I have no cap at all on the reservoir - wide open.

If I were you I would cover that ASAP. Don't want dirt/debris getting in there.

dcavaiani · 11-11-2016, 07:32 PM

Did so for now, put double layer of tin foil over the opening.

rracer5 · 11-11-2016, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

Your dealer should have explained how the two different systems work.
Another example of poor dealer PDI.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcavaiani

Interesting, and accurate for our camper, by not great logic by Forest-river! Just wonder if the cylinder reservoir will be less full when the slides are extended? We have no breather cap on the reservoir, and the TM fluid is only half full with the slide outs extended.

X2 on the dealer PDI.....how did they miss a missing cap!!!

**bikendan** · 11-11-2016, 08:11 PM

How did they not go over this stuff with the OP, including the mystery switches in the OP's other thread?
:what::thumbdown:

dcavaiani · 11-11-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

The 12v Side of Life might help you. This diagram does a pretty good job of explaining things:

It's overwhelming at first, but don't worry- it gets easier and clearer to understand as time goes on.

Do slide outs work with battery removed?

**ependydad** · 11-11-2016, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcavaiani

Do slide outs work with battery removed?

Maybe yes, maybe no. If you're not plugged into shore power (campsite) and don't have 12v- they definitely do not.

Your converter converts 120v to 12v and may operate the slides without a battery. My camper has a sticker that says "slides won't work without a battery" but I've never tried it.