Cedar creek drains battery

[snippitts]

Have a 2014 cedar Creek fifth wheel. Can someone take a picture of the electrical panel and post? We have changed dead batteries 3 times and think it might be wired wrong! Help!!

[Reverse_snowbird]

Perhaps you could share a little more information to help us help you?
How frequently have you had to charge the batteries? What electrical panel are you referring to? Can you post a picture of your panel?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by snippitts

Have a 2014 cedar Creek fifth wheel. Can someone take a picture of the electrical panel and post? We have changed dead batteries 3 times and think it might be wired wrong! Help!!

Probably might help if you posted the model number since you didn't list it in your profile.

[snippitts]

Don’t know how to post picture! The panel is in the front storage of the fifth wheel. Next to the batteries

[lbrjet]

When you are not using it simply remove the negative battery terminal. Easy fix to your problem. You can also install a battery disconnect switch. If your battery is going dead while using it and hooked up to shore power then your converter is bad.

[Jim34RL]

To post a picture you need to use the advance feature at the bottom of the posting message. Follow the prompts.

Now I have a 2016 Cedar Creek, when in storage the batteries would drain if I let the trailer sit for a month when not in use. After the first time that I went to the trailer and the battery was dead. I installed a very cheap battery disconnect device on the negative cable. I purchase this from NAPA. This disconnect device along with the battery disconnect switch, insures that there is no parasitic losses to the battery when in storage.

But, as others have stated if your battery is being drain when in use check out your converter!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

When you are not using it simply remove the negative battery terminal. Easy fix to your problem. You can also install a battery disconnect switch. If your battery is going dead while using it and hooked up to shore power then your converter is bad.

A Cedar Creek should already have a factory battery disconnect switch.

[mnoland30]

I'm always amazed at how much drain there is on the battery while it is in storage. Seems like a poor design to me. The battery disconnect is the right answer, but mine didn't come with one, so I added one from Harbor Freight.

[tomkatb]

A charged set of batteries should discharge 5-7% Per month with the disconnect open. Likely the same percentage daily if not disconnected.

I would look for DIY wiring. Or something goofy from the factory.

A voltmeter you trust is the ticket.

[SlowrideHD]

Originally Posted by bikendan

A Cedar Creek should already have a factory battery disconnect switch.

It certainly does but the switch doesn't remove all parasitic drains from the battery bank. Before I added extra capacity to my battery bank, my single 12 volt battery would be dead in less than 10 days, even with the factory disconnect switch turned to off.

[camaraderie]

Batteries can discharge 10-15% a month in warm weather if sitting on a shelf unconnected. They will discharge far more than that if connected in a coach to the parasitic loads which are NOT all cut off by the mfr. battery disconnect switch. You must either remove the negative battery wire OR install a manual switch on that wire and use it when away from your unit.
Furthermore, many think that to charge batteries is an hour or two.
If they are half discharged...it will take at least 6 hours of plug in time or generator time to be regarged fully. If you do not fully recharge them EACH TIME ...or if you put them away partially discharged...they will die early. Battery murder is common. Keep em filled with nothing but distilled water too.
If you have already killed a couple of pairs of batteries ...suggest you invest in a REAL battery monitor like the Victron. Less than another pair of new ones and VERY useful.