Battery Question

[phil435]

2022 2318G. I haven't checked to see if this pop up has a battery disconnect but I assume that when you are connected to shore power then the rectifier is charging the battery? Also, do folks disconnect the battery when not camping and add a trickle charger?

[flyerdp]

Originally Posted by phil435

2022 2318G. I haven't checked to see if this pop up has a battery disconnect but I assume that when you are connected to shore power then the rectifier is charging the battery? Also, do folks disconnect the battery when not camping and add a trickle charger?

Yes the battery should be getting charged by the WFCO power converter (where the breakers are). I have a battery disconnect on mine, I used to take off the battery terminal.

Several things draw power even while closed which is why you want to disco. the battery.

I use a battery maintainer to keep it charged while not in use. Was a fathers day gift last year

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by flyerdp

Yes the battery should be getting charged by the WFCO power inverter (where the breakers are). I have a battery disconnect on mine, I used to take off the battery terminal.



I use a battery maintainer to keep it charged while not in use. Was a fathers day gift last year

Shouldn't that be CONverter, not INverter?
I wasn't aware that any FR popups came with an inverter.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

[Reverse_snowbird]

You can either trickle charge the battery or if you don't have electricity, disconnect the negative cable. Personally on our tt, wepreferred disconnecting the negative cable. Less worry about remembering to restart the battery maintainer in case of power failure.

[flyerdp]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Shouldn't that be CONverter, not INverter?
I wasn't aware that any FR popups came with an inverter.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

My mistake... converter for 120vAC to 12vDC inverter from 12vdc to 120vac.

[phil435]

Thanks for all the replies! I will look at the battery disconnect. I will put an ammeter on it this afternoon to see what kind of drain I am seeing from the load.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by phil435

Thanks for all the replies! I will look at the battery disconnect. I will put an ammeter on it this afternoon to see what kind of drain I am seeing from the load.

As I said in post #3, FR popups don't have factory battery disconnect switches unless that changed for the 2022 models.
Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

[flyerdp]

Originally Posted by bikendan

As I said in post #3, FR popups don't have factory battery disconnect switches unless that changed for the 2022 models.
Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

I suspect he was going to "Look in to" battery disconnects

[caheaton]

Looks like the other posts have you covered, but I might as well reply too. :-)

We have the same camper (2021 2318G). No disconnect switch, but I've run an extension cord to the battery box from an outside outlet and keep a Battery Tender Jr. connected to the battery when the camper isn't in use. It's a smart charger, so no worries about overcharging. The tender gets disconnected from time to time when it's needed elsewhere, but it doesn't hurt the camper's battery if the charger is left off for a few days and then the charger restored.

[Freedom2318G]

I recently added a battery disconnect switch to the side of my battery box along with an SAE port on the box. I park it in the garage, flip the switch, then plug in my battery tender to the SAE port. I'm also now using that port for my solar. My "solar on the side" is up front, down low, behind the propane tanks and battery so it's kind of a pain to get to. And its polarity is reversed from standard SAE ports (which isn't a huge deal really).

[Mike91]

There is no battery disconnect or external fuse to use as a battery disconnect. There is only the battery fuse in the converter's fuse panel.

So I just disconnect the battery cable from the negative. Forest River's video shows disconnecting the battery when it's not in use.

I definitely disconnect the battery cable with having the power lift system as someone activating the switch while the roof is clamped down, can damage the lift system severely.

I use the converters battery charger and works great. No sense in using an external battery charger when there's one built in.

[Freedom2318G]

Originally Posted by Mike91

There is no battery disconnect or external fuse to use as a battery disconnect. There is only the battery fuse in the converter's fuse panel.

So I just disconnect the battery cable from the negative. Forest River's video shows disconnecting the battery when it's not in use.

I definitely disconnect the battery cable with having the power lift system as someone activating the switch while the roof is clamped down, can damage the lift system severely.

I use the converters battery charger and works great. No sense in using an external battery charger when there's one built in.

But you can't use the converters battery charger if you have the battery disconnected.

[Mike91]

Originally Posted by Freedom2318G

But you can't use the converters battery charger if you have the battery disconnected.

In that case I leave the power lift system cable disconnected from the battery but leave the camper electrical system connected to the battery since I don't have to worry about battery drainage and ultimately battery cell warpage.