RV Went dark, battery at 8, is it likely the inverter or a bad battery?

JR ETX

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Joined
Jan 14, 2025
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Location
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I have a 2017 Forest River Tracer about a year. Constantly have too much power and sets off the breaker. BUt, all power went off this morning when only a small heater was on. Checked the battery, was almost dead. RV has been in one place for over a year, and lease to own from the original owner who left it closed in direct sunlight in Texas for over a year. Many issues.

I'm new to this, what would be the suggested process to find out what the actual issue is?
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Its an unusual 50deg. here right now with lows expected below freezing. Thanks so much.
JR
 
Breakers tripping are not indicative of too much power. They are indicative of using more amps than the breaker is rated for. A small heater will de-pleat most batteries in a short period of time.

Firstly, what type and size battery do you have? An 8 volt battery reading is a dead battery and damaged battery.
 
Assuming only a 30 amp shore power supply.

Best place to start is the power source, the receptacles the shore power cord is plugged into. Is there power there or has the breaker protecting it tripped. If tripped it's possible all the previous overloads have degraded it.

If there's power at the receptacles then check cord. Is there power at the end that plugs into the trailer. Not unusual for the contacts at this end to burn due to max current being drawn for long periods.
If power present are trailer end of cord reconnect to trailer and now check at power distribution center/circuit breaker panel inside trailer.

Check input voltage to the circuit breaker bus where the wires from cord connection are attached. Romex with #10 awg wire, A black wire connected to c/b bus and a white wire connected to a neutral bus. If no power here; and power to end of cord at input receptacle, input receptacle is most likely has burnt connections to Romex wire and needs to be replaced.

If not familiar with 120 volt ac wiring it is highly recommended to find someone who is. Learning how without proper training can be a shocking experience that could end not well.
 
As titan mike said you have to check out the shore power first.

Then the 12 volt system. Easy. first test the battery at the posts with a voltmeter which you may have done already. Shore power off. fill up cells with distilled water if necessary. Then test the battery after you plug the shore power back on. Voltage will be over 13 volts if the converter is charging. Will take 24 hours to recharge.

You have a ways to go.

The rv should have been winterized. The propane tanks should be full.

To check them you weigh them on a good scale or use the hot water test. Dribble hot water down the tank slowly. Read the temperatures with an infrared thermometer scanning down in the water area. A handy $30 tool. Where it suddenly drops is the level.

2 Little electric heaters will cause water lines to freeze. The furnace must operate if you did not winterize.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum, I see it is your 1st post.

Your R/V has TWO different power systems. One that supplies current to 120v AC items and the source comes from your shore power cord plugged in to the pedestal.
The other is a 12v DC system and that current is supplied by the battery.

I suggest you read up on these two systems. The "12v side of life" is good reading and is in the library here on the forum.

As mentioned, if it's going to get below freezing for any length of time, running electric heaters will help keep YOU warm but won't provide heat to areas of the R/V where water pipes/pumps typically are housed. You need to be sure your furnace works and you have a good battery and that the CONverter is charging it when plugged into shore power. And plenty of propane!
 
Having owned a 2016 Tracer, I doubt that your trailer has an INverter.
All RVs come with CONverters, few come with INverters.
It would help if you posted what model number your Tracer is
 
As others have said, IF you are plugged into a 30/50 amp 'shore power' at an rv park, you've probably tripped a circuit breaker in your electrical panel (near the floor of your rig.) We've done it when we plugged in a space heater on high. We quickly learned to plug it in and operate it on low.
If it's not that, you might have to have the office check the fuse in the power pole.

You've got a big problem coming if you still live in the Tyler, TX area as indicated on your profile.
You've got a 'pipe bursting' event with temperatures in the low 20's and not rising above freezing on Monday.
You need to stock up on bottled water for drinking, cooking, washing up, and toilet flushing. A long rug runner for the floor and a heavy duty sleeping bag will help.
Then you need to 'winterize' your rig with rv antifreeze.
If you haven't used the furnace yet, fill the propane bottles and test the furnace. Your space heater will help, but it's going to have difficulty keep up with those cold temps.
 

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