Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-05-2016, 04:43 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bedford
Posts: 2
Battery Drain

We have are new owners of a 2005 J21 JFeather. Is it to be expected that the battery would die after a month of being stored in the driveway? The only thing I can see that would be drawing power would be the LPG Detector, Microwave display panel, and the am/fm Radio. The battery is new, as we bought it during our labor day camping trip.


Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
rgarey458 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 05:22 AM   #2
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
In between outings, you need to pull the main fuse located by the batteries. Your battery will last months without a charge if you do that. If you do not have a main fuse by the battery, disconnect the negative terminal.

A battery cut off switch is what a lot of members have installed between the batteries negative terminal and the frame connection.

Don
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 05:25 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
Posts: 1,560
Most likely the battery will drain faster than that. I would suggest that you connect to a 120v source while parked in the driveway. That will keep the battery charged. Just be careful as to what else you turn on due to the amp rating of the circuit you use.
__________________
2004 Jay Feather 25E
2001 Ford Expedition 4X4 EB 5.4 3.55 rear
2004 Ford Expedition 4X4 EB 5.4 3.73 rear
bedrck46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 05:32 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bedford
Posts: 2
Ok good to know, should I disconnect and bring the battery inside during winter storage? We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
rgarey458 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 06:29 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
us71na's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,071
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65 View Post
If you do not have a main fuse by the battery, disconnect the negative terminal.

Don
Just for curiosity, if you are going to disconnect a terminal, why the negative terminal. Why not just disconnect the positive terminal?
__________________
2011 Skylark 21FKV
us71na is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 06:33 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Mid-Mi
Posts: 1,492
Welcome and congrats on the rig!!!

As mentioned, unhook the battery in some way to prevent the drain. I mounted a Blue Sea mini switch to the battery box (bought a group 27 box) to make it easier to do so. Info and pics in my signature mods link.

Storing the battery inside can help over the winter. I actually left mine in last year with the switch turned off, and was good to go when I picked the trailer up from its inside winter nap.
__________________
Bubba J- '13 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT CCSB 4x4 6.0

'16 Jay Flight 32 BHDS ELITE 32 BHDS MODS Reese DC HP

WDH SET UP. HOW A WDH WORKS. CAT SCALE HOW TO.
need-a-vacation is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 06:45 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
mike837go's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by us71na View Post
Just for curiosity, if you are going to disconnect a terminal, why the negative terminal. Why not just disconnect the positive terminal?
It's a safety thing.

If your wrench contacts something grounded while disconnecting the negative lead, no sparks.
__________________
TT 2015 19RD "TheJayco"
TV 2003 F-350 "Montblanc" - Housebroken chore truck


Sitting in The Cheap Seats.
And proud of it!
mike837go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 08:59 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,036
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgarey458 View Post
Ok good to know, should I disconnect and bring the battery inside during winter storage? We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Storing it indoors away from freezing weather is suggested as well as storing it with a full charge applied.
abarkl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 09:24 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Jagiven's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,737
There are lots of parasite drains on the battery. The microwave only works when connected to shore power, so no parasite drain there. When we are at home I plug in using an adaptor. This allows me to run the refrigerator, lights and keep the battery healthy. If we store it anywhere without power, we pull the inline fuse at the battery. Otherwise you can install a battery disconnect switch, which is easier to flip than pulling the battery cover.

One thing to remember. The battery is required while towing, as it powers the emergency brakes during a breakaway situation.

Deep cycle batteries do require maintenance. A couple times a year, you need to pull the caps and check the fluid levels. They need to be at the bottom of the plastic, and always covering the cells. If you need to add fluid ONLY use DISTILLED water. Tap water will kill the battery due to the minerals. I check my batteries when I pull them off the TT in the fall, and once midsummer. I also put them on the battery maintainer a couple times during the winter just to ensure they are fully charged.
__________________

2012 Jayco X23B
2020 Ram Laramie 3500 SRW Air ride 50Gal fuel tank.
2007 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (sold)
Equal-I-zer 4-Point Sway Control
Jagiven is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 12:09 PM   #10
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
Here is the USBattery care documentation for you to look over.

Don
Attached Thumbnails
Battery Care 1.jpg   Battery Care 2.jpg   Battery Care 3.jpg  
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 01:03 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
wanderlust's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 709
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgarey458 View Post
Ok good to know, should I disconnect and bring the battery inside during winter storage? We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
I put my batteries in the garage during the winter and connect a Deltran Battery Tender to keep them topped-off and happy.
__________________
wan-der-lust (noun) | 'wändǝr,lǝst | a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel

wan-der-lust's YouTube Channel and Instagram

wanderlust is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 01:09 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
wanderlust's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 709
You can also install a disconnect switch; I put one on a battery box cover.
__________________
wan-der-lust (noun) | 'wändǝr,lǝst | a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel

wan-der-lust's YouTube Channel and Instagram

wanderlust is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 01:56 PM   #13
Site Team
 
FPM III's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fayette Ridges of PA, USA
Posts: 5,252
Another possible phantom draw is the antenna amplifier if you accidentally left it on. It's easy to do.
__________________
MODERATOR

TV: 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD | Crew Cab | Std. Box | 4WD | Duramax/Allison
RV: 2000 Jayco Eagle 266 | FBS | TT
PREVIOUS: 1986 Coleman Laramie pop-up -- Still in the family!!!

FPM III is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 01:59 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Camper_bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
Quote:
Originally Posted by FPM III View Post
Another possible phantom draw is the antenna amplifier if you accidentally left it on. It's easy to do.
BTDT. It is easy to do!
__________________

-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
Camper_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 02:16 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
wanderlust's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 709
Quote:
Originally Posted by FPM III View Post
Another possible phantom draw is the antenna amplifier if you accidentally left it on. It's easy to do.
Do it ALL the time.
__________________
wan-der-lust (noun) | 'wändǝr,lǝst | a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel

wan-der-lust's YouTube Channel and Instagram

wanderlust is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2016, 03:22 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 885
As long as the battery is fully charged before you put it away you are better off leaving it out in the cold as the self discharge will be much slower than in a warmer environment. A charged battery won't freeze.

If you are planning on putting it on a battery tender or charger once in a while it is probably better off in your garage.

And yes a battery will run out of juice after a couple weeks due to the various constant draws of a travel trailer. I always chuckle when I pick up our trailer at the ever present beeping from other trailers due to dead batteries.

Cheers
__________________
2014 Jayco Swift 281BHS, 300W Solar!
2015 F250 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab, Short box, 6.2 gas
Subaru297 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2016, 08:53 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
us71na's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,071
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go View Post
It's a safety thing.

If your wrench contacts something grounded while disconnecting the negative lead, no sparks.
I use the screw post terminals and have a wing nut on the positive post so I can remove the leads without tools. Plus the battery compartment is plastic so nothing to contact to produce a short.
__________________
2011 Skylark 21FKV
us71na is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2016, 09:01 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
mike837go's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by us71na View Post
I use the screw post terminals and have a wing nut on the positive post so I can remove the leads without tools. Plus the battery compartment is plastic so nothing to contact to produce a short.
It's just a carryover from automotive work. Where the battery is in the engine bay, the connectors are lumps of lead, the fasteners use a 1/2" wrench and there is grounded metal everywhere!

An excellent habit to get into was disconnect the ground lead first. (Positive on certain non-compliant manufacturers.)

When all of the surroundings are plastic, it doesn't matter which side you disconnect. Personally, I'd choose the side with the fewest wires to have to reconnect.
__________________
TT 2015 19RD "TheJayco"
TV 2003 F-350 "Montblanc" - Housebroken chore truck


Sitting in The Cheap Seats.
And proud of it!
mike837go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2016, 09:11 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Camper_bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go View Post
snip...

Personally, I'd choose the side with the fewest wires to have to reconnect.
That's why I do the negative first. And I also use wing nuts on my battery leads so I don't have to go hunting for a wrench every time I remove it for storage. Fewer wires (just one) equals less arcing equals better for everything/everyone. Of course, it would probably be better to have a disconnect (kind of the same concept of flipping the breaker before you plug in shore power), but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I will probably add one when I upgrade my battery bank.
__________________

-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
Camper_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2016, 11:48 AM   #20
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Spokane Valley
Posts: 55
My solution....
Attached Thumbnails
Golf Batterries with Switch.jpg  
__________________
2016 Jayco White Hawk 27DSRL


Current: 2012 GMC 2500HD Denali
Sold: 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
Danjo61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.