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10-05-2016, 04:43 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bedford
Posts: 2
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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.
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10-05-2016, 05:22 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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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
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10-05-2016, 05:25 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
Posts: 1,560
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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
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10-05-2016, 05:32 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bedford
Posts: 2
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Ok good to know, should I disconnect and bring the battery inside during winter storage? We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
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10-05-2016, 06:29 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65
If you do not have a main fuse by the battery, disconnect the negative terminal.
Don
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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
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10-05-2016, 06:33 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Mid-Mi
Posts: 1,492
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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.
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10-05-2016, 06:45 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by us71na
Just for curiosity, if you are going to disconnect a terminal, why the negative terminal. Why not just disconnect the positive terminal?
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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!
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10-05-2016, 08:59 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,036
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgarey458
Ok good to know, should I disconnect and bring the battery inside during winter storage? We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
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Storing it indoors away from freezing weather is suggested as well as storing it with a full charge applied.
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10-05-2016, 09:24 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,769
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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.
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10-05-2016, 12:09 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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Here is the USBattery care documentation for you to look over.
Don
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10-05-2016, 01:03 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgarey458
Ok good to know, should I disconnect and bring the battery inside during winter storage? We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
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I put my batteries in the garage during the winter and connect a Deltran Battery Tender to keep them topped-off and happy.
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wan-der-lust (noun) | 'wändǝr,lǝst | a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel
wan-der-lust's YouTube Channel and Instagram
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10-05-2016, 01:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 709
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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
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10-05-2016, 01:56 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fayette Ridges of PA, USA
Posts: 5,252
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Another possible phantom draw is the antenna amplifier if you accidentally left it on. It's easy to do.
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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!!!
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10-05-2016, 01:59 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FPM III
Another possible phantom draw is the antenna amplifier if you accidentally left it on. It's easy to do.
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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)
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10-05-2016, 02:16 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FPM III
Another possible phantom draw is the antenna amplifier if you accidentally left it on. It's easy to do.
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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
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10-05-2016, 03:22 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 885
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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
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2014 Jayco Swift 281BHS, 300W Solar!
2015 F250 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab, Short box, 6.2 gas
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10-06-2016, 08:53 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go
It's a safety thing.
If your wrench contacts something grounded while disconnecting the negative lead, no sparks.
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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
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10-06-2016, 09:01 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by us71na
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.
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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!
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10-06-2016, 09:11 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go
snip...
Personally, I'd choose the side with the fewest wires to have to reconnect.
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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)
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10-06-2016, 11:48 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Spokane Valley
Posts: 55
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My solution....
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2016 Jayco White Hawk 27DSRL
Current: 2012 GMC 2500HD Denali
Sold: 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
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