Battery Drain

[RFowler265]

I have a 2009 Jayco 31.5 FBHS that I have owned for a almost a year now. There are 2 RV batteries in it. When I got it, I noticed that the batteries would drain when it was sitting there for some time not being used. That made sense, because there is always some items that slowly drain a battery over time (microwave clock, etc.). To solve this, I put a disconnect switch in and that works well.

However, I plugged my RV into a 30 amp plug at my house because we needed to use it while my house was being tented for termites. Through the process, the trailer was plugged in for a few weeks. When I disconnected the plug, I found that the trailer batteries were dead again. I had forgotten to disconnect the disconnect, however, shouldn't the fact that it was plugged in caused the batteries to charge? Am I not understanding how those batteries charge?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Robert

[wags999]

Originally Posted by RFowler265

I have a 2009 Jayco 31.5 FBHS that I have owned for a almost a year now. There are 2 RV batteries in it. When I got it, I noticed that the batteries would drain when it was sitting there for some time not being used. That made sense, because there is always some items that slowly drain a battery over time (microwave clock, etc.). To solve this, I put a disconnect switch in and that works well.

However, I plugged my RV into a 30 amp plug at my house because we needed to use it while my house was being tented for termites. Through the process, the trailer was plugged in for a few weeks. When I disconnected the plug, I found that the trailer batteries were dead again. I had forgotten to disconnect the disconnect, however, shouldn't the fact that it was plugged in caused the batteries to charge? Am I not understanding how those batteries charge?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Robert

Not necessarily. The disconnect isolates the battery from everything in the RV, including from being charged. On another note, most RV batteries only last 2 to 3 years. So if these are original you may want to get them checked at an auto supply store and see if they are still good.

The batteries do charge when plugged into shore power, but, by turning the disconnect off, you isolated them so they could not charge.

Good Luck.

[RVhiker]

If the disconnect is installed between the converter power and the batteries, the batteries will not be charged when the disconnect is "OFF".

However, a disconnect can be installed between the power sources and your 12 volt distribution/fuse box; installed here, the disconnect would not disconnect your batteries from your converter and the batteries would still charge if the converter is powered. In my opinion, this is the best location for a disconnect, although the install is probably a bit more difficult. With the disconnect 'OFF' my landing legs still work and my brake disconnect switch still has power but all other electrical items are off; some may not like this arrangement because not all electrical items are disconnected from the battery.

[RoyBraddy]

I suspect your 2009 model trailer has a non-smart mode converter/charger installed and it will always put out 13.6VDC. Just using 13.6VDC for a long extended time here at my location tends to boil out my battery fluids. If I am doing this I always keep a close eye on my battery fluids and not let the fluid level get below the top of the cores inside the battery.

I replaced my older ELIXIR converter with a PD 9200 series converter/charger and that solved that problem for me leaving my trailer plugged into shore power all the time. I still check my battery fluids now but it is out of habit I guess... All is fine now with the battery fluids every time I check them...

Roy Ken