Battery life - Page 2

AKRUEBBE · 03-22-2019, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Yes it is

Mine is a Whirlpool........but probably all the same.

Magnolia Tom · 03-22-2019, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

Mine is a Whirlpool........but probably all the same.

I need to go check. I thought it was Frigidaire but maybe it is whirlpool

Edit: yes it is Frigidaire gallery

Duke4857 · 03-22-2019, 08:21 PM

Was just thinking. (sometimes not a good thing) I have heard that a propane/electric refrigrator will keep things cold for 3 to 5 hours of traveling time if you do not open it. Will not a residential fridge do the same for a few hours? If you turn the fridge off will it conserve power until you get to camp or plugged in? Remember we have propane/ele fridge is all the I have experance with.

Magnolia Tom · 03-22-2019, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke4857

Was just thinking. (sometimes not a good thing) I have heard that a propane/electric refrigrator will keep things cold for 3 to 5 hours of traveling time if you do not open it. Will not a residential fridge do the same for a few hours? If you turn the fridge off will it conserve power until you get to camp or plugged in? Remember we have propane/ele fridge is all the I have experance with.

Yes. I will often travel with no inverter if it’s a short trip. The fridge actually stays cold. The freezer warms up to around 26-29 after 4 hours.

jasum · 03-23-2019, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Yes it is

You can make your refrigerator go into defrost. I think I sent that info to klassic at one time.

When I get a chance I'll see if I can find that again and send it to you.

Thinking if you put refrigerator in defrost mode the morning you leave on long trip (when still on shore power) it should not go into defrost mode again for a long time.

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 07:06 AM

That would be great Jack. Thanks

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 08:30 AM

I did a little research and learned you can manually switch the fridge into defrost mode by pressing and holding the fridge up and down buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds. Then the freezer temp will display “d” and fridge temp will display “f”

When in defrost mode, the fridge uses 5 amps according to my EMS display.

Now I need to see what happens when I disconnect from shore power and switch to inverter after manually starting the defrost mode. Does the fridge have a memory or timer? Maybe I need to have inverter on at same time so fridge doesn’t loose power?

Next I’m going to check the wiring, especially the ground, to the inverter and the 7 way

Hopefully I can travel with inverter on and not arrive at CG with dead batteries

2naEagle · 03-23-2019, 09:32 AM

Tom what is the voltage reading on the inverter with the truck plugged in and running? I'm thinking when I plug up to the truck it's around 13.4

2naEagle · 03-23-2019, 09:35 AM

I also keep my trailer plug in to shore power all the time when at home. I do not turn the inverter off. I was thinking it would automatically go to shore power when available.

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2naEagle

Tom what is the voltage reading on the inverter with the truck plugged in and running? I'm thinking when I plug up to the truck it's around 13.4

I’ve got some honey do chores to take care of but I’ll be testing the voltage later today. I also keep my trailer plugged in at home but I do not keep the inverter on. Maybe I should

AKRUEBBE · 03-23-2019, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

I’ve got some honey do chores to take care of but I’ll be testing the voltage later today. I also keep my trailer plugged in at home but I do not keep the inverter on. Maybe I should

Tom, I'm plugged in 24/7 and have NEVER shut off the inverter since taking delivery in April, 2018. I believe my inverter has a battery maintainer built into it............does that sound right.......I'm not the brightest star when it comes down to electronics

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

Tom, I'm plugged in 24/7 and have NEVER shut off the inverter since taking delivery in April, 2018. I believe my inverter has a battery maintainer built into it............does that sound right.......I'm not the brightest star when it comes down to electronics

Electronics is not my strong suit either Al [emoji23]

But I’d say if you’ve never shut it of in over a year, there’s got to be some kind of protection built in.

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 11:06 AM

Ok I snuck away from chores to do a quick test. Here are my results. Please feel free to make comments or suggestions

Voltage at truck 14.1
Voltage at Xantrex panel on shore power 13.4
Voltage plugged in and on shore 14.1
Voltage truck plugged in only 12.8

So, my problem seems to be getting all the power to the inverter

Edit

Just for grins I manually turned on the defrost and voltage dropped to 11.4

2naEagle · 03-23-2019, 11:23 AM

What's the voltage read on the Xantrex with nothing plugged in?

With the truck off plug in trailer. Start truck check voltage.
If it's not over 13 try working the brake controller manually and see if that works.
I have read something about a charging relay somewhere.

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 11:31 AM

Starts off at 13.1-13.2 but drops within 30 seconds to 12.8

I did check the level up control panel and voltage was similar but .2 higher

I did touch the brakes when plugged in (always use brakes getting out of my driveway too for that matter) so I’m guessing power was at the 7 way

**Mustang65** · 03-23-2019, 12:28 PM

The days of Ford just designing with a breaker for supplying 12VDC to the trailer are long gone. When I researched the towing circuit with Ford, they said that the cable feeding the trailer is not considered a charging cable any more, it is just to supply 12VDC to the trailer.

Take a look at my F150 album and look at the circuit for supplying power to the trailer.

Have fun!!!

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

Duke4857 · 03-23-2019, 01:16 PM

I was always under the impression that the "charge line" was just a trickel charge any way.
I before I had a gererator I would hook up jumper cables to the camp trailer batteries while the TV motor was running to charge the batteries while dry camping.
I will have to check the amps I get to the trailer plug now with the Ram 1500 we have just for giggles. I never checked the 1988 and 1990 Suburbans I had to see how many amps went back to the trailer.

Magnolia Tom · 03-23-2019, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang65

The days of Ford just designing with a breaker for supplying 12VDC to the trailer are long gone. When I researched the towing circuit with Ford, they said that the cable feeding the trailer is not considered a charging cable any more, it is just to supply 12VDC to the trailer.

Take a look at my F150 album and look at the circuit for supplying power to the trailer.

Have fun!!!

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

Don

Here’s what I’m thinking about...tell me what you think

Get some jumper cables and cut off the clamps.

On one end attach ring terminals to connect to truck battery. On the other end (ran to back bumper) attach Anderson connector.

Make a jumper wire to go from truck to trailer with Anderson plugs on each end.

Attach wire to trailer batteries using same procedure with ring terminals on battery side and Anderson connection on king pin side.

I could connect the jumper wire while towing and remove it when not needed.

WayneTaylor · 03-23-2019, 03:22 PM

All, I also do not shut down the inverter. My PDI was performed at the Jayco factory with one of their people. There was never a mention of a need to shut down the inverter for anything. My understanding was that when you plug into shore power that automatically takes over supplying power to unit. Only thing that over rides that is if generator is running, then gen. takes control of power supply. I did have a guy at an RV repair shop that wanted to change which wire was supplying power to the batteries when plugged to the truck, he said that the wire was not heavy enough to supply the needed amps to keep the batteries charged when towing. I did not have that done due to I have not had any problem keeping batteries charged (2, 12V deep cycle) when towing, usually 6 to 8 hrs a day.

AKRUEBBE · 03-23-2019, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneTaylor

All, I also do not shut down the inverter. My PDI was performed at the Jayco factory with one of their people. There was never a mention of a need to shut down the inverter for anything. My understanding was that when you plug into shore power that automatically takes over supplying power to unit. Only thing that over rides that is if generator is running, then gen. takes control of power supply. I did have a guy at an RV repair shop that wanted to change which wire was supplying power to the batteries when plugged to the truck, he said that the wire was not heavy enough to supply the needed amps to keep the batteries charged when towing. I did not have that done due to I have not had any problem keeping batteries charged (2, 12V deep cycle) when towing, usually 6 to 8 hrs a day.

Wayne, after looking at the members that are having problems, it seems they all have Ford trucks

It appears the RAM folks are doing okay

Hmmmm

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