Battery

[TheRowl’s]

Newbie here. I just picked up a 2020 242BH and am wondering if there is a way to kill the power coming from the battery ( other than disconnecting). My brother in law has a fuse that he pulls from his 2016. I want to make sure power is being pulled from the house.

[morleyz]

Originally Posted by TheRowl’s

Newbie here. I just picked up a 2020 242BH and am wondering if there is a way to kill the power coming from the battery ( other than disconnecting). My brother in law has a fuse that he pulls from his 2016. I want to make sure power is being pulled from the house.

If not factory installed, most people install a cutoff switch.

You can put something like this on the battery:
https://www.amazon.com/Ampper-Batter...4171932&sr=8-6

Or you can mount something like this on your battery box or inside if you know where your battery line comes in:
https://www.amazon.com/Zoostliss-Bat...4171810&sr=8-7

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by TheRowl’s

I want to make sure power is being pulled from the house.

It does that automatically when you're plugged into shore power. The converter will keep the battery charged, no switch needed. Only time you draw from the battery is when you are not plugged into shore power. The converter actually works better with the battery connected.

[TheRowl’s]

Ok, I wasn’t sure because when I checked the battery gauge it was down to 2/3 while plugged in, is that to be expected?

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by TheRowl’s

Ok, I wasn’t sure because when I checked the battery gauge it was down to 2/3 while plugged in, is that to be expected?

NO. It may be a bad gauge, if you're on shore power it should show full charge. Make sure the breaker for the converter is on.

[morleyz]

Sorry. I misunderstood your first question. Thought you were looking to cut off the battery so there were no parasitic drain during storage.

When plugged in, the converter should supply 13-14 volts to the battery to charge it and the gauge should say full. Check with a multimeter across the battery terminals.
Assuming all else seems to be working electrically, if it is not charging the battery, check the reverse charge fuses in the converter.

[TheRowl’s]

I disconnected the battery and am getting power to the TV and microwave only. I have the adapter plugged in and am using 15 amp from my house, any thoughts?

[Jagiven]

So just a couple thoughts and hopefully clarifications.

When you are connected to shore power, your power converter will both provide power to all the 12 volt items and keep the battery charged.

When not connected to shore power, only the 12 volt items will work off the battery. You may have a power disconnect switch (red color, often hiding in a cargo hold). I do not have a disconnect switch, so I pull the 30 amp fuse that is at the battery. Look around for one, maybe located where the 7 pin wire harness terminates. If you do not have one, install one at the battery. This protects the wiring system, when discharging the battery.

As Grumpy said, there are a number of parasites that drain down your battery, so if you are just sitting disconnected from shore power. Within a few weeks you will have a dead battery, hence the need to easily disconnect the battery.

The onboard gauges are a bit of a joke. Best thing to to is get a multi meter, and physically measure the voltage across the battery. I have bought some of the cheap 12 volt AUX outlet style voltage meters, and they were way very inaccurate. When connected to shore power you should read something like 14 volts, Been to long to remember the exact number. A fully charged battery, that has been disconnected for a few hours, should read 12.7 volts. 12.0 volts is considered a depleted (aka dead) battery.

If you are not connected to shore power none of your 120V AC system will work. So no microwave, no TV, no outlets will work. Your 12 volt DC system should still work, if your disconnect switch and/or fuses are good. So if your lights are not working when not connected to shore power, check all your fuses. AS Morley stated, there is a reverse polarity fuse in the main fuse box, check it, and check the fuse at the battery. If that does not fix it, you may have a bad ground wire between the TT frame and the battery.

Key element if you can leave your TT at home, and if possible just leave it plugged in, it keeps the battery in good shape, and you can go in anytime an use it. If you cannot leave it plugged it, disconnect the battery, or you will kill it and it will need to be replaced after a year or so of heavy discharges.

Most import; play around with your new toy and have fun with it!

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by TheRowl’s

I disconnected the battery and am getting power to the TV and microwave only. I have the adapter plugged in and am using 15 amp from my house, any thoughts?

Sounds like the converter is not operating. Even with the battery removed you should have lights. As I said there is a breaker just for it, be sure to check and reset it. Just because it looks OK it may need to be turned off and on. Also remove the breaker panel cover and check for a loose connection on that breaker.

There is also a couple fuses in the converter itself that should be checked.