I have a 2008 Jayco Flight 09TT 30BHDS. We live on battery power all summer. We have purchased 2 brand new batteries and had them tested to ensure they were full. They were drained within a day.
We have done this for many summers and never had this problem before.
Before we call in a technician, I am wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem.
I am wondering if something is going on with the fridge, since that is the only thing that actually uses battery power in the trailer, we don't even use the lights.
Yep...just make sure your multi-meter has at least a 10 amp capacity for amp draw. Useful for testing parasitic draw on just about anything that uses DC power. Lots of videos online for testing parasitic battery drain.
It sounds to me like the new batteries were installed wrong. Switch the refer to propane, recharge the batteries and try that for a few days. What runs the water pump and lights ?. Maybe its time for solar panels. Good Luck
Batteries:
- What is the make and type? ( Example.. Interstate, 12VDC, 85Ah, or (2) 6 volt batteries)
- Check the batteries for proper water level
- 2 battery cables: Are they White and Black or Red and Black?
If it is White and Black the white cable should be connected to the NEGATIVE battery terminal and the other end should be connected to the TT's FRAME (Ground)
The BLACK cable should go to a 30 amp inline main fuse located near the battery and then into usually a 4x4 electrical box where it connects to the battery charge controller in the TT
Batteries are Nautalis 12volt deep cycle batteries. Run fridge and lights and water pump off it. Checked and hooked up properly. Went through new ones in one day, returned them and went through a second set of new ones in one day again. Hooked up to one solar panel per battery during day.
Batteries are Nautalis 12volt deep cycle batteries. Run fridge and lights and water pump off it. Checked and hooked up properly. Went through new ones in one day, returned them and went through a second set of new ones in one day again. Hooked up to one solar panel per battery during day.
Tell me about the solar panels, make, model, voltage, watts, solar charge controller being used? The solar charge controller, regulates the solar panel output. Also keeps the batteries from back feeding power back to the panels, in low or no sun light, which drains the batteries.
Why are the wired individually to each battery, they should be wired across the combined batteries output cables
Do you know what the Ah ratings of your old batteries were? From what I see the new ones are about 80 Ah, if I am looking at the correct ones. Were the older ones 85 or 100Ah? Is this a residential fridge?
Lets try the process of elimination...
Ok, take your battery voltage with the volt/ohm meter (write it down if your memory is like mine), pull the fridge fuse and fully charge your batteries. unplug Shore power. Then let them sit for an hour and then take the battery voltage again. Now let the batteries sit for 24 hours and take the voltage again. They should be around 12.8 volts or a little higher. Charge the batteries once again. Unplug shore power. Then plug in the fuse and see how the batteries are after 24 hours.
Turns out the break away emergency brake box was drawing 9 amps. Cut the power to that and now we are living the life of luxury on batteries once again!!
Thanks for your help everyone! I really appreciate all of your suggestions.
Be sure to check the functioning of your TT brakes before your next trip. Haveing the brake magnets energized for a long period of time can burn out the magnets and make the brakes nonfunctional.
Might have a short somewhere. I would start with removing the frig from the circuit and run other components to see if you have the same problem. If not turn off other breakers until you can narrow down what circuit is the problem.
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Jayco X18D with a 2016 F150 Super crew 3.5 Eco Boost.
Turns out the break away emergency brake box was drawing 9 amps. Cut the power to that and now we are living the life of luxury on batteries once again!!
Thanks for your help everyone! I really appreciate all of your suggestions.
You might still have a problem. Was the pin pulled out of the breakaway switch when it was pulling the 9 amps, or was it still fully inserted? There should be no load being pulled by that switch unless the pin is pulled out. And you can't pull the trailer without a functioning breakaway switch assembly.
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Bill
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI Quad Cab
2011 Jay Flight 26BH
Do you run your fridge totally off battery? I've never heard of that. I've heard running of propane and the battery is used to spark start the igniter for propane. Seems a fridge would eat up a battery pretty quick.
Edit...I missed you were on solar. Would still think it would use a lot of battery. I learned something.
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2015 Jayco Eagle Premier 318RETS
2008 Ford F-250 Lariat CC Super Duty 6.4 Turbo Diesel
Cumming, Georgia
Go Dawgs!