Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 

Go Back   Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum > Hi-Lo Tech > Electrical Systems, Charging and Solar
Click Here to Login
Register FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Log in

Electrical Systems, Charging and Solar Electrical components and wiring, batteries, charging systems, generators and solar topics.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-13-2011, 08:55 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 43
Default Battery dying while driving - questions

Hi - returned from a camping trip this weekend. We were on electric all weekend. When I returned home the battery was dead. Couldn't lift the hydraulic. I had the Fridge on 12V for the trip there and the trip back. A few "known items":

1) we got the battery with the camper this year. It's not that old but I don't think it has been maintained. It is losing all charge over the course of a week of sitting and I cannot lift the camper. Using an amp meter I cannot find a draw on the battery.

2) the inverter is no longer charging the battery. Validated with the amp meter. I have wired a battery maintainer into the 12V side of the inverter so it now charges when it is plugged in.

Would the fridge drain a lousy battery and the car not be able to keep up with a modest charge?

Anything other than the battery that I should be taking a look at here? We have a long trip coming up and I would hate to get to the end of the day and have a bad battery / not be able to lift the camper. I am thinking of getting a new battery, testing it half-way through the drive and if it's acting drained then I'll shut off the fridge and let the car charge the battery again. Will also have jumper cables. Just looking for thoughts.
__________________

MooseMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2011, 10:51 AM   #2
Site Team
 
JackandJanet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pine, AZ
Posts: 4,682
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MooseMan View Post
Hi - returned from a camping trip this weekend. We were on electric all weekend. When I returned home the battery was dead. Couldn't lift the hydraulic. I had the Fridge on 12V for the trip there and the trip back. A few "known items":

1) we got the battery with the camper this year. It's not that old but I don't think it has been maintained. It is losing all charge over the course of a week of sitting and I cannot lift the camper. Using an amp meter I cannot find a draw on the battery.

2) the inverter is no longer charging the battery. Validated with the amp meter. I have wired a battery maintainer into the 12V side of the inverter so it now charges when it is plugged in.

Would the fridge drain a lousy battery and the car not be able to keep up with a modest charge?

Anything other than the battery that I should be taking a look at here? We have a long trip coming up and I would hate to get to the end of the day and have a bad battery / not be able to lift the camper. I am thinking of getting a new battery, testing it half-way through the drive and if it's acting drained then I'll shut off the fridge and let the car charge the battery again. Will also have jumper cables. Just looking for thoughts.
You may have blown your battery charging fuse in the tow vehicle. You can test for charging voltage at the 7-pin plug with the engine running, or, with the trailer connected and the TV engine running I would expect to see maybe 13.5+ volts on the trailer battery terminals if the battery is being charged.

Once a battery is discharged, the vehicle alternator is not designed to recharge it. An alternator is only there to MAINTAIN a charge. The only way to safely recharge a dead battery is with a battery charger. Using the alternator can destroy it.

- Jack
__________________

__________________
Hi-Lo 1707T - Tire Minder TPMS on Tow Vehicle and Trailer, 300W Solar Battery Charger, Equal-i-zer WDH, Progressive Dynamics Converter, Fan-Tastic Fan, LiFePO4 battery 12V DC Electrical System, SoftStartRV mounted on A/C
2024 F150 Platinum FX4 3.5L PowerBoost SCrew
JackandJanet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2011, 11:16 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
PopRichie77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Quakertown, PA
Posts: 1,074
Send a message via AIM to PopRichie77
Default

The fridge will drain a good battery in a very short time, you must have a charging circuit from the TV, to the trailer battery, has to be #10 wire and a 30 amp fuse, ground wire must be # 10 also.
As Jack said you must use a 7 pin plug no adapters to 4 pin. Also if you don't disconnect the plug from the TV when raising the top the fuse in the TV will blow if the trailer battery is slightly discharged.
__________________
Rich
------------------------------------
(215TL) - 1995 21' TowLite
(2209T) - 2009 22' TowLite
(2510 ) - 2010 25'
PopRichie77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2011, 02:44 PM   #4
Moderator
 
RichR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: NW PA
Posts: 3,386
Default

At the risk of being called a "smarta**" what you refer to as an inverter is really called a converter. It converts 110 volts to 12 volts, and in most cases charges the battery. An inverter is for converting 12 volts to 110 volts.

I agree with the above posts, in that, you are either not getting enough voltage/current through the TV supply line or not getting anything at all. Both are common problems. You can have bad connections, inadequate wiring, and/or a blown fuse in the TV.
__________________
My Great Wife Joyce
2018 Jayco Jay Flight 21QB
Formerly owned 1705T and 2310H
2012 F150 4X4 SuperCrew EcoBoost w/Leer Cap
Reese WD Strait-Line Hitch
Amateur Radio K3EXU
RichR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2011, 05:58 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: central Virginia
Posts: 584
Default

PopRichie is right on with his post. Make sure you have a good battery. Take it to a auto parts store and have them check it under a load. If you have to replace it get the largest amp hr battery that fits. Make sure all battery circuit connections are clean. The lift pump pulls upwards of 100 amps and if the battery is low the TV charge fuse will blow and when you next travel you will get no charge from the TV. Unplug the power cord from the TV when lifting. What are you towing with and which model Hi Lo do you have. Most full size pickup should have a large enough alternator to charge your battery when traveling if you have a good battery, all wiring is the right size and connections are clean and tight. This applies to ground connections also.
__________________
Jim L & Faye
2805C
2003 Silvarado diesel crew cab
2017 Silvarado, crew cab 1500 6.2L gas w/ 8 speed tranny
central VA
JIM L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2011, 09:58 AM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 43
Default

Thanks all. The TV is a '97 Expedition with a factory tow package and 7 pin harness. The alternator was replaced about 2 years ago. The camper is a 21' FunSaver, 1986. Connections clean and tight will always be in question

I'll check out that fuse in the Expedition and take the camper battery in for testing as suggested. If I get a fresh battery for the camper and validate that there is current coming from the TV, the fridge should be able to run all day while I'm driving, right?

I'll make a note about disconnecting before trying to lift. I know I've not done that all the time - however I don't think there's an active +12V unless the ignition is on. Will double check that.


Quote:
Originally Posted by JIM L View Post
PopRichie is right on with his post. Make sure you have a good battery. Take it to a auto parts store and have them check it under a load. If you have to replace it get the largest amp hr battery that fits. Make sure all battery circuit connections are clean. The lift pump pulls upwards of 100 amps and if the battery is low the TV charge fuse will blow and when you next travel you will get no charge from the TV. Unplug the power cord from the TV when lifting. What are you towing with and which model Hi Lo do you have. Most full size pickup should have a large enough alternator to charge your battery when traveling if you have a good battery, all wiring is the right size and connections are clean and tight. This applies to ground connections also.
MooseMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2011, 11:05 AM   #7
Site Team
 
JackandJanet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pine, AZ
Posts: 4,682
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MooseMan View Post
Thanks all. The TV is a '97 Expedition with a factory tow package and 7 pin harness. The alternator was replaced about 2 years ago. The camper is a 21' FunSaver, 1986. Connections clean and tight will always be in question

I'll check out that fuse in the Expedition and take the camper battery in for testing as suggested. If I get a fresh battery for the camper and validate that there is current coming from the TV, the fridge should be able to run all day while I'm driving, right?

I'll make a note about disconnecting before trying to lift. I know I've not done that all the time - however I don't think there's an active +12V unless the ignition is on. Will double check that.
In my F150, the +12V battery feed is not active unless the ignition is ON, so I suspect your Expy is the same.

And, yes, assuming the wiring to the trailer plug is adequate (I think it is in Fords with the tow package), you should be able to run the refrigerator while driving. The manual for my trailer warns not to let the refrigerator run on DC power for more than an hour with the top lowered if not in motion. (It doesn't vent the heat as well to the outside with the top down, but you're going to pull a lot of battery power in this condition too.)

I have a "Watt usage meter" that I use in the "shore power" line, and when the refrigerator is running, it pulls something over 200 Watts (17+ Amps at 12 Volts) so that's going to drain a battery quickly.

- Jack
JackandJanet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2011, 05:34 PM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 43
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JackandJanet View Post
I have a "Watt usage meter" that I use in the "shore power" line, and when the refrigerator is running, it pulls something over 200 Watts (17+ Amps at 12 Volts) so that's going to drain a battery quickly.
- Jack
WOAH! That's a lot of juice!
__________________

MooseMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hi-Lo Trailers Worldwide or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
HiLoTrailerForum.com Copyright 2010
×