Community Forums

mmbrevo · 03-26-2017, 10:36 AM

So, my new travel trailer has been in storage for a month. I wanted to move it t another storage site, but it appears that the battery is dead. The battery was disconnected. Do I need a new battery or am I missing simething else here? Obviously I'm very new to the RV world.
Thanks

RichR · 03-26-2017, 11:15 AM

Disconnected how-by switch or physically remove the cable? disconnect switch's most of the time do not disconnect completely, there are alarms, detectors and such still on the power grid.

lanerd · 03-26-2017, 11:32 AM

If it was physically disconnected (neg cable removed) and it still discharged in a month's time... the battery is weak (maybe needed water?) and needs to be replaced. If it wasn't "physically" disconnected, the parasitic electrical drains will discharge the battery within a week...sometimes days. When in storage (or non-use) and not connected to a shore power source, you need to remove the battery from any loads and that can only be accomplished by disconnecting the neg terminal or install a disconnect switch.

Ron

Bigd9 · 03-26-2017, 11:34 AM

You can take the battery to automotive parts supply places and get it checked out.

mmbrevo · 03-26-2017, 02:01 PM

Disconnected by pulling that knob that says "battery disconnect". I'm quite irritated because I had "Mr. RV" with me and he didn't tell me this.

pcurt23 · 03-26-2017, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbrevo

Disconnected by pulling that knob that says "battery disconnect". I'm quite irritated because I had "Mr. RV" with me and he didn't tell me this.

It won't be the last time the battery goes dead, so relax. Just put a charger on it or remove the battery and take it home. That is what I did when I had two house batteries. Even with my disconnect I still have to charge the batteries once per month. So the best bet is take it home and maintain it there.

With regular use during the season you should have no battery issues.

rkresge · 03-26-2017, 02:53 PM

Can't speak to the cause of your dead battery, but when my TT is in storage, the battery is in my garage. It goes on a trickle charger a couple of days before I reinstall it and we take the trailer out again. If it's going to be parked for less than a month, I leave the trailer's shore power connected to my home AC, which also maintains the charge. So far, no problems. I realize not everyone has the luxury of parking their trailer at home, but if I had to keep it in storage somewhere else, the battery and propane tanks would be at my home.

Roger

simplecamper · 03-27-2017, 12:32 AM

Yep disconnect and leave a trickle charger on it. I leave shore power connected. I added a 20A circuit. Enough to run AC and keep batteries good.

rkresge · 03-27-2017, 07:52 AM

I forgot to mention that when the battery is stored in my garage off-season, I put it on a charger once a month.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkresge

Can't speak to the cause of your dead battery, but when my TT is in storage, the battery is in my garage. It goes on a trickle charger a couple of days before I reinstall it and we take the trailer out again. If it's going to be parked for less than a month, I leave the trailer's shore power connected to my home AC, which also maintains the charge. So far, no problems. I realize not everyone has the luxury of parking their trailer at home, but if I had to keep it in storage somewhere else, the battery and propane tanks would be at my home.

Roger