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08-16-2019, 11:55 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
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Does ignition switch to accessory drain battery?
Hi everyone. I'm about to start towing a Honda CRV behind my Gulfstream Tourmaster. I'll have the ignition switch of the Honda at 'accessory' position to allow the steering to unlock and move freely. Here's my concern. The CRV has a very small battery. Clearly, my intention would be to have all accessories with power switches turned off. That still leaves things powered with the ignition switch to accessory. On a multi hour tow, I'm concerned about having the Honda battery run down to the point it won't start. I have the Air Force One braking system installed in the Honda, which could require power from the battery. I'm contemplating running the power to the braking system directly to the battery positive with a fuse between the battery and the brake system - then install an on-off switch downstream of the battery positive terminal and tow with it turned off. Any comments about your experiences or my plans would by appreciated. Thanx in advance. :>)
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08-16-2019, 01:33 PM
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#2
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,512
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Leaving the key in accessory position will put a drain on the battery. The Air Force One will also help drain the battery. Your best bet is to install a battery charge line from the motor home to the CRV battery to keep it charged.
__________________
2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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08-16-2019, 01:43 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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I did 2 things with the '14 CR-V I just traded for a Jeep Wrangler.
1. Larger battery and battery box from an Odyssey.
2. Charge line from MH to CR-V
Never a problem after that.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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08-16-2019, 01:58 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,671
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ACC in the CRV isn't much of a worry, but the AF1 adds a substantial load if you brake much. I'd add a 12vcharging line (or a Toad Charge device) just to be sure.
TOAD-CHARGE Dinghy Vehicle Battery Charger/Maintainer
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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08-16-2019, 02:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,758
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Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!
Others gave you the same advice I would have. Just noticed you are kinda new on IRV2 and wanted to say hello! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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08-17-2019, 09:34 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
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making the charge connection
First of all, Joe and Annette, thanx for the nice welcome - much appreciated! Thanx also to everyone who forwarded their very good ideas I hadn't considered. I'm wondering about 2 things:
1. If I was to replace the battery tray in the Honda, is that just a straight
'unbolt the old tray, and bolt in the new tray', or does the new Odyssey tray
require some fabrication or modification?
2. I'm wondering how to go about taking a charge line from the coach to
the Honda. I'm powered by a 450 hp Cummins, so tho I don't know the
output of my alternator, I'm guessing it's substantial and I'm guessing it
has a large diameter wire from the alternator to the chassis batteries.
- would I just run a charging wire from the chassis battery positive to the
Honda, or would I have to create a junction in the circuit from the
alternator wire to the chassis batteries and run it to the Honda?
- would that wire go through the same harness as my brake lights,
running lights and turn signals? I believe it's a 5 or 6 pin connector.
- maybe Demco sells a kit to facilitate a charge line??
Thanx in advance to you all for any further insight. .. Ken
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08-17-2019, 12:11 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,767
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I put an Odessey battery in my CRV. I did not use the Odessey battery tray, the battery fits, but it's tight..did not try to use a different tray, just discarded the OEM tray.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
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08-18-2019, 05:43 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 763
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Does ignition switch to accessory drain battery?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenj5
........
- would that wire go through the same harness as my brake lights,
running lights and turn signals? I believe it's a 5 or 6 pin connector.
Ken
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Yes.
Most likely a 6 pin connector, you can use the center pin # 2 for toad charging.
https://www.roadmasterinc.com/pdf/85-5303.pdf
For safety reasons, Your braking system requires the power source from the toad battery. If not during a breakaway event the aux system would not stop the toad.
__________________
Pete , Stroudsburg , PA. 2017 Tiffin 32 SA 24K Chassis
Sumo Springs, Safe T Plus, F&R RM SB, R-TB, Front Koni FSD Quad Shocks, Rear Koni FSD Quad Shocks,2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Elite
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08-18-2019, 09:26 AM
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#9
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,208
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Kenj5,
I previously towed a Saturn Vue and now Lincoln MKX. I have had problems with both so I carried a battery charger that I could hook up to the pedestal or MH with Generator running and while I was disconnecting, 5 or so minutes later I could start the car. The mention of a charge line is very good advice. Do a search on "rv charge line" and you will see the many different companies that supply the equipment. Also, 7 pin connectors can vary so make sure the model you have has a 12v unused pin somewhere.
I still have not added a charge line, but it is next. In the meantime I recently experienced a weakened battery when I stopped at a CG. I very nice camper came by with a device that looked like this: Jump Start. I was surprised that this little 3/4 inch thick, 3 inch wide by 6 inches long little thing would start a car, but it did. I now have it stowed in the TOAD.
Yes, accessory position will cause a slight drain on the battery. A more problematic drain is any braking system that activates the car's brake lights especially in hilly country when braking is constantly on and off. I have not had a problem on level terrain. I also use AF1.
Happy trails.
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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08-18-2019, 09:35 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 194
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Au contraire,. The AF1 uses zero battery power. The breakaway will use battery power if there's a breakaway. Lights are powered by the coach. Vacuum for the toad's power brakes is produced by an air powered venturi. No moving parts other than the actuator on the brake pedal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
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08-18-2019, 09:48 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Capistrano Beach, California
Posts: 4,465
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Regarding a charge line from the MH to the CRV.
If you plan on using the existing cord from RV plug to the toad, you will be limited by the size of the wire inside the cord as to how many amps and the size of fuses you will need. A simple charge wire from the MH positive to the umbilical cord pin will suffice, with a fuse installed as close to the battery as practical. On the CRV side, same set up with another fuse close to the battery. The gauge of wire you use from each battery will be your choice, but the fuses must be sized to protect the smallest gauge wire in the circuit--probably the wire in the umbilical cord.
__________________
Larry, Eileen, and Finley
2004 Alpine 36FDDS
Third motor home, first Alpine, no need for another.
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08-18-2019, 01:57 PM
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#12
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,208
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlos Marti
Au contraire,. The AF1 uses zero battery power. The breakaway will use battery power if there's a breakaway. Lights are powered by the coach. Vacuum for the toad's power brakes is produced by an air powered venturi. No moving parts other than the actuator on the brake pedal.
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What happens to the brake lights when the brake pedal is depressed?
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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08-19-2019, 07:45 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 194
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne M
What happens to the brake lights when the brake pedal is depressed?
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As I said brake lights are powered by the coach. In my situation, I have the toad battery disconnected, and a separate wire to the battery for the breakaway.
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08-19-2019, 09:13 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
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clarification from Demco
A big thank you to all of you who have offered great information to my query about power drain on my Honda battery equipped with the Air Force One braking system.
As there were some discrepancies in the answers that came back to me, I elected to check in with the manufacturer to get clarification. For those who may be interested, here's their reply:
"Ken,
The Air Force One will draw some power each time the LED indicator light needs to power up from the braking system being activated. But we’re talking milliamps that this draws, so for it to drain your battery by itself the LED light would have to be on 24/7 & even then it’d take upwards of 2-3 weeks for it drain the battery. This means you’d tow your CRV without ever starting/driving it & the LED would need to be on the whole time."
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