Struggling with Dingy battery going dead

[NXR]

2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L with the 9-speed here.

You seem to have a charging circuit but it's no doubt under-sized from what you wrote. Both the charging line and the ground line should be 12 AWG (12 gauge) wire.

As one person noted, the Equinox when configured for towing pulls almost 8 amps from the car battery, far, far more than other cars for some reason.

My guess is the car is drawing about 8 amps but your charging circuit is delivering noticeably less current so the battery is slowly going dead. If you had someone else do the wiring, they almost undoubtedly used under-sized wire that is adequate for other vehicles but not an Equinox.

I had that happen when I installed the RVi Towed Battery Charger that someone else mentioned. I have a couple of long posts here about that troubleshooting but the bottom line is that the RVi TBC cannot deliver the full 10 amps it's rated for in an Equinox. I tried three of them and finally just jumped it out.

Once I just went to properly-sized wiring and an inline fuse I've had no battery problems and that's been for two years.

You do know you need to turn off the automatic headlights every time you start the car, right?

Are you getting the message on the dash that says the automatic headlight control is set to OFF?

I'm asking because I helped another Equinox owner with this problem and he thought that turning the dash dimmer knob full counter-clockwise was all he needed to do.

Ray

[gandl2]

I am having a problem of battery being discharged after towing on my 2019 Chevy Blazer. I have the RVI Toad Battery Charge system installed. So I called the company who suggested some troubleshooting procedures. After forwarding the results to them they stated it was probably a blown diode in their Toad Battery Charge system and that I need to buy another one as it is past the one year warranty. No thanks. It looks like my issue is probably the same as in the Equinox so I’ll just bypass their system and connect the charge line with fuse directly to toad battery. What size fuse should I use?

[Charming]

On both of the cars we had set to flat tow the mechanic installed a switch inside the toad that kills power to the accessories.

We are in the process of locating a replacement for the 2014 CR-V. Looking at what is out there we will be getting something with a lot more bells and whistles (in addition to toad it will be my every day vehicle). Will we be able to add an accessory kill switch on newer vehicles like a 2018 Ford Edge or 2019 Buick Envision?

[Winemaker2]

"What size fuse should I use?"
On my 2014 CRV I used a 20A manual reset inline breaker but a fuse will also work. Best to avoid autobreset breakers.

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by gandl2

I am having a problem of battery being discharged after towing on my 2019 Chevy Blazer. I have the RVI Toad Battery Charge system installed. So I called the company who suggested some troubleshooting procedures. After forwarding the results to them they stated it was probably a blown diode in their Toad Battery Charge system and that I need to buy another one as it is past the one year warranty. No thanks. It looks like my issue is probably the same as in the Equinox so I’ll just bypass their system and connect the charge line with fuse directly to toad battery. What size fuse should I use?

What chassis does your RV have?

On my Freightliner chassis, there is a 30 amp fuse for trailer power.

[MO Fred]

I had same problem with our Equinox… battery dead as a door nail after towing. I installed the LSL Toad Charging kit and… No More Problems! Cheap and simple fix.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by gandl2

It looks like my issue is probably the same as in the Equinox so I’ll just bypass their system and connect the charge line with fuse directly to toad battery. What size fuse should I use?

Tough to tell. The RVi has its own fuse from the TBC to the battery so I just used that one.

But...I put a clamp-on ammeter on the battery negative cables to see how much current the battery will draw to recharge after the engine is started. After ten minutes of not being charged (the driver's door was open) the battery pulled almost 80 amps out of the car's alternator, tapering to between 20 and 30 amps in a minute or so.

That being said, the amount of current that can be pulled from the motorhome charging line will be limited by:

- The size of the wire used in the motorhome (I think the Ford F-53 uses 10 AWG from the engine to the 7-pin connector),

- The fuse used in the motorhome (I think our F-53 also uses a 30 amp fuse up front),

- The size of the wire from the motorhome 7-pin connector to the connector on the car,

- And finally the size of the wire used from the connector on the car to the car's battery.

Whew.

So the simple answer is to just jump the TBC out with crimped butt splices and see if the RVi-supplied fuse blows. If it does, up the fuse size by 5 amps and try again.

Ray

[2cyber71]

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...RM-156-25.html
You need this.
I put one in my 2022 Jeep

[Winemaker2]

Originally Posted by 2cyber71

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...RM-156-25.html
You need this.
I put one in my 2022 Jeep

That looks like it uses an auto reset breaker which IMO is not best.
I have read of member here that had a toad fire & total loss from auto reset breaker continuing to reset & started the fire.
I used an inline manual reset 20A breaker and would recommend that or a fuse.

[prodhair]

Originally Posted by K Charles

Did you confirm that the cord really has power or does it only have signal, brake and tail lights connections?

yes, has been checked out by installer twice.

[Winger2]

Originally Posted by gandl2

I am having a problem of battery being discharged after towing on my 2019 Chevy Blazer. I have the RVI Toad Battery Charge system installed. So I called the company who suggested some troubleshooting procedures. After forwarding the results to them they stated it was probably a blown diode in their Toad Battery Charge system and that I need to buy another one as it is past the one year warranty. No thanks. It looks like my issue is probably the same as in the Equinox so I’ll just bypass their system and connect the charge line with fuse directly to toad battery. What size fuse should I use?

Starting on the 2020 model it states to disconnect the battery. I wonder if the same issue you were having was discovered and they added to remove the battery cable.
I put a high end battery switch in so its easily done. I do not have a charging wire to my battery. I have one available and working on the coach side but have not required it as mine starts every time.

[RVStitchy]

Originally Posted by Winger2

Starting on the 2020 model it states to disconnect the battery. I wonder if the same issue you were having was discovered and they added to remove the battery cable.
I put a high end battery switch in so its easily done. I do not have a charging wire to my battery. I have one available and working on the coach side but have not required it as mine starts every time.

I am waiting for delivery of a 2022 GMC Sierra next week as our new toad. Equinox is going away. On that vehicle the manual says you must disconnect battery. I assumed it was to prevent a dead battery. Turns out (I have been told) those vehicles have an electric power steering system that is active with the key off. So I need to kill power to prevent a steering problem as the car attempts to correct the steering while under tow. The company that is installing the Blue Ox gear is also installing a marine battery switch under the hood for disconnect. The installer did not like the solenoid button systems due to failure rates with other customers.

[Winger2]

Originally Posted by RVStitchy

I am waiting for delivery of a 2022 GMC Sierra next week as our new toad. Equinox is going away. On that vehicle the manual says you must disconnect battery. I assumed it was to prevent a dead battery. Turns out (I have been told) those vehicles have an electric power steering system that is active with the key off. So I need to kill power to prevent a steering problem as the car attempts to correct the steering while under tow. The company that is installing the Blue Ox gear is also installing a marine battery switch under the hood for disconnect. The installer did not like the solenoid button systems due to failure rates with other customers.

YEPP!
I have no faith in the solenoid button types. I pop the hood, turn the switch and close the hood. How much lazier can anyone get lol.
Now someone told me they do not disconnect their 2020 Blazer battery and have driven thousands of miles with no issues. But I agree with the electric power steering issues. I go by what the book says.

[prodhair]

If battery is disconnected I wouldn't have power to my break system in the toad.