Battery Disconnect Switch

sdetweil wrote:

the battery is dead in 3 days..

what is drawing the power? nothing is on (I saw the LP detector info).

YOU NEED A MULTI-METER.

You need to find the battery disconnect switch because "things" might be on that you can't turn off individually.

It is possible that your batteries are bad but not likely.
You won't know that until you get a meter.
What kind of batteries are they; the kind that you can add water to ??
What is the wattage capacity of your solar panel and controller ?

so I am a newbie concerning the batteries while in storage. I recently moved away from my big country lot with dedicated 50amp service to where I need to put my FW in storage, with no 110v power.

the battery is dead in a day.

I added a solar charger (I have had one on my enclosed car hauler for years)

the battery is dead in 3 days..

what is drawing the power? nothing is on (I saw the LP detector info).

this is a 2013 Keystone Alpine.
I have started turning the battery disconnect, but still don't understand what the power draw items are.

And it needs to be mentioned in any discussion of battery storage that non-AGM batteries will self-discharge even if completely disconnected.

AGMs will too but a LOT slower.

The time frame can be debated a bit but they NEED a maintenance charge for anything over 30-60 days of just sitting. High temps shorten that time.

You are correct in being concerned with battery power draw while in storage. The disconnect switch should be in the off position. This does not turn off the lp detector. That is hard wired directly to the battery with a fuse near the battery. Each manufacturer may be different, but Federal regulations require the LP detector be hard wired directly to the battery. Slides and other items may be activated with the power switch in the off position. But they do not drain batteries until activated. The other option is to disconnect the battery and make sure you care for the battery to avoid storage drain. I charge my batteries monthly from the on board generator and perform other maintenance.

fj12ryder wrote:
Most OEM battery disconnect switches, aren't. The safest thing to do is install your own, that way you know the battery is out of the loop and some vampiric power draw isn't going to make it flat when you next need it.

X2 to this install on right at the battery! Positive or Negitive side your choice.

With a total disconnect my battery will hold its charge for a long time! I can run my slides in and out several time over a couple month period if necessary.

On my Komfort, the slide and the landing legs are direct to the battery; the disconnect kills =everything= else, including the charger. Found that out the hard way. When I plug in at home to prep for a trip, I have to make =sure= that the disconnect is hot or the batteries won't charge.

Lyle

Thank you for your help.

On many rigs the landing gear motor(s), tank heaters, and other high current 12 volt devices are wired directly to the battery via dedicated resettable fuses, bypassing the 12 volt interior fuse panel. The battery disconnect switch typically only disconnects power to devices wired to the interior 12 volt fuse panel.

Most OEM battery disconnect switches, aren't. The safest thing to do is install your own, that way you know the battery is out of the loop and some vampiric power draw isn't going to make it flat when you next need it.

battery should be disconnected to avoid being drawn down