FK2100 Weekend Warrior Electrical questions
Hello, I have 2010 FS2100 Weekend Warrior toy hauler. Got it last year and everything seems to be in good shape, however I suspect the 12V system is weak or could be improved. Two questions. 1. I ...
Forum Discussion
Lots of issues:
1 - Disconnect your batteries when in storage - the parasitic draws will drain the batteries in a week or two.
2 - Make sure your batteries are fully charged before storing your trailer. Don't use your trailer meter to check how fully charged it is. A Specific Gravity tester will give you a better idea; they are cheap.
3 - Most converters inside trailers are poor chargers - thus the comments about IOTA and Progressive Dynamics
4 - Your battery is not a true deep cycle, it is a marine deep cycle and cannot take nearly as many deep cycles discharges as true deep cycle. The most inexpensive true deep cycle are 6-volt golf cart batteries - there are expensive and cheap ones (I'm cheap). Do not let these dry or get the plates exposed. The older they get the faster the water/acid will evaporate.
5 - Cable size. Most trailers use under sized cable between the converter and the battery and there is voltage loss between the two when charging (just like there is voltage loss in the opposite direction). When using multiple batteries be sure to use proper size and lengths of cables.
6 - A battery monitor like a Trimetric or Victron will give you a better idea of load. Check your load when you think you have everything turned off, you might be surprised that your kid has a little inverter plugged in to 12v outlet overnight to play games; or you left the pass thru storage light on.
Finally check the Tech sub-Forum for a lot more good information.
I bought a used 2006 Ragen in July. I've done the following to combat similar issues:
1 - Replaced the converter with a Progressive Dynamics so I get a more realistic 3-stage charge.
2 - Replaced all lights with LED
3 - Swapped out the 45' long #8 positive cable between the batteries and the converter with a 20' long #4 cable.
4 - Removed the (2) 24 and (1) 29 marine batteries for (4) 6-Volt Golf Cart Batteries (total of about 420AH). Added watering systems on each battery so they will be easier to keep full of water.
5 - Replaced all battery interconnect cables with #1 cable - balanced.
6 - Added a Victron battery monitor
7 - Added 400W of solar with a Morningstar PWM controller.
I still run the generator as well in the morning for coffee and a quick charge early on the batteries before the sun is up. Heater usage at night will really drain the batteries.
1 - Disconnect your batteries when in storage - the parasitic draws will drain the batteries in a week or two.
2 - Make sure your batteries are fully charged before storing your trailer. Don't use your trailer meter to check how fully charged it is. A Specific Gravity tester will give you a better idea; they are cheap.
3 - Most converters inside trailers are poor chargers - thus the comments about IOTA and Progressive Dynamics
4 - Your battery is not a true deep cycle, it is a marine deep cycle and cannot take nearly as many deep cycles discharges as true deep cycle. The most inexpensive true deep cycle are 6-volt golf cart batteries - there are expensive and cheap ones (I'm cheap). Do not let these dry or get the plates exposed. The older they get the faster the water/acid will evaporate.
5 - Cable size. Most trailers use under sized cable between the converter and the battery and there is voltage loss between the two when charging (just like there is voltage loss in the opposite direction). When using multiple batteries be sure to use proper size and lengths of cables.
6 - A battery monitor like a Trimetric or Victron will give you a better idea of load. Check your load when you think you have everything turned off, you might be surprised that your kid has a little inverter plugged in to 12v outlet overnight to play games; or you left the pass thru storage light on.
Finally check the Tech sub-Forum for a lot more good information.
I bought a used 2006 Ragen in July. I've done the following to combat similar issues:
1 - Replaced the converter with a Progressive Dynamics so I get a more realistic 3-stage charge.
2 - Replaced all lights with LED
3 - Swapped out the 45' long #8 positive cable between the batteries and the converter with a 20' long #4 cable.
4 - Removed the (2) 24 and (1) 29 marine batteries for (4) 6-Volt Golf Cart Batteries (total of about 420AH). Added watering systems on each battery so they will be easier to keep full of water.
5 - Replaced all battery interconnect cables with #1 cable - balanced.
6 - Added a Victron battery monitor
7 - Added 400W of solar with a Morningstar PWM controller.
I still run the generator as well in the morning for coffee and a quick charge early on the batteries before the sun is up. Heater usage at night will really drain the batteries.
