I have a small travel trailer and I keep it stored several miles away in a storage lot.When I drop it off, I turn all the breakers off and turn all the lights and fridge off, but every time I go to pick it up, the battery is dead.What could be causing that? The smoke detectors? CO2 detector? But I think they are just 9V battery powered.Also, I was wondering how to calculate how much of a solar charger I would need to keep my battery topped off enough to be able to leave the fridge on.Any thoughts?Thanks.

Breakers have nothing to do with battery power.. that's all fuses. The best thing to do is remove a battery cable.A small 100w panel should do it, but you'll also have to worry about running out of propane.

The breakers ... I was thinking that maybe the DC-to-AC convertor was being used to power something AC, from the battery, so I throw all the breakers.I see what you mean about propane, I think. If I didn't have enough battery power then it would go into gas mode?Thanks for the help.

For the effort I would go 80 to 100 watts minimum for solar.I assume you are running the fridge on propane.In the mean time charge the battery 48 hours and remove a cable when stored without power.

beaubeau wrote:I was thinking that maybe the DC-to-AC convertor was being used to power something AC, from the battery, so I throw all the breakers..DC to AC is an inverter. If that's what you have, then just keeping the inverter on will drain power. Disconnect the cable.

Things likely to be using dc (battery) power in storageCO (not CO2) detectorLPG detectorsmoke detectorSome of the above may have their own battery instead.

Battery drain + solar | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

TurnThePage
Explorer
Apr 01, 2015
On top of the other advice given, typical RV refrigerators will run on electric (120VAC) or propane. When they're running on propane they will still need a certain amount of 12v power (battery). There are models that will also use just 12v battery power, but they're pretty rare in a travel trailer.

As already mentioned, a 100 watt solar system would be more than enough to maintain your battery without the need to unplug things or shut off breakers.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Apr 01, 2015
Things likely to be using dc (battery) power in storage

CO (not CO2) detector
LPG detector
smoke detector

Some of the above may have their own battery instead.
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 01, 2015
beaubeau wrote:
I was thinking that maybe the DC-to-AC convertor was being used to power something AC, from the battery, so I throw all the breakers..
DC to AC is an inverter. If that's what you have, then just keeping the inverter on will drain power. Disconnect the cable.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 01, 2015
For the effort I would go 80 to 100 watts minimum for solar.
I assume you are running the fridge on propane.

In the mean time charge the battery 48 hours and remove a cable when stored without power.
beaubeau
Explorer
Apr 01, 2015
The breakers ... I was thinking that maybe the DC-to-AC convertor was being used to power something AC, from the battery, so I throw all the breakers.

I see what you mean about propane, I think. If I didn't have enough battery power then it would go into gas mode?

Thanks for the help.
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 01, 2015
Breakers have nothing to do with battery power.. that's all fuses. The best thing to do is remove a battery cable.

A small 100w panel should do it, but you'll also have to worry about running out of propane.

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Battery drain + solar

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