Forum Discussion

TLV's avatar
TLV
Explorer
Sep 08, 2018

Battery? Solenoid?

Boondocking. Twelve month old batteries are losing charge overnight. The only thing running is the refrigerator (2 way) using propane. Not enough power to turn on generator in the AM. Solenoid is hot to the touch.

Thoughts?

15 Replies

  • Hi,

    Welcome to the forums.

    The solenoid may draw up to about 0.88 of an amp. That should NOT be enough to totally discharge a fully charged battery bank. I suspect the batteries are not getting a full charge.

    Does the trailer by any chance have electric brakes?
  • Not sure what kind of rig, battery etc. In most rigs if you start the engine it will place all batteries on-line - that should help you start your generator.
  • TLV wrote:
    Boondocking. Twelve month old batteries are losing charge overnight.


    What kind of batteries? Can you verify that the batteries are, in fact, real deep cycle batteries? Or at least, so-called RV/Marine batteries?

    Cause frankly, if someone just threw a pair of engine starting batteries in, they're probably nearly dead. I'd be surprised that they lasted 12 months treated like deep cycle batteries. They just aren't built to take that.
  • Not an engine battery. Hooks to the 2 batteries on the RV.
  • Engine battery disconnect solenoid or house battery solenoid. Neither one should be energized or hot.

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