I just bought a new to us 2015 Big Country 3650RL. I changed the existing older 12 volt batteries for two new 6V golf cart batteries and wired them to 12 volts. I also installed 2 100 watt Renogy Panels, a Renogy Adventurer Li- 30A PWM controller with a Renogy BT-1 Bluetooth Module through a 1500 watt pure sine inverter. Well after charging all day I plugged in my campers shore plug into my inverter and turned off the converter inside on the breaker panel. All worked well and we watched about an hour of TV that night and run a small fan through out the night but woke up at 6AM to both batteries completely dead! What gives I run the exact same setup on my other camper with 12V batteries and it did great with a lot more usage. Everything inside was off and the Fridge was on LP. Anyone have any ideas what it could be or where I need to start looking? Also should I try and run 4 6volt batteries or go to 412V batteries which will let me boondock longer and give me more sustainable power?

You should be fine with 2 GC to watch TV and run LP fridge.Roughly: TV=4 AH, LP circuit in propane mode, 8 hours = 8 AH, lights (not LED), 2 pairs of domes for 3 hours = 20 AH. Fan 12 hours = 12 AH. Total = 44 AH. Make it 50 AH for whatever small items you forgot to mention - pumps, LP detector etc. Questions to be answered:1) How full were the batteries by sunset, or, at least, what was the voltage (preferably measured on battery terminals)?2) Did they went into Absorb and then to Float in due time (whatever the Abs time is for this controller)?3) What was the Absorb voltage?4) Did you turn inverter Off before going to bed? (mandatory thing to do for energy minimalist).5) Did you use furnace?6) Obvious question, but still - did you try running 120V devices other than TV?

You need to measure current draws to find out what's drawing power, starting with the current being drawn from the battery. A DC clamp meter makes it easy, you don't have to disconnect wires and then connect through the meter to measure current."After charging all day" tells us nothing. Which name/model batteries? What did you use to charge them? What voltage were they charged to, and how long were they held at that voltage?

He used 200W solar to charge them, but I would like to see the numbers for controller settings. Battery name/model is (probably) not too important in low-current scenario, unless it was a lemon from the day one. Possible, in theory.Something went wrong - either they were not charged (or wired?) properly, or he was running more loads than he says.

What does you Renogy BT-1 Bluetooth Module say?Is the water heater on gas? Is the refrigerator on gas?

Almot wrote:You should be fine with 2 GC to watch TV and run LP fridge.Roughly: TV=4 AH, LP circuit in propane mode, 8 hours = 8 AH, lights (not LED), 2 pairs of domes for 3 hours = 20 AH. Fan 12 hours = 12 AH. Total = 44 AH. Make it 50 AH for whatever small items you forgot to mention - pumps, LP detector etc. Questions to be answered:1) How full were the batteries by sunset, or, at least, what was the voltage (preferably measured on battery terminals)?2) Did they went into Absorb and then to Float in due time (whatever the Abs time is for this controller)?3) What was the Absorb voltage?4) Did you turn inverter Off before going to bed? (mandatory thing to do for energy minimalist).5) Did you use furnace?6) Obvious question, but still - did you try running 120V devices other than TV?A lot of this is over my head like absorb float. Now I just feel a little stupid LOL I can say the batteries were at 95% at sunset. As far as the inverter it was left on to run a box fan in the bedroom but absolutely nothing else was on except for draw from items still plugged in but not on like microwave etc.

Having problem with new batteries going dead Fast!

35 Replies

ulvik
Explorer
Sep 20, 2018
Almot wrote:
You should be fine with 2 GC to watch TV and run LP fridge.

Roughly: TV=4 AH, LP circuit in propane mode, 8 hours = 8 AH, lights (not LED), 2 pairs of domes for 3 hours = 20 AH. Fan 12 hours = 12 AH. Total = 44 AH. Make it 50 AH for whatever small items you forgot to mention - pumps, LP detector etc.

Questions to be answered:

1) How full were the batteries by sunset, or, at least, what was the voltage (preferably measured on battery terminals)?
2) Did they went into Absorb and then to Float in due time (whatever the Abs time is for this controller)?
3) What was the Absorb voltage?
4) Did you turn inverter Off before going to bed? (mandatory thing to do for energy minimalist).
5) Did you use furnace?
6) Obvious question, but still - did you try running 120V devices other than TV?
A lot of this is over my head like absorb float. Now I just feel a little stupid LOL I can say the batteries were at 95% at sunset. As far as the inverter it was left on to run a box fan in the bedroom but absolutely nothing else was on except for draw from items still plugged in but not on like microwave etc.
2oldman
Explorer II
Sep 20, 2018
What does you Renogy BT-1 Bluetooth Module say?

Is the water heater on gas? Is the refrigerator on gas?
Almot
Explorer III
Sep 20, 2018
He used 200W solar to charge them, but I would like to see the numbers for controller settings. Battery name/model is (probably) not too important in low-current scenario, unless it was a lemon from the day one. Possible, in theory.

Something went wrong - either they were not charged (or wired?) properly, or he was running more loads than he says.
mike-s
Explorer
Sep 20, 2018
You need to measure current draws to find out what's drawing power, starting with the current being drawn from the battery. A DC clamp meter makes it easy, you don't have to disconnect wires and then connect through the meter to measure current.

"After charging all day" tells us nothing. Which name/model batteries? What did you use to charge them? What voltage were they charged to, and how long were they held at that voltage?
Almot
Explorer III
Sep 20, 2018
You should be fine with 2 GC to watch TV and run LP fridge.

Roughly: TV=4 AH, LP circuit in propane mode, 8 hours = 8 AH, lights (not LED), 2 pairs of domes for 3 hours = 20 AH. Fan 12 hours = 12 AH. Total = 44 AH. Make it 50 AH for whatever small items you forgot to mention - pumps, LP detector etc.

Questions to be answered:

1) How full were the batteries by sunset, or, at least, what was the voltage (preferably measured on battery terminals)?
2) Did they went into Absorb and then to Float in due time (whatever the Abs time is for this controller)?
3) What was the Absorb voltage?
4) Did you turn inverter Off before going to bed? (mandatory thing to do for energy minimalist).
5) Did you use furnace?
6) Obvious question, but still - did you try running 120V devices other than TV?

Forum Discussion

Having problem with new batteries going dead Fast!

35 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

House Battery Problems...

I have a disgusting problem… HELP!!!

Battery problem

Battery Problems

Atwood water heater problem