My wife and I picked up our 2017 Forest River Flagstaff Microlite 23LB this past weekend. At the dealer, they had it plugged in to 30 amp power and had the AC on. They also demonstrated how everything was working and briefly showed us how to operate most things. We got the trailer home later that day and only used some of the lights for a short time to show it off to some of our friends and the electric hitch jack. The next day, we went out and tried to turn a light on and it wouldn't turn on. The trailer has a monitor panel that has an option to show how full the battery is and when we checked it, it showed almost empty. We did not have a long enough cord yet to plug in at home, so it stayed that way. The next day, there was definitely no power from the battery because even the Carbon Monoxide alarm had no light. Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.

jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:The next day, there was definitely no power from the battery because even the Carbon Monoxide alarm had no light. Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.Your battery is obviously significantly drawn down, perhaps to the point where it's damaged and would need to be replaced. Normally you'd only want to draw it down to ~ 50% or ~ 12 volts ... fully charged it would be ~ 12.7 volts. When you plug the trailer's main service cable into power the converter's output is then being read by that battery monitor, not the battery itself. Just leave it plugged in for a couple of days and see if the battery recovers ... if not, you'll have to replace it.

If the battery was good and it went dead in a day then you have a significany currrent draw someplace. The first thing to check is if the breakaway plunger on the electric brakes is pulled. If it's pulled, that's your problem.

jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:My wife and I picked up our 2017 Forest River Flagstaff Microlite 23LB this past weekend. At the dealer, they had it plugged in to 30 amp power and had the AC on. They also demonstrated how everything was working and briefly showed us how to operate most things. We got the trailer home later that day and only used some of the lights for a short time to show it off to some of our friends and the electric hitch jack. The next day, we went out and tried to turn a light on and it wouldn't turn on. The trailer has a monitor panel that has an option to show how full the battery is and when we checked it, it showed almost empty. We did not have a long enough cord yet to plug in at home, so it stayed that way. The next day, there was definitely no power from the battery because even the Carbon Monoxide alarm had no light. Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.Take it back to the dealer right away! Let them check out all your electrical systems and batteries! If you start your own diagnostic checking and some thing else blows electrically, the dealer might say that you caused the issues. This should NOT be happening with new trailers:(:( If the dealer is to far away, then ask to arrange taking the trailer to a closer RV shop that approve.

Here's the real truth: Every TT sold has a built-in failure waiting to happen with the 12V system. There are things like alarms, circuit boards, radio memory, etc. that are a parasitic draw when the TT is not connected to shore power. The remedy is to either install a disconnect switch or disconnect one of the battery terminal connections while in storage. If you just replace the battery and don't connect to shore power 24/7, you will have a dead battery again. I'd suggest to call the dealer and the Mfg, ask them why a disconnect switch isn't installed.

jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:.......Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.The indicator just reads voltage. Your converter that supplies 12v power has the capacity to immediately hold the voltage above 13 volts and the indicator reads full. The truth is it still will take 6 to 48 hours to fully charge the battery depending on the model of converter. BTW this is very hard on the battery to run so low. Plug it in minimum 3 days and if you unplug remove a battery cable to prevent discharge.Print this: The 12 Volt Side of LifeAnd congrats on the new RV :B

Battery question | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

rbpru
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2016
When plugged into shore power my battery gauge shows full charge because it is reading the charger voltage.

The sneak circuits in my TT will drain the battery in about four day when unplugged.

Between trips I keep the TT plugged in and check the water level in the battery. My battery charger switches to trickle charges automatically, Some do not so it is best to keep an eye on the battery water.

My battery disconnect switch is a 1/2" end wrench. Simple, effective and not likely to fail. I disconnect the negative lead and tuck it into the battery case.

Have fun.
fairfaxjim
Explorer
Aug 05, 2016
If you are reading the battery monitor with the trailer plugged in, it will show 100% (or on some "Charge") because the converter has full charging voltage on the battery. Let it charge for a couple of day, unplug it and check the battery level after it has been unplugged for an hour or two.

Definitely recommend that you read The 12volt Side of Life Lots of good battery and 12 volt electrical system info.
twxsby89
Explorer
Aug 05, 2016
"my TT has an inline 30amp fuse right near the battery, now I just pull that fuse when in storage, works the same as disconnect switch or pulling a terminal off the battery."

This is what I do as well.
big_murph_279
Explorer
Aug 05, 2016
I see that you have a flagstaff. You will not need to remove a battery cable. All of the newer flagstaffs have a battery disconnect switch. Mine is under the propane tanks at the front of the trailer.
danimal53
Explorer
Aug 05, 2016
i had a similar problem, made that rookie mistake and didn't realize how much parasitic load was on the battery (radio, CO/propane detector). plugged in for a couple days and battery is fine now. my TT has an inline 30amp fuse right near the battery, now I just pull that fuse when in storage, works the same as disconnect switch or pulling a terminal off the battery.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 05, 2016
jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:
.......Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.

The indicator just reads voltage. Your converter that supplies 12v power has the capacity to immediately hold the voltage above 13 volts and the indicator reads full. The truth is it still will take 6 to 48 hours to fully charge the battery depending on the model of converter. BTW this is very hard on the battery to run so low. Plug it in minimum 3 days and if you unplug remove a battery cable to prevent discharge.

Print this: The 12 Volt Side of Life

And congrats on the new RV :B
westend
Explorer
Aug 05, 2016
Here's the real truth: Every TT sold has a built-in failure waiting to happen with the 12V system. There are things like alarms, circuit boards, radio memory, etc. that are a parasitic draw when the TT is not connected to shore power. The remedy is to either install a disconnect switch or disconnect one of the battery terminal connections while in storage.

If you just replace the battery and don't connect to shore power 24/7, you will have a dead battery again. I'd suggest to call the dealer and the Mfg, ask them why a disconnect switch isn't installed.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Aug 04, 2016
jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:
My wife and I picked up our 2017 Forest River Flagstaff Microlite 23LB this past weekend. At the dealer, they had it plugged in to 30 amp power and had the AC on. They also demonstrated how everything was working and briefly showed us how to operate most things. We got the trailer home later that day and only used some of the lights for a short time to show it off to some of our friends and the electric hitch jack. The next day, we went out and tried to turn a light on and it wouldn't turn on. The trailer has a monitor panel that has an option to show how full the battery is and when we checked it, it showed almost empty. We did not have a long enough cord yet to plug in at home, so it stayed that way. The next day, there was definitely no power from the battery because even the Carbon Monoxide alarm had no light. Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.

Take it back to the dealer right away! Let them check out all your electrical systems and batteries! If you start your own diagnostic checking and some thing else blows electrically, the dealer might say that you caused the issues. This should NOT be happening with new trailers:(:( If the dealer is to far away, then ask to arrange taking the trailer to a closer RV shop that approve.
mbopp
Explorer
Aug 04, 2016
If the battery was good and it went dead in a day then you have a significany currrent draw someplace. The first thing to check is if the breakaway plunger on the electric brakes is pulled. If it's pulled, that's your problem.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Aug 04, 2016
jawsthemeswimming428 wrote:
The next day, there was definitely no power from the battery because even the Carbon Monoxide alarm had no light. Today, our longer cord came and I plugged the trailer in. Within 30 seconds of being plugged in I checked the battery level and it showed 100% full. Am I missing something? It definitely showed empty before that. Any advice would be appreciated.

Your battery is obviously significantly drawn down, perhaps to the point where it's damaged and would need to be replaced. Normally you'd only want to draw it down to ~ 50% or ~ 12 volts ... fully charged it would be ~ 12.7 volts. When you plug the trailer's main service cable into power the converter's output is then being read by that battery monitor, not the battery itself. Just leave it plugged in for a couple of days and see if the battery recovers ... if not, you'll have to replace it.

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Battery question

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