Forum Discussion

Jfresh's avatar
Jfresh
Explorer
Mar 08, 2015

Single Battery Enough?

Last night it was my first time using my 2015 Lance 865 dry camping. Single factory battery setup. I keep the camper plugged in at home and the truck charges the camper battery. Pulled into our site before dark, switched fridge from battery to propane and lowered my atwood jacks. We sparingly used the led interior lights until bed and set the furnace as the lowest setting. It was probably 30 degrees overnight. I would say the furnace kicked on once every hour. Woke up and turned the furnace to 60 until the camper warmed up and kept at 60 for an hour or so then turned it off after breakfast. Went out after breakfast to raise the jacks and it was a no go. Started the truck and they would go little by little every 5 minutes. In addition my remote would turn off every time the jack stopped raising. So either my battery was dead or my remote needs new batteries. Ended up raising the jacks by hand. Can a single battery drain enough overnight to where the jacks won't raise? I will also try new batteries in the remote. Should I start thinking about adding a second battery?
Truck Campers
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    The TORKLIFT BATTERY HANGER under your TC is an excellent idea. You know first hand how precious compartment space is in the truck camper.

    Using the hanger under the truck bed does not require any mods to an enclosed compartment for venting fumes or draining fluids. It is also out of sight for security reasons. Of course being a slide-on camper shell you may have to come up with a battery quick disconnects much like you shore power cable arrangement. You can purchase 4GAUGE HD 2-conductor cable with connectors and plugs from ETRAILER. Then after getting the TC in place just plug-in the external battery bank that is under the truck bed.

    I am fortunate having my whole tongue area across the front of my off-road camper deck. I can sit four batteries across the tongue with ease.

    Roy Ken
  • lawrosa's avatar
    lawrosa
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    rrupert wrote:
    If you have a 3 way fridge, which sounds like you do, it can draw more power, 15 amps, than your truck may be supplying to the battery.

    I'm thinking you arrived without a fully charged battery because of the fridge. Charge lines are notoriously undersized on vehicles for unknown reasons, a larger gauge wire would help. if you have room, add a second battery.


    I agree... driving with the fridge in 12v mode the battery will slowly die while traveling normally...


    My advice is never run fridge on 12v... run on propane... That plus cold temps reduced your capacity as stated...

    probably best to check battery voltage or electrolyte at campsite when you arrive. Then you will know what your starting with...

    Do this before you buy a second battery...

    Last what battery do you have? This makes a difference... 80 ah group 24 should be minimum for 1 day...
  • mbloof's avatar
    mbloof
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    If your using your fridge in 12v mode while on the road, you'll have to upgrade your +12v wiring system from your truck-to-camper so that your truck will supply enough energy to power the refridge. Otherwise your battery will be much less than charged when you arrive at your camp site.

    Personally, I'd also check the water level in your battery. I'm guessing the capacity of your battery has been compromised due to lack of water.

    When we camp, I always leave the truck running until I have the jacks down.

    If you have LED lights I would not worry to much about their use - they use very little power. The furnace will use a lot of energy. While it was surely cold outside, we don't know the "duty cycle" of your furnace (IE: how LONG was it on each hour?) however even if the furnace was drawing 4A and ran for 8hrs straight, you'd still have >= ~50% battery capacity left. (considering a type #24 even with de-rating for the cold weather)

    Your battery was ether not fully charged when you parked or has limited capacity. (due to not enough water)
  • Old_Days's avatar
    Old_Days
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    We never run the frig on battery power only electric and gas.I own a small 400 watt inverter that I hook up to the truck battery, plug in the camper, run the truck for 15 to 20 minutes recharge the battery. Its a cheap generator.
  • _DJ_1's avatar
    _DJ_1
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    Jfresh wrote:
    switched fridge from battery to propane


    There is your problem. A fridge running on 12 volt will kill a battery in less than an hour. So it doesn't have a chance to get charged up while driving. The fridge is taking it all. Keep it on propane unless plugged in to shore power.
  • rrupert's avatar
    rrupert
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    If you have a 3 way fridge, which sounds like you do, it can draw more power, 15 amps, than your truck may be supplying to the battery. If that is the case, you may want to load up the fridge before you leave home and make sure everything is cold. Turn the fridge off before you leave and everything will stay cold for a number of hours. Switch it on to LP when you get to your camp spot. The control board on the fridge draws some all the time, also if you have a DSI water heater it draws some power for the control board and the ignition. The LED lights draw very little amperage and shouldn't be a worry. The jacks would draw a fair amount but that is for a short period of time. The furnace fan will draw the most amperage while you are over time. I'm thinking you arrived without a fully charged battery because of the fridge. Charge lines are notoriously undersized on vehicles for unknown reasons, a larger gauge wire would help. if you have room, add a second battery.
  • Dakota98's avatar
    Dakota98
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    I see you have Torklift products on your rig. You may want to look at

    HIDDEN POWER by Torklift

    Two batteries are always better than one.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    We currently have around 255AHs of Battery capacity when camping off the power grid. I don't think I could survive at all with all we run in our camper with just one 85AH-105AH battery. 220AHs would be my lowest setup...

    We usually stay out for three day/night runs and always re-charge using smart mode charging techniques each morning around 8AM when allow3ed to run our 2K Generator.

    We gave up flashlights and candles along time ago... I still carry them however haha...

    Roy Ken
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    Jfresh wrote:
    switched fridge from battery to propane and lowered my atwood jacks.

    It was probably 30 degrees overnight. I would say the furnace kicked on once every hour.

    Woke up and turned the furnace to 60 until the camper warmed up and kept at 60 for an hour or so then turned it off after breakfast

    Can a single battery drain enough overnight to where the jacks won't
    raise? Should I start thinking about adding a second battery?
    Your refer never works on battery alone.. or at least most don't. If it does, that's a major draw.

    30 degrees is pretty chilly for one battery. What temperature did you ask it to keep the coach at? Kicking on once an hour isn't enough information.. we'd need to know how long it ran.

    Raising temp to 60 for one hour is about 7 ah. Not a huge load, but on a cold battery it could be.

    Apparently your battery couldn't handle it, but you'd only know for sure by taking a voltage reading minutes after that one hour furnace run. (not during!)

    Cold weather is especially detrimental to a battery. And, a "factory battery" is not likely to be a good deep-cycle. It's usually the cheapest thing they can find.. maybe even a starting battery. Assuming your battery is healthy, by all means add another.. or better yet, toss the OEM and get a couple 6v trojans.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    if you are going to dry camp and use the electrics, I certainly would get a second battery.
    my BIL said that two batteries would only last one night in his MH.
    bumpy

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