Battery and Quick Disconnect Question

[cjb2017]

Disclaimer: I'm new to camping...bought my first travel trailer 2 months ago.

Question: If I remove the battery quick connect/disconnect, does this remove all draw from the battery? I am under the impression that it does.

I pull the disconnect when I store my camper with the intent that it will be (rather) fully charged for me to pre-cool my propane refrigerator for the day or two prior to my next departure.

A few weeks ago...Not knowing how long it takes for my refrigerator to cool down, I engaged the battery connect/disconnect and lit my refrigerator 3 days in advanced. I checked on it each day and it was cooling quite nicely. The morning of departure, I opened my refrigerator door to find a warm unit. I only assume the battery was drained by then and thus the refrigerator could not operate. Does this sound correct? If so, any advice? Turn on refrigerator the night before rather than a couple days? Could it have been something else (a storm the night before...could this have blown out the flame and for some reason it did not electronically re-ignite?)?

[red31]

cjb2017 wrote:
I pull the battery disconnect key. It looks like a key that inserts into a plug in the cargo area.

I would hope it disconnects every thing xept the brake away for the brakes.

You do have battery self discharge with the battery disconnected.

The fridge and Propane/CO detectors are constant drains on the battery when you are precooling the fridge.

[cjb2017]

I pull the battery disconnect key. It looks like a key that inserts into a plug in the cargo area.

[2DHoop]

Anytime I suspect a parasitic draw on a battery (car, boat, RV..etc), I use a D.C. ammeter to see if there is any current flowing when everything is presumably "off". A decent meter wil measure down to the milliamperes.

[fj12ryder]

Our toyhauler has a "Disconnect" switch, but it doesn't disconnect everything: the 12 volt radio, the CO detector, and probably a couple other things are still on when the "Disconnect" is pulled. I installed an actual battery disconnect switch on the positive terminal of the battery. So I know when I want it dead, it is dead.

[Lwiddis]

“Today's mentality ”

My propane isn’t “on” when my disconnect switch is thrown, Mex. And the fridge of course won’t run without some juice. Is this what you are concerned about? And no one needs to “rush in” to turn off my propane.

[red31]

cjb2017 wrote:

I pull the disconnect when I store my camper with the intent that it will be (rather) fully charged for me to pre-cool my propane refrigerator for the day or two prior to my next departure.

what are you pulling?

Batteries do discharge all by themselves just sitting but small continual drains can do that also.

[valhalla360]

Check the wiring. If the propane detector bypasses the switch, it might draw some but more importantly, did someone connect something else on that circuit.

In principal it should kill everything but if you want to be really sure, remove the connections at the battery posts.

[2oldman]

Without a voltmeter you don't know what happened with the battery. I guess 'remove' the disconnect means turn on that switch.??

You could also have run out of propane. Highly unlikely a storm blew it out.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Problems always pop up with an ALMOST disconnect switch. Either a battery is isolated or it isn't.

Yeah right

"No one will be around so we leave the propane alarm connected so that if there is no one around they can rush in and turn off the propane that we insist be left on when no one is around"

Today's mentality

[troubledwaters]

Yes, you only need to turn on your refrig 12 hours or so before your departure (as long as you keep the door closed). Your battery may be drained by the LP detector, you would have to look at what is wired in before the disconnect to know. My disconnect switch disconnects everything, no exceptions.

[Lwiddis]

“Question: If I remove the battery quick connect/disconnect, does this remove all draw from the battery? I am under the impression that it does.“

When turned off mine does except for the tongue jack...self installed. If your’s is factory installed you’ll need to trace wiring and test. What brand and model is your TT? Someone might know. A solar panel would have kept your batteries up.

[cjb2017]

Also, my service guy tells me that even when the battery is disconnected, my battery is still being drained by my LP detector. Does this sound right? If so, maybe I need a battery charger to re-charge my battery after it sits for a bit?