12V on or off when not in use?

[roadjunkie]

I just purchased a 2003 Gulf Stream Ameri-Lite 21 in the Kansas City Missouri area. I'll be taking it back to south Texas next week so here's my question(s).

They installed a new hot water tank that runs off of gas or electric. There's a red lit switch that's on now as well as other small lights inside the trailer. I don't have the manual so I'm wondering if there's some way to turn off the 12V system so the new battery won't run down or is this something I needn't worry about.

The trailer will be sitting for the next week and will not be plugged in to any shore power.

[roadjunkie]

I looked all over for a battery disconnect switch and didn't find anything so looks like I'll either need to disconnect batter or keep hooked up to 110AC.

The battery is brand new and I'm only concerned about it until I get back to Texas from Missouri.

I appreciate the feedback.

[westend]

If you're not sure of the battery being charged or want to save what little charge it has, disconnect the battery cable(s). Make sure you can connect them again, correctly.

In the future, you'll want to install a battery master disconnect switch near the battery location. This is the easiest way of disconnecting from the parasitic electrical draws that all travel trailers have. It is certainly a DIY job (installing the switch).

[rbpru]

My water heater has two switches, gas and electric. Both have 12 volt pilots to show when they are on. Both pilots go off when the switch is off.

There are numerous phantom loads in a TT, the refrigerator, propane detector, radio/DVD player to name a few. They will run my battery down in 4 or 5 days.

When I am not connected to shore power for a few days, I disconnect the ground lead from the battery.

[roadjunkie]

There is no gas in the tanks yet and not sure about the water tank, although they did have it hooked up to city water to test the pump and probably water tank installation. I'm waiting for them to call back and ask about a battery disconnect since I haven't been able to find it.

According to the guy I bought it from,there is "some" water in the hot water heater but they didn't fill it since they knew I'd be traveling. There's also no gas in bottles and no electricity hooked up since I just bought it and will be pulling it from Missouri back to Texas and staying with my daughter and grandsons.
.

[Old-Biscuit]

Atwood and Suburban both use a FAULT light

Atwood....
Light only comes on when propane fails to 'prove' it has lit (3 attempts and lock-out)
Light comes on ANY time ECO Opens (on electric or propane)


Suburban...
Light comes on when propane is turned on....goes out when propane lights off & proves.
Light Stays on if propane fails to prove

No fault if High Temp t-stats (Electric or Propane) Open....but no more heating until it has been manually reset.


Fault light resets by ---clearing fault if manual reset needed and then turning On/Off Switch OFF---wait 30 seconds and the turn back ON if heating is required

[yillb]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

roadjunkie wrote:
I flipped the switch for the water heater but the light stayed on.

Hope you have water in that water heater tank

That RED Light ......
It' a FAULT indication

What brand/model is that water heater?



As for shutting down 12V DC System...
Options:
See if there is a battery cut off switch by battery
Install one on Battery POS cable
Disconnect battery NEG cable (tape it off)

Hmm? How do you know that? My water heater button turns red when I switch it over to propane, and when i push it to electric, the red light goes away ( the switch itself is red ), though, with it staying on, it could just mean it's on propane, and he has to use the switch outside ( mine has a manual " override " button on the WH itself ).

[Old-Biscuit]

roadjunkie wrote:
I flipped the switch for the water heater but the light stayed on.

Hope you have water in that water heater tank

That RED Light ......
It' a FAULT indication

What brand/model is that water heater?



As for shutting down 12V DC System...
Options:
See if there is a battery cut off switch by battery
Install one on Battery POS cable
Disconnect battery NEG cable (tape it off)




On Edit:
HERE is a Gulf Stream Owners Manual......some info but VERY generic (as most are)

[roadjunkie]

I flipped the switch for the water heater but the light stayed on.

[bob213]

Check for a battery cut-off switch. If you don't have one you can disconnect a wire on the battery. Make sure you re-connect before towing to make sure breakaway switch has power. Make sure there is water in that water heater tank before you turn it on. Sounds like water heater switch is on...if so turn it off. Good luck..