how long does your battery last?

[clg82]

Well I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend camping! I have a couple questions after camping this weekend in Mammoth with no hookups. Our 18ft TT only has one battery and I had it charging for three days prior to us leaving. While camping I noticed after our first day there when we were going to bed that the lights were very dim and the water pump was hardly working. Didn't think anything of it but the next morning the "Check" light was eluminated on the fridge. Checked the propane and that was still good so after reading the manual the fridge needs at least 9 volts to stay on....apparently the battery dropped below that.....after running our generator the next day all day I checked the batter with an ohm meter and it was only regestering 11 volts.....same thing happened our second night dim lights....heater wouldn't work when I tried to turn it on to warm up the trailer for a few minutes....and the fridge "check" light came on again......is there something wrong with the battery or is something draining the battery so quickly that the generator can't keep up?? or am i expecting too much out of just one battery?

[AH64ID]

clg82 wrote:


you keep your trailer plugged in all the time? and did you buy the extra controller with it called the "progressive dynamics pendant"?

I don't, only a day or two before most trips. It will sometimes sit on shore power for 4-5 days between trips but that's the most.

The PD46xx comes with the "charge wizard" button on the DC distro panel, so you don't have to add the pendant. You can add the pendant if you want to thou. It's nice to be able to force boost mode when recharging with the generator.

[clg82]

AH64ID wrote:

clg82 wrote:
Well I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend camping! I have a couple questions after camping this weekend in Mammoth with no hookups. Our 18ft TT only has one battery and I had it charging for three days prior to us leaving. While camping I noticed after our first day there when we were going to bed that the lights were very dim and the water pump was hardly working. Didn't think anything of it but the next morning the "Check" light was eluminated on the fridge. Checked the propane and that was still good so after reading the manual the fridge needs at least 9 volts to stay on....apparently the battery dropped below that.....after running our generator the next day all day I checked the batter with an ohm meter and it was only regestering 11 volts.....same thing happened our second night dim lights....heater wouldn't work when I tried to turn it on to warm up the trailer for a few minutes....and the fridge "check" light came on again......is there something wrong with the battery or is something draining the battery so quickly that the generator can't keep up?? or am i expecting too much out of just one battery?

I am guessing Mammoth in Yellowstone? But then again I have Yellowstone on the brain right now.. could be wrong.

We spent the weekend at Canyon, and even with 2 300AH 6V's I charged them everyday. I never got below about 65% on the batteries, but had to keep on them. The cold and wet weather is hard on batteries if you are trying to keep the camper warmish and dry.

It's hard to recharge in Yellowstone if you are out looking at the sights because of the 8-8 generator rule. In cold or wet weather I will put a couple hours of gas in my generator and start it right at 8am, that way if we don't get back until 7, or later, we have some charge to help with the night.

This time of year I am normally good for 3-4 days, or more.. but Yellowstone weather is different in early September.

I did the PD4655 swap for my 55A WFCO, it was fairly simple and made a huge difference on recharge.

Some good advice in the thread.

you keep your trailer plugged in all the time? and did you buy the extra controller with it called the "progressive dynamics pendant"?

[clg82]

RedRocket204 wrote:

AH64ID wrote:
I am guessing Mammoth in Yellowstone?

OP is from CA so probably Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes area.

^^This lol

[RedRocket204]

AH64ID wrote:
I am guessing Mammoth in Yellowstone?

OP is from CA so probably Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes area.

[AH64ID]

clg82 wrote:
Well I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend camping! I have a couple questions after camping this weekend in Mammoth with no hookups. Our 18ft TT only has one battery and I had it charging for three days prior to us leaving. While camping I noticed after our first day there when we were going to bed that the lights were very dim and the water pump was hardly working. Didn't think anything of it but the next morning the "Check" light was eluminated on the fridge. Checked the propane and that was still good so after reading the manual the fridge needs at least 9 volts to stay on....apparently the battery dropped below that.....after running our generator the next day all day I checked the batter with an ohm meter and it was only regestering 11 volts.....same thing happened our second night dim lights....heater wouldn't work when I tried to turn it on to warm up the trailer for a few minutes....and the fridge "check" light came on again......is there something wrong with the battery or is something draining the battery so quickly that the generator can't keep up?? or am i expecting too much out of just one battery?

I am guessing Mammoth in Yellowstone? But then again I have Yellowstone on the brain right now.. could be wrong.

We spent the weekend at Canyon, and even with 2 300AH 6V's I charged them everyday. I never got below about 65% on the batteries, but had to keep on them. The cold and wet weather is hard on batteries if you are trying to keep the camper warmish and dry.

It's hard to recharge in Yellowstone if you are out looking at the sights because of the 8-8 generator rule. In cold or wet weather I will put a couple hours of gas in my generator and start it right at 8am, that way if we don't get back until 7, or later, we have some charge to help with the night.

This time of year I am normally good for 3-4 days, or more.. but Yellowstone weather is different in early September.

I did the PD4655 swap for my 55A WFCO, it was fairly simple and made a huge difference on recharge.

Some good advice in the thread.

[clg82]

volts i'm sorry lol

[mrw8i]

clg82 wrote:

mrw8i wrote:

clg82 wrote:
Anyone else with some input from my previous findings in my last post?

Pretty sure that is a single stage maintenance converter/charger. Puts about about 13.6 or 13.8 volts. Not ideal if you are trying to charge quickly. A few companies make replacement "guts" for that, in the $200.00+ dollar range. Lots of threads on this forum about 3-stage chargers and their pros/cons and reality of what a 3-stage charger really is.

I myself, had almost the same converter in my new/used 5th wheel and replaced it with a 3-stage charger with Bulk/absorption/maintenance. While out camping, I prefer to hit my batteries with a bulk charge of 14.4-14.8 volts until about 90% charged; as opposed to a 13.6V maintenance charge when I need it charged quickly.

Also sounds like your batteries might be done. Need to pull them out and try to get them properly charged and see if they are any good. I don't think your current converter/charger will be able to get them charged back up; whether they are good or not.

I already bought two new batteries.....so you're telling me that 12.6 OHM reading on my new battery means its bad now too?!? also strange question but while we were camping and I had this issues if I would have had the leads crossed on the battery coming from the trailer would this have drained it even faster? or would nothing have worked at all to begin with....

You keep saying Ohm. I've never tested my battery or charging system using Ohms. Ohms will give you resistance, possible looking for a short in a wire. I have no idea what an acceptable range of ohms is across a 12V battery.

If you are saying you are measuring 12.6 volts at the battery, those sound charged.

I use both amps and volts to check when charging. Amps is not easy to measure, requires a special tool that clamps around a single cable (that is DC capable) - or a shunt on the negative cable and a meter that hooks to that shunt to measure amps (load across the shunt).

It's possible to ruin a converter/charger if the cables were crossed. I think the Progressive mentioned has protection in case that happens.

[mrw8i]

clg82 wrote:

smkettner wrote:
:E Magnetek :E

Note the label says 1/2 amp average charge rate. That could take a week. Voltage would quickly pop to 13.6/13.8 if it had any real charging power. Actually these are well known for both very slow charging and for full time the voltage eventually gets to the 13.8 set point and starts boiling off the water in summer.

Definitely replace that converter. I recommend the Progressive Dynamics 4645 replacement.

is this a direct swap?

Yes, with a few chosen words thrown in.

I did this swap 1 month ago. 2 of my cable lengths were pretty tight with the new one where they attach to the fuse board, I could have used another 1 inch - had to pull and pull to try get that inch I needed (not something I recommend). Screw holes off 1/16" when screwing into the old sheet metal (not unexpected), etc. Make sure you use the new supplied screws.

You really should understand both A/C and D/C if you are going to to this yourself.

[clg82]

thanks everyone I will look into getting a new converter that was suggested....

[time2roll]

Here is a pic to help demonstrate:



I think it is the Blue and Red that tie together onto the new converter positive terminal.

[opnspaces]

clg82 wrote:
Right now I'm showing 12.68 and 12.62 on both new batteries that I bought when I returned from camping a couple of days ago....are both of these bad as well!?!?!?

Your batteries are fine, 12.6 - 12.7 is fully charged. 🙂 The concern is for the charging rate of your charger. If the trailer is at home try this test.

Leave it unplugged from shore power and turn on all the inside lights for an hour.

Then turn off all the inside lights, wait 10 - 30 minutes and take a voltage reading at the battery.

Now plug the trailer in and take another voltage reading at the battery.

Maybe wait another 30 minutes and take a third voltage reading while plugged in.

What are the three readings that you get?

[time2roll]

12.65+ is generally a good battery and is fully charged.

Yes the 4545 is designed as a direct replacement. Kit comes with a new fuse board. Magnetek has a separate charging circuit so you will need to tie two colored wires together when you pop in the new fuse panel. Fuse panel should have the wizard button to shift between Boost, Normal, and Float modes.

The difference in charging will be amazing.

[clg82]

smkettner wrote:
:E Magnetek :E

Note the label says 1/2 amp average charge rate. That could take a week. Voltage would quickly pop to 13.6/13.8 if it had any real charging power. Actually these are well known for both very slow charging and for full time the voltage eventually gets to the 13.8 set point and starts boiling off the water in summer.

Definitely replace that converter. I recommend the Progressive Dynamics 4645 replacement.

is this a direct swap?

[clg82]

Right now I'm showing 12.68 and 12.62 on both new batteries that I bought when I returned from camping a couple of days ago....are both of these bad as well!?!?!?

[time2roll]

:E Magnetek :E

Note the label says 1/2 amp average charge rate. That could take a week. Three weeks if the battery is real low. Voltage would quickly pop to 13.6/13.8 if it had any real charging power. Actually these are well known for both very slow charging and for full time the voltage eventually gets to the 13.8 set point and starts boiling off the water in summer.

Definitely replace that converter. I recommend the Progressive Dynamics 4645 replacement.