I learned this summer that the reason my new Alpenlite came with two deep cycle batteries instead of one (like our old Lance 1150) is because electric (Atwood/ with remote control) jacks will not operate without two batteries installed in parallel. You can only operate two jacks at a time with one battery installed. (we had a battery short a cell and eliminated it from the system until we got home to replace it.) Also I learned that while plugged into shore power, or generator power neither has an effect on the jacks. They only run off two functional parallel batteries. I read many years ago on this forum that shore power superseded the batteries, that is not the case. I also learned this summer that my shower drains into the Black tank not the Grey. Only Bathroom sink and Kitchen sink drain into Grey. Black is Toilet and Shower. I never stop absorbing knowledge!

Interesting tidbit about having to have 2 batteries in parallel to run the jacks. Since 2 12 volts batteries in parallel should look exactly the same to the jacks as 1 battery (i.e. 12 volts), not sure why this would be. Does one battery just run down and the jacks stop working on low voltage?? My jacks will run several up/down cycles on a single battery. You may want to check your fully charged voltage on the batteries to make sure your charging system is working OK.

My grandpa said "you'll learn something new every day, if your not careful"

If your shower drains in to the black tank then I think something is wrong. My jacks run off one battery. They will also work without a battery. Your observation sounds unique.

languiduck wrote:If your shower drains in to the black tank then I think something is wrong. My jacks run off one battery. They will also work without a battery. Your observation sounds unique.x2 - but do not run jacks from inverter. The load is a little heavy for the inverter unless you have changed yours out to a higher amperage model.

HAH! We just learned a couple of weeks ago that our bathroom sink drains into the black water tank!!!! Who'd've guessed! Sure explains why that black tank was filling up so fast (and no, DH isn't all that full of XXXX)

I never stop learning! | Good Sam Community

Bedlam
Moderator
Aug 30, 2014
My guess is that the jacks were wired to terminals of the battery you removed. Since the battery is not in place to complete the circuit, the hacks are not getting power. Moving the leads to other battery should fix this until you have two batteries again.
trvsdad1
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
Big Boy jacks are the biggest Atwood makes. I can get the model number if you really need it. But some of the other forum members do not have the same size jacks on there camper, thus "mine go up and down all day with out a problem" type posts. The batteries have been replaced and fully charged. What I said previously was that all four jacks would not raise the camper with just one battery in place only two jacks were responding to the remote, if I push "all" on remote breaker tripped. So my deduction is that I need two batteries for proper operation. Again with the camper on shore power and one battery removed still no go. Thus my second deduction that they only operate on battery power.
languiduck
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
I dont have the answer to your question. But I would speculate possibly one of your batteries might be bad. I wouldn't think even the big jacks are supposed to draw that much current, but I wouldnt know either.
AnEv942
Nomad
Aug 29, 2014
Generally yes- you are correct. Most campers the jacks are powered/connected directly to battery(s). They dont run thru inverter/charger- but most will run better as your simply replacing or offsetting what the jacks are drawing-

Why when one battery removed they don't work is a puzzle-but many variables or coincidental issues that might be contributing and not considered. Why trying with charge source and one battery has no effect is even more a puzzle. My first thought is just not enough reserve- if 'test' was done after removing the bad battery likey the other battery was drained. Trying to think how battery wireing could /might cause this but cant see it. Dont know what 'big boy' jacks are, cant imaging they'd draw enough amps to stall, at least briefly should work. Meter on the battery might be interesting. Curious
Raften
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
My TC weighs 5 K and a single fully charged 12 volt battery will fully lift and lower it three times with no problem. I do not understand the two battery thing.
trvsdad1
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
The test we ran with one of the batteries out, was with the generator on and 2nd test (with Gen. off) plugged into shore power. Jacks would not work normally without BOTH batteries installed. Which led me to believe that the jacks use battery power only/always. I don't think the jacks are used through the inverter (as mentioned above to much amperage). I do know some of you with smaller campers use the smaller Atwood electric jacks. Mine are the big boys. If you can tell me why having one of the batteries out of system would stop shore power from running the jacks, please do tell. Our toilet and shower are directly over black tank, the grey is up against the rear of camper, both in the basement of course. Hope this adds some clarification.
languiduck
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
Youre saying that lifting your tc up one time will discharge your battery? That is crazy. I can lift and lower my TC 4-5 times back to back on battery power alone and there still be a bunch of juice left.
JacintoKid
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
Super_Dave wrote:
JacintoKid wrote:
My Lance 835 with Atwoods lifted the camper easily on one battery. The Arctic Fox 990 requires 2 batteries. The AF is almost twice as heavy so... makes sense to me.

Batteries aren't variable power source so how does it make sense?

I was able to lift the Lance 835 on one battery with reserve to spare. I am not able to lift the much heavier AF on one battery. It will discharge long before the camper is all the way up. Hence, a 2nd battery is required
dakonthemountai
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
AnEv942 wrote:
All 4 at the same time, on one battery? thats a lot of pull. Though there are other reasons to have 2 batteries, least of which I think would be to drive jacks?
Before I added our second battery jacks would work on 1 (though I only power 2 jacks at a time). I only use jacks with a charge source, truck running on shore etc. they will grunt otherwise-lifting.

I should disclose that on my Weekender I can only run 2 at a time from one side. My new to me Lance has a remote for all 4, but it also has 2 batteries, so I really can't compare. Sorry, I didn't realize we were talking all 4 at once. And yes, if the 2 I run at the same time do go faster with the engine running, plugged into shore power, etc.

Dak
skyhammer
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
My Atwood jacks run much faster on shore power and generator power and I usually run all 4 jacks at the same time.Also, if I have the truck running and am plugged into the bed plug, the jacks run faster than on camper battery power alone, although not quite as fast if using shore power or generator power.
Only my bathroom sink and toilet drain into the black tank,shower and kitchen sink drain into the grey tank.

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