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Old 05-01-2006, 09:36 AM   #1
captbanjo
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bristol
Posts: 396
M.O.C. #1269
battery life and heat

Does anyone know if running heat throughout a night should drain a new battery almost all the way down? That's what happened to us this weekend. The battery was new that day and the temps in Rhode Island went down to the thirties so the heat ran fairly steadily but not non-stop. By morning we were down to one lit dot left in power and the battery actually ran out in mid-action of sliding in. Of course, during the dark hours we ran some lights and water pump, etc as well. This was really the first time we had relied upon the battery for dry camping as we are normally hooked up.
 
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Old 05-01-2006, 12:10 PM   #2
firetrucker
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M.O.C. #2165
Wayne,

If you only have one battery, that's about all that it will support, especially if it is one of the run-of-the-mill batteries that most dealers install. Moving the slides in and out requires a lot of juice, and the battery voltage is critical. That's been a common complaint.

At least install another battery in parallel, and don't wait too long so that the batteries are fairly well matched. If you're serious about dry camping (boondocking), then consider upgrading your batteries, maybe even to golf cart batteries. These are high capacity 6V batteries installed in series.

You might even want to consider a small generator, like the 1000W or 2000W Honda, Yamaha, or Kipor, to keep your batteries topped off. They are very quiet, lightweight, and almost indispensible.

Bob
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Old 05-01-2006, 12:26 PM   #3
Bill and Ann
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When we head south in Nov. we usually have a couple of nights with the furnace running. We use lights and the pump also. Haven't had any problems. I do leave the truck running while putting slides out and in just to play it safe. I also have 2 batteries but they are not in parallel. I have a marine switch which I use to alternate batteries.
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Old 05-01-2006, 12:40 PM   #4
rlwhit
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M.O.C. #3189
The fan for the heater is 12 volts. It will drain a battery overnight. Do as others have suggested. Happy camping.
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Old 05-01-2006, 12:48 PM   #5
virgil47
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Of course it depends on how much the blower was on as well as the size and condition of your battery.Check and make sure your frig is on GAS. Don't really know for sure but when dry camping I also always change the hot water heater electric switch to off.
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Old 05-01-2006, 04:18 PM   #6
ols1932
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Bill and Ann

When we head south in Nov. we usually have a couple of nights with the furnace running. We use lights and the pump also. Haven't had any problems. I do leave the truck running while putting slides out and in just to play it safe. I also have 2 batteries but they are not in parallel. I have a marine switch which I use to alternate batteries.
Bill,
You will get a lot better service out of your batteries if you do connect them in parallel instead of alternating batteries. You'll have more immediate storage and amperage available. It's more than just having 12 volts. You need the amperage also.

Orv
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Old 05-02-2006, 03:36 AM   #7
thundercat
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Another thing to check is the climate control switch on the refrigerator. It also runs on 12V and can be a heavy draw. It is a black toggle switch just over the freezer door but tucked under the lip so that it doesn't show from the front. As I under stand it, it will heat the face of the refrigerator so that the door gaskets won't frost up and freeze shut.
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Old 05-02-2006, 04:08 AM   #8
cargary
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Another item to be concerned about using too much battery voltage is the ampilfier or signal booster for the TV signal, which in my case is located in a wall cabinet below the bedroom TV cabinet. I have been told to turn this switch off when not using and not plugged in to electric service due to the power requirement of this item.
Gary & Carole
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Old 05-02-2006, 05:17 AM   #9
DHenry
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While I was in Quartzsite this last January we used the heater every night and by morning both of my batteries were ran down. I had to use the generator to recharge them for the next night. My two 12V batteries are connected in parallel.
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Old 05-02-2006, 05:50 PM   #10
virgil47
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DHenry,

I think you have some other simultaneous draws on your batteries. Hard to believe that just the blower is drawing down two batteries in one night. Have you checked all the things that have been mentioned on this thread/
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Old 05-03-2006, 04:09 AM   #11
lightningjack11
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I used to have a problem with mine. One night I woke up with no heat due to a dischaged battery. (Shore power connected)

I did some troubleshooting and found that my 12V fan was connected to the converter at the one of the three battery output terminals. This meant that the fan would draw both on the the battery and the charger. It was not enough power for the fan so I switched the fan to one of the normal outputs of the converter. Have not had trouble since.

If you are without shore power one battery is not enough to run the heater fan all night.
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Old 05-04-2006, 10:41 PM   #12
2Seekers
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lightninjack11, How did you identify the furnace fan wire at the converter? Was this accomplished by backtracking from the fuse panel? Did you get a lower voltage reading at the previous connection point than the present one? I am very interested in this since I have also had some furnace problems. A few weeks ago we went to bed with the furnace working and awoke cold the next AM (shore power connected). I turned the heat off and on several times at the thermostat but each time the fan would run for 30 seconds and stop. I even tried turning the propane off and back on slowly to no avail. Also pulled the furnace fuse and replaced it with same result. I gave up at that point and made an appointment at Camping World. When I got there the tech turned the heat on at the thermostat and the furnace worked fine! He did check voltage later at limit switch - 13.4 volts. It has worked every time that I have tried it since then. I am concerned that the problem may still return. So, I would like to check where my fan is connected.

I did take advantage of this trip to CW to check the furnace to also add the 2nd AC.

Sorry this got so long.
Byron
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