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Old 03-04-2018, 07:29 AM   #1
Baker126
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Battery Life

I am a new to the RV world and started off with a 2018 High County 375FL. The unit was purchased in November and used one time that month. It sat in storage until Thursday (March 1) when it was pulled out to do some boondocking.

I was hoping to not use the generator too much but it seems the two batteries I have die very quickly...within a couple hours. I knew the batteries were low when I pulled the camper out of storage so I hook up the shore line to the generator and let it run for eight hours. Shut off for the night and by 2am, the batteries were dead. I know this because the furnace was off...and I was freezing...

There is a residential refrigerator in this unit which is powered by an inverter. I had the inventor off overnight because I knew that would cause some issues. Other than that, nothing was running but the furnace.

Thinking the converter was not charging the batteries enough, I obtained a battery charger and connected that to the batteries yesterday. The generator ran for eigth hours connected to the shore power. The charger ran from an extension cord to the batteries charging for the eight hours. I shut off the generator at 4am and got up at 8:30. The battery indicator on the rig shows “Fair”. I did leave the refrigerator on when I shut off the generator but the salesman advised the refrigerator could be run for eight hours before there would be any issue.

My question is this...how long should my batteries last with minimal draw like the furnace? I was hoping to primarily use the batteries, starting the generator periodically to top off and use the microwave.

Thanks for any help.
 
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Old 03-04-2018, 08:41 AM   #2
DQDick
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One question first: Have you made sure the batteries are full of water?
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Old 03-04-2018, 09:45 AM   #3
jcurtis934
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The furnace will draw down normal battery/s in one night if it runs a lot. Which brings us to batteries. If the dealer stuck in two group 24 12vdc batteries, you don't have enough capacity. If you want to off grid it using furnace, then best to have four six volt Trojans wired in series and parallel for 400 plus amp hours of capacity...which you do not want to draw down to 200 amp hrs remaining. The more amp hrs of capacity, the better.
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Old 03-04-2018, 10:41 AM   #4
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Did you disconnect the batteries before going into storage? The unit still has battery draw if when the 12 volt disconnect is turned off.
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Old 03-04-2018, 10:54 AM   #5
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A residential fridge will draw between 100 and 600 watts. Without doing the arithmetic, an inverter cannot keep up for long, especially if you have a single or even dual Gr 24 or 27 batteries, Add a couple big golf cart batteries and you might be good for a day. Throw in a furnace, a few non-LED lights and a few other electric components and that will shorten the use time immensely.


I really don't understand why you would want a residential fridge unless you are full time or virtually rooted to a CG site. They sound like they would be great but really, IMHO, don't do the job well as a traveling weekender/vacationer.
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Old 03-04-2018, 12:27 PM   #6
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Eight hours is likely not long enough to recharge your batteries and the furnace blower pulls a lot of power out of the batteries very quickly. Concur that 4 6 volt golf batteries is the way to go and then recharge with solar and/or generator.

If your batteries were run way down they may have been ruined.
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Old 03-04-2018, 12:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ Traveler View Post
If your batteries were run way down they may have been ruined.
They may be sulfated due to the parasitic draw of the trailer while in storage. If you can get a big enough charger you might try to desulfate them. Otherwise get ye to a battery store. I have used Duracell 6V 235AH from Batterys+ with success.
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Old 03-04-2018, 04:49 PM   #8
Baker126
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Batteries

Thanks for all the prompt replies. I pulled the batteries and checked the water. All was good so I ran them to the local auto parts store and had them checked. All checked out ok. I will invest in a couple more to see if that helps.

Again, thanks for the help!
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Old 03-04-2018, 07:42 PM   #9
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First of all, welcome to the forum.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baker126 View Post
The generator ran for eigth hours connected to the shore power. The charger ran from an extension cord to the batteries charging for the eight hours.
Do I understand correctly that:
1. You do not have shore power available
2. You ran the generator instead of connecting to shore power
3. You used a charger powered by the generator because you suspected your converter was not working properly.

How ling did your batteries last after this test?

The others are correct; the batteries installed by the dealer (the factory does not install batteries) are probably junk and need to go. I installed 3 12V 100AH AGM batteries to give me a capacity 300AH. I elected to stay with the 12V batteries because there is only room in my battery compartment to install three batteries, so, at the most, I could have only installed two 6V batteries (have to be in pairs) for a total of about 200AH.

The furnace blower is probably the biggest 12V device on your trailer. When we boondock, I don't run it. My last unit had a catalytic heater; on my list for the Montana.

I agree with the statement about the residential refrigerator; it's not for those of us that camp a lot off the grid.
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Old 03-04-2018, 08:51 PM   #10
Baker126
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Yes that’s correct. I ran the generator and have no access to shore power. I do regret getting the residential refrigerator. I wasn’t thinking much about boondocking when the rig was purchased.

The batteries lasted about four hours after the generator was shut off.
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Old 03-04-2018, 09:41 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baker126 View Post
Yes that’s correct. I ran the generator and have no access to shore power. I do regret getting the residential refrigerator. I wasn’t thinking much about boondocking when the rig was purchased.

The batteries lasted about four hours after the generator was shut off.
I would expect more from dual batteries, but not much, maybe only one night. Hard to say; depends on how much your furnace ran and what the current draw of the fridge inverter is. Also a lot of other variables; lights, water pump, etc, etc.

My Montana came with only one 24 series battery but we did not use it much before upgrading. I would not have expected it to last more than a day and that is without using the furnace or a residential refer.

You should get bigger/better batteries and if you are going to camp off the grid consider solar. Of course it is easy for us to spend your money.
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Old 03-05-2018, 06:01 AM   #12
Dave W
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For sure a Gr 24 battery or even two wont last. The dealer installed a single 24 in ours when new. It would barely complete a disconnected full set up before it died. I installed a Gr 29/31 and it does well but for sure would never support much boondocking time or a res fridge and the furnace.
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Old 03-05-2018, 10:51 AM   #13
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the Max a residential fridge pulls is 3amps or 360 watts. I pulled that information off of the fridge.
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Old 11-02-2018, 08:24 AM   #14
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The indicator you have for battery condition that came with the rig is called an "idiot light" for a reason. The manufacturers think we are idiots who don't really want to know the charge condition of our batteries. With a proper battery monitor you can know what you are drawing and if fully charged means fully charged. Like a tire monitor lets you know if you are about to have a flat, a good battery monitor lets you know if you are ruening your batteries.....cost effective.
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Old 11-02-2018, 12:01 PM   #15
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Additional reason for a good battery monitor;what I have been told is the watt rating on the back of all appliances is the maximum and there to protect the manufacturer from law suites....makes sense. With a good monitor one can determine what it actually is and plan your system accordingly. Asking your significant other to use the hair dryer on low rather than hi could make a difference.
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Old 11-02-2018, 01:54 PM   #16
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I suspect they were not 100% charged.
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Old 11-02-2018, 02:55 PM   #17
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first you killed the dealer instaled units. most likly cheap crap anyhow, might even have been used battries.
but yes fit in at least 4 , - 6 of them is great 8 is more than ample 6volt golf cart battries.
but they must be treated right or they die.
never draw down below 60% charge. run gen all day get a four stage charger.
and read up on how to feed them, lots of videos out there on this.
you do the work and it will cost a good grand. batteries (4 of them), switches, wires, etc.
charger more.
go lithum and the cost goes into orbit a grand for each batterie.
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Old 11-02-2018, 04:58 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packnrat View Post
first you killed the dealer installed units.

but they must be treated right or they die.
Don't confuse the man....Batteries don't die, they get murdered. Straight up.

Treat them right, don't ignore them. Even in storage they need attention regularly.
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Old 11-02-2018, 10:11 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by jeffba View Post
the Max a residential fridge pulls is 3amps or 360 watts. I pulled that information off of the fridge.
So that takes 36 amps DC. Won't take long to kill a single battery.
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Old 11-02-2018, 11:05 PM   #20
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Just before someone corrects me, it is actually 33.12 amps DC....lol. It is just easier to divide the watts by 10.
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