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03-21-2019, 07:45 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Panama City
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #19223
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Battery/Inverter issues
I have a 2017 Montana 3911FB with the residential style fridge. Whenever I unplug Ac power to travel I turn my Inverter which is a WFCO WF51510Hp on. It runs fine for only about 2 hours before it kills the (2) 12 volt batteries in parallel. Is this normal or do I have battery failure. I took both batteries out and charged them all day.
I’m thinking I have 3 options here
1. Replaced both batteries which are 2 years old
2. Getting (2) more 12v batteries and parallel all 4 batteries
3. Buying (4) 6v batteries and run them in series
It would be nice to be able to boondock or travel long distance with losing all the food in fridge!
If anyone has any advise for me it would be much appreciated
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03-21-2019, 08:03 PM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Chiefland
Posts: 117
M.O.C. #17939
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When hooked to your TV and driving should keep the batteries charged
__________________
Art and Linda
2007 F250,2000 Montana 2850 RK
2017 F350,2016 Montana 3721 RL
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03-21-2019, 08:29 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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if the two 12 volt batteries are the ones that came with your rig they may have about 100 amp hours between them of usable capacity. I am not too sure about the TV altenator being able to keep up with the draw on the batteries. I would recommend using 4 6V deep cycle batteries. Hook two each in series to produc e 12vdc and then connect those two strings in parallell to double the available amp hour capacity.
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SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
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03-21-2019, 09:01 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,931
M.O.C. #20477
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Jimmy,
First - welcome to the forum!
A battery monitor would also be very helpful. You may have other electric loads that are running your batteries down early. Even with small group 24 batteries you should get more than 2 hours. Your batteries may have been ruined by going below 50% several times.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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03-21-2019, 09:16 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Haysville
Posts: 107
M.O.C. #21399
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Here is some battery information i found the other day, on lead acid
The dealer installed 2 group 24, so that give us half of the total amp hours, we do we only have 75 amp hour that is usable
After driving for 6 hour, everything was fine for us
In the future we will upgrade to 4 - 6 volt
SOME COMMON BATTERY SIZE CODES USED ARE: (RATINGS ARE APPROXIMATE)
U1 34 to 40 Amp hours 12 volts
Group 24 70-85 Amp hours 12 volts
Group 27 85-105 Amp hours 12 volts
Group 31 95-125 Amp hours 12 volts
4-D 180-215 Amp hours 12 volts
8-D 225-255 Amp hours 12 volts
Golf Cart & T-105 180 to 225 Amp hours 6 volts
L-16, L16HC etc. 340 to 415 Amp hours 6 volts
__________________
Brian and Tambra
Haysville
2018 - 3121RL - 2016 Ram 2500 6.4/4.10
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03-21-2019, 09:56 PM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Panama City
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #19223
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Yes I have drained them all the way down every time stored for 2 years.
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03-21-2019, 11:16 PM
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#7
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: West Jordan
Posts: 85
M.O.C. #22840
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy1040
Yes I have drained them all the way down every time stored for 2 years.
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Lead Acid batteries should never be taken below 50%. Each time they go below damages them so you could have bad batteries. I would give them a full charge and have them tested.
__________________
Glade and Laura
2019 3791RD Montana
2018 GMC 3500 6.6 diesel short bed
Not full timers yet but soon
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03-22-2019, 09:07 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
Posts: 161
M.O.C. #17873
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy1040
I have a 2017 Montana 3911FB with the residential style fridge. Whenever I unplug Ac power to travel I turn my Inverter which is a WFCO WF51510Hp on. It runs fine for only about 2 hours before it kills the (2) 12 volt batteries in parallel. Is this normal or do I have battery failure. I took both batteries out and charged them all day.
I’m thinking I have 3 options here
1. Replaced both batteries which are 2 years old
2. Getting (2) more 12v batteries and parallel all 4 batteries
3. Buying (4) 6v batteries and run them in series
It would be nice to be able to boondock or travel long distance with losing all the food in fridge!
If anyone has any advise for me it would be much appreciated
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I went with 3 100ah Lithium batteries with 530 watts of solar and I am fine and never lose power plus lithium will charge in 2 hours from zero plus you can use all the 300ah unlike acid flooded batteries you can only use 50% of the ah,s...But not cheap but they will last for 20 years
__________________
2015 Chevy 3500 Z71 Long Bed and 2019 Montana 3120RL 20th Anniversary
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03-22-2019, 09:09 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Ran a res refer on a trip for 13 hours. TV kept battery (yes only one dealer installed battery) charged.
If your batteries are being discharged until they die-- that is your problem. You have killed them.
Get a battery disconnect.
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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03-22-2019, 09:45 AM
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#10
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Saugerties
Posts: 44
M.O.C. #21360
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Check the voltage at the rear plug on your tow vehicle with it running. You should be getting a reading around 14.4. If not check the 7 way for broken / disconnected wires. If it is around 14.4 plug in and and measure voltage at battery. If it's not around 14.4 check umbilical cord on the trailer. If you get the 14.4 reading then you must likely killed your batteries.
__________________
Dennis & Denise
2018 Montana Legacy 3811
2012 Ram 3500 4x4
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03-22-2019, 05:21 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Mena
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #17723
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I have had similar experiences with my rig.
First, make sure the ice maker is turned off. It draws a tremendous amount of power.
Second, sometimes the up and down voltage from the TV will cause the inverter to shut down. (it thinks there is a sudden drop in available power) I've been able to turn it off then back on and continue down the road.
Thirdly, got tired of the above, and upgraded my batteries to 4 - 6 volt golf cart batteries. Now I can drive all day without any issue with the inverter. (and run the heater when needed, too!)
__________________
Ron & Rhonda
2021 3230CK Montana Legacy w/ Super SolarFlex
(old rig) 2015 Montana 3611RL 8K I.S., Disk Brakes, Sailun Tires
2015 F350 XLT Crew Dually 20K B&W Companion
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03-22-2019, 07:15 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Myrtle Beach
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #21038
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I have 2 gp 27 deep cycle lead acid batteries, my Ram has a 220 amp alternator, we run the inverter on the road for 7 - 8 hours with no battery issues........
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03-25-2019, 07:04 PM
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#13
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Panama City
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #19223
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Thanks for all the replies. I’m gonna go with the (4) 6 volt batteries!
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03-25-2019, 07:41 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy1040
Thanks for all the replies. I’m gonna go with the (4) 6 volt batteries!
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You should be happy with the outcome of your choice. However do not discharge your new batteries below 50%. DOD, including while in storage. You may also want to invest in a good shunt and battery meter as the OEM LED lights provided are worthless.
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