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12-07-2022, 05:33 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Bellevue NE
Posts: 21
M.O.C. #32061
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Montana 3761 FL Dead Battery
Do you know why the battery would be dead after a week of storage with everything turned off? We used our camper for over a week and had it plugged in the entire time and we had no trouble towing or parking it after winterizing it. It is parked in doors so the solar panels did not get any light. I turned off the battery switch and just a week later the rig was dead and we couldn’t open the slides or anything else.
Why? What am I missing?
This Montana is new to us and we used it three times before we parked it. I have no idea what we missed. Please send any suggestions.
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12-07-2022, 05:45 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
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Very simple: The Battery Disconnect Switch DOES NOT shut everything down. Only way to totally disconnect is to remove the Negative battery cable.
Believe me, you are not the first to have this happen.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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12-07-2022, 05:46 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Bellevue NE
Posts: 21
M.O.C. #32061
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Thanks I bought a blade disconnect. Should I put it in the positive or negative terminal?
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12-07-2022, 05:48 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
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Best on the Negative terminal
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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12-07-2022, 05:49 PM
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#5
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Established Member
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Bellevue NE
Posts: 21
M.O.C. #32061
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Thanks
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12-07-2022, 06:19 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,547
M.O.C. #2283
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If you have ran the battery completely dead it’s probably ruined or at least severely damaged.
Lynwood
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12-08-2022, 05:48 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mlh
If you have ran the battery completely dead it’s probably ruined or at least severely damaged.
Lynwood
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Since it was just for a week and probably the first time it has been deeply discharged, I doubt that it is ruined. Before buying a new battery, I'd put it on a charger and see how it responds.
Lynwood is correct in that persistent discharging a battery to a dead state will absolutely ruin a battery.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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12-08-2022, 10:48 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,945
M.O.C. #5651
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I don't remember exact numbers, but FL batteries can be discharged something link 4-500 times. When you run them to 0, this knocks off a bunch down to like 300 times. Again numbers just guess/ball park.
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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12-08-2022, 11:16 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: everywhere, USA
Posts: 280
M.O.C. #28634
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I had that happen to us when we initially got our RV. I charged the battery back up and it was fine. I am sure it took some life out of it. but it performed fine for the near term.
__________________
2021 Montana 3761FL, 9 LIFPO4 batteries & 1700 watts of panels w/ Multiplus II 3K inverter and 30amp DC to DC charger from truck. 8k Dexter axles w/ Kodiak disc brakes.
2019 6.7 diesel F350 DRW with Banks derringer and 4"exhaust, airlift bags, 25k B & W Companion hitch, 45 gal. aux. diesel tank and 14k Winch, just in case!
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12-09-2022, 10:02 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Lamesa
Posts: 621
M.O.C. #26010
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For reference review the attached Interstate battery link;
https://www.intechtrailers.com/image...nce-Manual.pdf
Note the bottom left of page 4. As you can see one complete discharge (100%) reduces the number of charges you could get from a new battery by almost 90%. To me that is effectively "ruined". This happened to me with 2 new Interstate batteries when I left my trailer at the dealership for a couple of weeks; they pulled the breakaway pin and killed them both. I provided them a copy of this chart and demanded 2 new batteries and they complied.
Being aware of battery usage, state of charge and regular maintenance is very important in getting the best service from them.
__________________
Danny and Susan wife of 55 years
2019 Ram Laramie 3500 6.4 4x4 CC 4.10 SRW
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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12-10-2022, 03:16 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
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If you have a residential refrigerator may I suggest you put two batteries in your unit if you only have one. One is not near enough power to sustain a residential frig and even two can be iffy a times. Just remember you should not put a new battery in with one that has been used and especially if it has been nearly drained. You have to put in two NEW batteries. The old battery will bleed the new battery down to the old battery level and shorten the life of the new battery. As far as I'm concerned a dealer that puts in only one battery in a new Montana, no matter what the size, and especially with a residential frig is just ripping the buyer off because they do not understand the power usage of a residential frig and how long a single battery will last.
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12-10-2022, 03:56 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,678
M.O.C. #24086
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Invest in a Victron BMV-712 battery monitor. You can check your State of Charge (SoC) from your phone.
As others have mentioned try not to go below 50% soc for longer battery life.
This chart is for Flooded Lead Acid (FLA) batteries.
Lithium batteries can go to 0% without damage, however for longer life it is recommended to not go below 10%.
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12-11-2022, 04:50 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 538
M.O.C. #25828
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Somewhat related to the OP..........does the Solarflex system charge the batteries with the battery switch OFF (not plugged in the shore power) or does the battery switch have to be ON?
__________________
2020 Montana 3780RL fifth wheel
2016 F-350 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab Long Bed DRW
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12-11-2022, 05:51 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Shingle Springs
Posts: 2,202
M.O.C. #30417
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Solar charges regardless.
__________________
Tony & Donna
2022 Montana HC, 295RL, Solar Flex 400, Onan 3600 LPG, 2K inverter, 200AH Lithium. 2020 GMC Denali 2500 6.6 Duramax, Demco 21K Auto Slide
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12-11-2022, 07:29 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: woodstock
Posts: 542
M.O.C. #8174
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The kill switch doesn’t turn everything off disconnect the battery cable
__________________
Ed
Montana Master
Woodstock Ga
2020 3931 FB Legacy
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