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Topic ClosedDead batteries?
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wvanauken View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Mar 2019
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Posts: 29 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Dead batteries?
    Posted: 26 Mar 2019 at 9:43am
TV booster was off. Probably more on the .25 amp range. Still significant and can draw the battery down. Battery switch does the trick. Thanks. 
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2019 at 5:46am
0.25 is in the normal range ppl here report. 0.5 is high. If its that much then something is probably still on somewhere. TV booster is one possible culprit.  
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wvanauken View Drop Down
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Posts: 29 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 8:41pm
I checked the for parasitic draw on my trailer with everything turned off and it was about .25-.50 amps which is significant. The battery does supply voltage to the CO/propane detector and memory/display for the radio. Not sure what else could be drawing current. At any rate, I did what StephenH did and installed a battery switch. I also drilled holes in the battery box too for drainage.
2019 R-pod 180
2008 Toyota Tundra
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wvanauken View Drop Down
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Posts: 29 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 8:31pm
I would check the switch. Not sure what type of switches they are using on the tongue for the jack and the small led light switch next to it, but my LED switch failed and the dealer replaced it. Seems that there is a potential for moisture contamination on the front of these when pulling in the rain. I also had moisture contamination in the front oval work light. The dealer replaced this also. 
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2019 at 2:19pm
The battery will still self discharge and stratify when disconnected over a period of time which depends on how warm or cold it is where you are. If its warm as short as a few weeks, if cold as long as a few months.  So, best bet is to leave it connected to the charger or a solar module/charge controller if you can, or remove it and put it on a trickle charger. 
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1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
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Shane View Drop Down
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Joined: 09 Sep 2018
Location: Northern IL.
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Posts: 98 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2019 at 2:12pm
As far as the battery draining after you let it sit for a week or two I would add a battery disconnect like I have, that way you can disconnect the battery so it will not drain. But make sure you turn the disconnect back on so that way when you hook you tow vehicle it will charge the batteries.
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E&JOlson View Drop Down
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2019 at 9:07am
Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions.
I will try to clean the battery terminals and the power jack connections to the hitch frame. Still hoping I don't have to replace the batteries.
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Jholler View Drop Down
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Posts: 99 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2019 at 8:29pm
If the ground turns out to be the problem, a short 10ga wire with ring terminals run from a mounting bolt to the propane tray hold down bolt will provide a solid ground.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2019 at 7:34pm
+1 to Jholler. Check the bolts for the jack as they serve as the ground. If there is corrosion, there is no connection and the jack won't work.

As for the battery boxes, drill a couple of 1/4" holes in the bottom of the battery box. I did that the first time I found water in there. If water drains, there is no way for it to accidentally flood the battery if a cell cap is loose. Also, I agree with an above comment about disconnecting the battery if it is not being used and the RPod is not plugged in. I installed a battery cut-off switch (see my mods for picture) for this purpose. Since my RPod sits in our driveway plugged in when we are home, the only time it gets used is when I drop it off for service where it won't be plugged in.
StephenH
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Jholler View Drop Down
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Posts: 99 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2019 at 4:02pm
There also may be corrosion on the bolts mounting the jack to the tongue. That's where it's grounded, so it would explain. The jack not working.
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