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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery Drain
    Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 11:04am
If you have a dc current meter that will work better because you can quantify how much current is flowing. If you only have a voltmeter you can use toyanvil's approach to see which circuits have a load on them. But with a modern digital voltmeter the internal resistance of the meter is high (more than a megohm) so you don't see a difference between a large current load and a small one. 
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Tibof View Drop Down
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Posts: 115 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 10:51am
The problem is refrigerator related (converter is new PD replacement).  When on shore power, the problem occurred.  On propane, the batteries come up and stay up.  Out for a week with no issues as long was fridge is on propane.  Now have to diagnose further.  Toyanvil has the right approach IMHO.  I have the instruments.  
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Posts: 157 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 7:12pm
I would start with unhooking the battery so it is stand alone and see if it drains down, if it does the battery is bad. If it is okay I would hook up only the + cable to the battery and not the - cable, then hook up a multimeter to the - side of the battery and - cable end checking for volts (the higher the volts, the higher the draw) if your volts are close to 12 volts remove the DC fuses one at a time checking volts, when you get to the problem the volts will drop on the multimeter. That will let you know what circuit is the draw. I hope this makes sense.
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Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
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Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 4:10pm
Originally posted by Tibof

When I said batteries seemed to test good, I meant they have passed voltage, continuity and load.  I was attempting to move on from there. They are Interstate 27,  4 years old and well maintained.  Stored inside each winter on a battery minder.  I will now proceed to test all other possibilities.  I was hoping it might be something obvious that others have experienced.  Everyone's input is appreciated.  

I've had my LA's gone well over 10yrs, at reduced capacity mind ya, they do wear down. My last were 15yrs old as I traded the cores in. I am a firm believer that batteries (at least Pba's) need to be used, constantly. Even letting them just sit over the winter to me is hurting them. Just me and what I do.. I keep a low draw on them and cycle dis-charge/charge through the winter.

I still recommend going through the charge cycle and giving the battery a solid rest period and checking. If issues show themselves, do test per cell. If you've done this already.. What were the readings?

My impression, with many unknowns, if this battery is dis-charging without any draw on it, you have corrosion inside (basically a short). Cell testing will show this.

Do let us know how this goes and what you've done.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 10:45am
If you have or are able to eliminate the possibility of stray trailer loads then there is a capacity problem. 4 or 5 years is a pretty typical lifetime for lead acid batteries, they might be done. When you say they passed a load test what were they loaded with? The short duration load testers they use for SLI (starter, lights, ignition) auto batteries aren't meant to check capacity on deep cycle batts. 

I'd suggest disconnecting them from any load in the trailer, charging them well, then put them on a known load for a known length of time. Group 27's should be good for 80-100 amphours, but try not to ever take them down that low. Take em down to 50% or so and use Olddawgsrule's chart. 

If you don't have one already I'd also suggest you get a multimeter with dc current capability, aka a hall effect clamp on probe. They are pretty cheap nowadays and are great for sorting stuff like this out. 
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Posts: 115 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 10:25am
When I said batteries seemed to test good, I meant they have passed voltage, continuity and load.  I was attempting to move on from there. They are Interstate 27,  4 years old and well maintained.  Stored inside each winter on a battery minder.  I will now proceed to test all other possibilities.  I was hoping it might be something obvious that others have experienced.  Everyone's input is appreciated.  
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Posts: 1221 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 10:15am
I don't know if your saying the battery doesn't hold a charge, or it is being drained by something? I am going to offer 1 thing I can think of, if your problem is something is draining the battery. Near the t.v. is a small push button, it's an antennae booster switch. If that is left on, it will drain a lot of power. If the lite is lit, it's on. Hope that helps. 
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 8:29am
An inexpensive battery hydrometer is a useful way to check your batteries.  Test each cell with the hydrometer.  All should test about the same.  If one is an oddball, you probably have a problem with your battery.  

I agree with OG and Olddawgs's comments too.
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Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
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Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 6:20am
Chuckled when I read the response, but... What are they (as OG asks) and how do you test.

I am a believer in voltage testing, but again, it's in the how it's done.

Get them on the charger and charge 'em up. Let them rest 24hrs (6-12hrs will give you idea) of if something is wrong. That rest period is important. You should have about 12.7v at hat point 

If you seeing an issue you can test cell by cell and confirm just how bad (like one is much worst than all others).

Much of this still depends on how you have treated (maintained your batteries).

Give it a run and let us know.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2020 at 5:58am
Podwerk's facetious point was I think that you didn't give us a whole lot of information so we could help you.

When you say the batteries test good I assume you mean that when charged their voltage is OK? That means very little, the true test of a battery is of course how much capacity it holds. 

What would help us help you is if we could know a few things like

what batteries you have (type and capacity rating)
how old are they
how have they been treated (overcharged, undercharged, storage procedure, plates allowed to be exposed, etc)
what was the voltage when they tested good (to check that charge them then disconnect them completely for about and hour, then measure the voltage)
when they went down quickly, what were you running with them and for how long.
What voltage were they at after running down.

Happy to help, just need a bit more to go on. 
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