Battery losing voltage

[ChiefTodd]

When my Reflection 28BH is in storage my battery loses about one tenth of a volt every day. I have begun disconnecting the battery terminals when stored for an extended time. The battery disconnect switch is off but battery is still being slowly drained. Can anyone help with troubleshooting my problem.

[TheLexx]

I think the problem is the factory disconnect doesn't really turn the power off all the way and you have parasitic losses.

I'm looking for a good aftermarket switch so I won't have to physically unhook the batteries every time.

Anyone have a recommendation for a good disconnect?

BTW, if you've got the lead acid batteries, AFAIK you still have to check on the water level every so often even if the batteries are totally disconnected.

[jkwilson]

I think the problem is the factory disconnect doesn't really turn the power off all the way and you have parasitic losses.

I'm looking for a good aftermarket switch so I won't have to physically unhook the batteries every time.

Anyone have a recommendation for a good disconnect?

BTW, if you've got the lead acid batteries, AFAIK you still have to check on the water level every so often even if the batteries are totally disconnected.

For a good switch, check out Perko marine switches.

[sande005]

While your drain seems to be a bit higher than usual, this is a common issue with most RV's - not everything is turned off. Smoke/Propane detectors are still running, stereo still pulls power to keep the clock alive, etc. If you want to dig into it, you'll need a voltmeter and to start pulling fuses to see which circuits are still active. Then isolating what is on those circuits. But, as noted, the solution is to do as you do - fully disconnect the battery. Or add in a switch to do the same. Likely most manufactures don't wire it this way for safety concerns, and that doing so would also cut power to the emergency brakes if everything was killed. Others have rewired the available switch to do the same, but it can be kind of a project, depending on your particular trailer.

[ChiefTodd]

Thanks "sande005" didn't think about the small items that may be wired in to the battery all the time...I think I'll disconnect the battery for now and maybe in the future add a separate disconnect switch near the battery to insure all voltage is turned off during storage...Thanks, I feel better!!

[Cate&Rob]

I'm looking for a good aftermarket switch so I won't have to physically unhook the batteries every time.
Anyone have a recommendation for a good disconnect?

This is something I posted a while ago . . . but can't find that thread at the moment. With reference to the question about "a good aftermarket switch", Blue Seas makes a number of affordable good quality surface mount marine battery switches designed to handle high current. From a simple on/off to the four way switch shown in the attached. You can bring the original cable that went to the battery, to this switch and then run a new cable of at least the same size from this switch to the battery. Remember that if this switch is off, nothing will work including the emergency braking system. Of course, the landing gear won't work either so you can't hitch up the trailer anyway . . . which I find is always a good reminder to turn on the switch .

Rob

[butch50]

If you look at Rob's attached pictures on the original layout that he shows you can see the red battery cable going under the protective cover. There is a positive buss bar there with all kind of things hooked to it. What is wired to this buss has power to it all the time. This is what drains the batteries over time.

I just finished my inverter install with 2 Grp 31 AGM batteries and I wired the lead that would normally feed the buss bar to a Perko switch which is the same function of the Blue Sea. This way when I turn it to OFF everything from the battery to the coach is off.

[Fourpells]

I just wired one of the small solar panels to a plug that fits the solar connection on the 5th wheel and have had no issues. I used the same solar panel on our old 5th wheel too. If we don’t go anywhere in a few months I will check on the batteries and the water level. I have two 6 volt batteries.

Tony P

[cmcallaster]

I put a marine power shut off to cut all power usage, the problem was destroying my battery. Easy fix and $25 bucks to fix, now my solar panel is keeping battery charged.