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Kistler · 07-04-2005, 03:37 PM

My trailer is in covered storage; has been 3 weeks since our CA trip.....

We may not be going again until around Thanksgiving....how long will my batteries go without attention?

The daily afternoon temps run around 104-111 here, now.

**jcanavera** · 07-04-2005, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kistler

My trailer is in covered storage; has been 3 weeks since our CA trip.....

We may not be going again until around Thanksgiving....how long will my batteries go without attention?

The daily afternoon temps run around 104-111 here, now.

It really depends on the power draw. I've measured this on my '01 Safari and I found that if the master disconnect is left on, you are pulling .1 of an amp. If the master disconnect is turned off the draw is .01 amp. Obviously each year of trailer is different. If you know your amp hour rating of your battery(ies) you can calculate the life of the battery when its in storage.

I did this homework after leaving the disconnect switch on and going to pick up the trailer at its storage lot, and finding the battery too dead to operate the power jack. I never forgot to turn that switch off again.

My gut feeling is the battery will be exhausted if you are drawing current.

Jack

Kistler · 07-04-2005, 04:58 PM

Thank you, Jack.... so I will bring them home. Should I charge them once-in-a-while? I have one of those chargers that says it is "automatic" and it will hold a charge once it is up to snuff (my words

)

Do I dare put them in line with my emergency cables?

I really appreciate your advice. Since my father-in-law went on, I have no one.

He worked for Eaton Axle.

**jcanavera** · 07-04-2005, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kistler

Thank you, Jack.... so I will bring them home. Should I charge them once-in-a-while? I have one of those chargers that says it is "automatic" and it will hold a charge once it is up to snuff (my words

)

Do I dare put them in line with my emergency cables?

I really appreciate your advice. Since my father-in-law went on, I have no one.

He worked for Eaton Axle.

I have the old cheap manual charger. When I have the batteries home, I usually throw a charge on about once a month, and just before I take them back to the trailer. If you have an automatic charger, it will probably have a charge rate of no more than 2 amps when its in maintenance mode. Better yet if you have a book on the charger, read it. It will give you further information. Be sure to check the water level in the battery occasionally.

Jack

Kistler · 07-04-2005, 05:10 PM

Una ves mas, Thank you.

Kistler

Antique Pedaler · 07-04-2005, 06:06 PM

Don't know the affect yet, but the LP gas detector on the new trailer does not shut off even when the main power switch is turned off. May be no big deal because we have a solar panel on the roof. On the other hand it might as we keep the trailer inside a three-sided building. But then the solar is supposed to charge a little with just light instead of full sun.

**jcanavera** · 07-04-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antique Pedaler

Don't know the affect yet, but the LP gas detector on the new trailer does not shut off even when the main power switch is turned off. May be no big deal because we have a solar panel on the roof. On the other hand it might as we keep the trailer inside a three-sided building. But then the solar is supposed to charge a little with just light instead of full sun.

I'm assuming the .01 draw I measured when the master disconnect was turned off was the LP detector on my Safari.

Jack

Kistler · 07-04-2005, 06:25 PM

I thought when you turned that dial to "off" that is under my couch, that everything was off.....

Hmmmm....anyway, I'll bring the batteries home. I really was hoping to go up to CO for a while.

Kistler

ronpovey · 07-04-2005, 07:00 PM

Gas detector cannot be turned off,wired right to power.Only way to disconnect is to cut hot wire to detector. Cannot even put a on/off switch in line, it is illegal in Canada anyway.

Ron

grizzy · 07-04-2005, 07:34 PM

I added a battery disconnect after finding my battery down even with the trailer power switch turned off. I now open the switch bar at the battery and the battery stays up.

Kistler · 07-04-2005, 07:47 PM

Grizzy, and all of the others, thank you. Yeah guess I should buy those disconnect things.....kinda like the old time switches we had back home.

I just thought when I turned the power off at the converter (that thing that hums under the couch)

that everything was "off"

Kistler