Posted 2008-02-29 10:56 PM (#78400) Subject: New battery-----DEAD
Regular
Posts: 81
Ok not long ago I asked y'all recommendation on a new battery for the horse trailer. Well we got the Marine type like most suggested. Well went out there today to get some things out the the living qrts part, flip on the light and its dim Try the loading lights and they won't even come on. It hasn't been in the trailer but a couple months and we've used it since it was installed. It just hasn't been sitting long enough to just drain.
Could there be something in/on the trailer draining our batteries?? Our whole trailer is electric. Water heater, water pump, AC, microwave, TV, radio and lights. Thats all that is in the trailer. Hubby tried to turn on the microwave, water pump, water heater with out being plugged in and nothing would turn on. The only thing that turned on was the radio. Would that be it???
Is there a way to put a toggle switch on the battery?? So that its not drained by what ever is draining it??
Posted 2008-03-01 9:59 AM (#78416 - in reply to #78400) Subject: RE: New battery-----DEAD
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Kill switches are available that attach to the battery and are simple to hook up to the B+, red hot wire. They are found at most auto parts stores. They are commonly used by car owners who store their vehicles for longer periods of time.
During the winter and when my trailers are not being used, about once a month I plug in my shore cords for a couple of hours at a time. This keeps the batteries charged up. If they were to completely discharge and cold weather was encountered, the batteries could freeze and be damaged.
There are small battery chargers called "float" chargers that are made for long term "maintenance" charging. We use them on cars that are stored during the winter. I was using them on the trailers, but the cords were a problem outside in the snow. So the once a month drill works pretty well.
Posted 2008-03-01 1:05 PM (#78422 - in reply to #78419) Subject: RE: New battery-----DEAD
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
Our Carbon monoxide/smoke detector is electric and will run the battery down. We have to plug it in once a month or so to keep it charged. Or disconnect the battery.
Posted 2008-03-02 4:04 PM (#78496 - in reply to #78422) Subject: RE: New battery-----DEAD
Veteran
Posts: 216
Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
If your trailer has a converter, these usually have a maint dc breaker or fuse...you can turn the breaker off or pull the fuse when you have the trailer in storage. This will ensure you dont discharge your battery. A battery switch would work also.