Posted 2010-10-27 5:47 PM (#126331) Subject: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
I hooked up the trailer this afternoon, with the help of my grandson. Backed it from under the shelter and noticed we didn't have the electric jack stabelizer arms up enough. When I pushed the buttons, no power. I always keep it plugged into an outside receptacle, thought that would keep the batteries charged. The batteries aren't that old. What could be wrong? I'll get the hang of all this before I get too old to ride I hope!
Posted 2010-10-27 6:27 PM (#126332 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
Do your other battery-powered items work w/o being plugged into the truck? (lights, etc)? Is the battery cutoff switch in an off position possibly? Or maybe you blew a breaker?
Posted 2010-10-27 6:35 PM (#126334 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
Wow, I"m confused now. don't even know where the battery cut off switch is. So many gadgets. I know there is a converter or inverter box. Dont' know exactly what it is suppose to do. My husband always took care of those things. Bought the trailer used and it didn't have all the paper work.
Posted 2010-10-28 9:36 AM (#126354 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
nothing works without being plugged into the outside receptical. I checked the fuse box but will have to get my son in law to look at that. Where would the batter cut off be located at?
Posted 2010-10-28 2:29 PM (#126368 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Veteran
Posts: 229
badweather, Some guys will also chime in. I think that what I am telling you is correct. I think that your jack should work off your battery directly, even though the iverter switch is off (mine does) The inverter switch is the button inside the LQ that you pull out so that you can run off the battery or charge the battery. If you don't have this switch on, even though you are plugged in, your batteries won't charge and your inside LQ lights won't work when you are unplugged. If the switch is on and you have left your your rig plugged in, the batteries might have gotten over charged and damaged. Worse comes to worse, you can do like I do, just pull out the batteries and take them to NAPA and ask if they are OK? They seem more than willing to help us gals out.
Posted 2010-10-28 4:05 PM (#126371 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
I called the sundowner place and he told me to check the batteries. Thats what I will do. He said the leveling jacks ran off the batteries and if they wouldn't work it was probably dead batteries. Will see>
Posted 2010-10-29 1:49 PM (#126428 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
Would they run if the main battery switch was off? I unplugged my trailer after I hitched up one time. I noticed nothing was working on the inside......I kind of was po'd and called hubby. He said to check the main battery switch, I did and it was off. I felt like an idiot. Oh well, all part of learning.
I hook up while plugged in. I assume my jacks wouldn't budge if the main switch was off. Hmmm
Posted 2010-10-29 3:11 PM (#126430 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
How long do the marine batteries usually last in a trailer? I opened the box and mine were just 2 years old. Do you need to keep the trailer plugged into 110 when not useing it? My husband used to say it would keep the batteries charged. It has a solar charger but its under the shelter all the time so no sun gets to it. The inverter comes on automatically, thats what the sundowner man said.
Posted 2010-10-29 5:57 PM (#126432 - in reply to #126430) Subject: RE: more help
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by badweather on 2010-10-29 4:11 PM
How long do the marine batteries usually last in a trailer? I opened the box and mine were just 2 years old. Do you need to keep the trailer plugged into 110 when not useing it? My husband used to say it would keep the batteries charged. It has a solar charger but its under the shelter all the time so no sun gets to it. The inverter comes on automatically, thats what the sundowner man said.
Posted 2010-10-30 5:34 PM (#126460 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
Well I took the batteries out and checked them with the thing that shows how much juice is in them Both of them measured weak. Can I trickle charge them and they will be good again or are they just done for?
Posted 2010-10-30 6:23 PM (#126463 - in reply to #126460) Subject: RE: more help
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by badweather on 2010-10-30 6:34 PM
Well I took the batteries out and checked them with the thing that shows how much juice is in them Both of them measured weak. Can I trickle charge them and they will be good again or are they just done for?
Just how weak? Did you have them tested at a battery shop? Did you test for just voltage or did you test for load as well?
Posted 2010-10-30 7:09 PM (#126465 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
You got me there. I don't know. I just hooked the tester up and it said the batteries were weak. I am still going to take them to auto zone or somewhere and get them to check for me.
Posted 2010-10-31 9:52 AM (#126475 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322 Location: Fort Madison, Iowa
New to having an electric jack so I hope this isnt' too dumb of a question.
If you take out your batteries for the winter and your truck is wired right, can you use your battery from the truck to raise and lower your trailer? My guess is not but I thought I'd ask.
Posted 2010-11-03 12:58 PM (#126623 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Regular
Posts: 72 Location: vanceboro, nc
Well I took the batteries to auto zone and had them charged overnight. They wouldnt take a charge.
they are dead. I hardly ever go anywhere that I can;t plug into 110. Do I have to pu more batteries in? Will it be alright to leave it plugged in so I can leave the electric heater on during the winter. I know you guys think us women are dumb. I just never had to worry about it.
Posted 2010-11-03 2:04 PM (#126625 - in reply to #126331) Subject: RE: more help
Member
Posts: 23
Location: Turbotville, PA
Without seeing I am not exactly sure what happened but I believe that you may have overcharged your batteries for too long of a period which cooked them. If when you are pulling down the road your batteries should charge slowly off of your truck. If you need to plug your trailer in to recharge the batteries I would only plug them in for a 24hr period once a week. If you would like to run the electric heater in it all winter I would just run a cord to the heater and not run it through the trailer so you dont cook the batts again. Make sure that when you bbuy a cord for the heater that it is heavy enough gauge wire to handle the power going through it. Good luck, Paul.
Posted 2010-11-03 3:25 PM (#126627 - in reply to #126623) Subject: RE: more help
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by badweather on 2010-11-03 1:58 PM
Well I took the batteries to auto zone and had them charged overnight. They wouldnt take a charge.
they are dead. I hardly ever go anywhere that I can;t plug into 110. Do I have to pu more batteries in? Will it be alright to leave it plugged in so I can leave the electric heater on during the winter. I know you guys think us women are dumb. I just never had to worry about it.
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