Posted 2011-08-04 3:00 PM (#136459) Subject: electrical - shore, battery, and solar
Member
Posts: 12
Location: MO
Hi. I am looking for advice or where to look for info.
We recently bought a new-to-us trailer with LQ. Our previous trailer had a DR that we added AC power and a window unit only, so I have virtually no experience with RV electrical systems (maybe I should have considered that BEFORE we bought this trailer).
So, the "new" one has dual batteries (which are no good), 30 amp shore power connection, a 55 amp 740 watt electronic converter with IQ4 (right off the paperwork), and a Sunsaver solar panel. There is a battery on/off switch in the LQ but the loading and stall lights work with it on or off. The LQ package is a sierra/lariat (seen both written here and there). The trailer is a 3 horse CM Norstar. Not sure how much of that matters.
Before I put in new batteries tomorrow, I thought I might ask how to keep from frying them/get the best life from them. How do you know if the solar is charging? How much should the shower power be plugged in? Have read on this forum that either can ruin good batteries. Should the batteries easily operate the electric jack (the old ones didn't)? I haven't seen a battery disconnect switch near the batteries, if not there, where should I look? Is there a good rule of thumb on what should be used / when? We will seldom camp where electrical service is not available.
Sorry for the long post...any help is appreciated.
Posted 2011-08-04 5:52 PM (#136465 - in reply to #136459) Subject: RE: electrical - shore, battery, and solar
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
Are you sure your lights work with the battery switch in the off position with the trailer not plugged in to either truck or shore power? If so, I am truly confused. I keep my trailer plugged in to shore power always but I have the type of converter that monitors the battery charge and does not overcharge the batteries. I have no experience with the solar panel.
Posted 2011-08-05 11:43 AM (#136483 - in reply to #136459) Subject: RE: electrical - shore, battery, and solar
Veteran
Posts: 229
awind, just hold on and some of the guys who are experienced with the electrical stuff will chime in. In the mean time, I think that you have a great set up. Don't worry that you have no experience with RV electrical systems. I've no doubt that you will be very happy with your LQ trailer. Batteries do not tend to last very long, maybe 3 years, on the LQ trailers, as people tend to run them down all of the time, especially when they are out camping. This is not good for them and decreases their life. With your solar, you should be able to go out for an extended outing and not run your batteries low. To keep your new batteries charged up, you will just need to pull out the interieor LQ switch. That switch that provides your battery power to the LQ. When the switch is pulled out, you will be able to charge your batteries using shore power. On most systems, this will also allow some trickle charging from the tow vehicle. I charge overnight prior to going camping. During the off season, I check my indicator panel and if I'm down past full, I'll plug the trailer in for either a day or a night. That approximate 12 hours is plenty of time to get a full charge on the batteries. When you unplug your trailer, remember to go inside and push in the switch. There are little things, like the radio light, which will run down your power if you forget and leave your switch pulled out. To check to see if you have a full charge, you need to have the switch pulled out and the shore power disconnected. As soon as you have a full charge, you should stop charging your batteries. I'm not familiar with the solar, as I do not have it. Your batteries, if they have a good charge, should power your electric jack. Your jack runs off the batteries. Low batteries will not be able to raise up your trailer with the jack. Also, if you get into a low battery power situation with your power switch on, you'll get some things giving you warning beepings and if you are running your fridge on propane, you'llprobably get some warning beeping and your fridge will kick off. I carry a small generator just in case. I'm always afraid that I'll run my batteries down and I won't have power for the jack. I am very sparky challenged, but I seem to manange just fine and I really enjoy having the comforts of home. I think that, as soon as you become familiar with your trailer, you will be very happy as well. The forum will help, also, if you bought the trailer from a dealer, they will be able to help. I believe that your conversion people are still in business and they also should be able to help explain things. When winter time comes, you'll get to learn how to winterize! Another learning experience.
Posted 2011-08-05 7:40 PM (#136496 - in reply to #136459) Subject: RE: electrical - shore, battery, and solar
Member
Posts: 12
Location: MO
Thanks for the info and encouragement. We will definitely like this trailer. Update...put in new batteries this pm. Got behind the breaker/fuse box and found the solar connection bar. Said it was charging so I disconnected the solar panel wires from the bar. I am sure that I could have just pulled a fuse..but which one...hmmm. Won't use it until I understand how w/o hurting the batteries.
New ones run the jack just fine.
Turned off all the circuit breakers in the LQ and my loading / stall lights still work, disconnected from the truck. Must be direct.
Good advice to call the LQ company. They seemed willing to help even tho the rig is an 03.
I think that we will get this figured out. Will running the converter for a week while camping harm the batteries?
electrical - shore, battery, and solar
