I'm baffled. I looked at the owner's manual on my 2020 Crossroads Zinger 18BH for a 12-volt system. The owner's manual is pretty vague. It seems that everything except the microwave and 120-volt plugs works off 120v. Everything else is supposed to be 12volt. We got home from our camping trip today and I decided to try working the 12-volt items off the battery (ie 12-volt lights) Nothing inside the camper works unless it is hooked up to shore power. What am I missing? This coming fall I will be boondocking (dry camping) in the National Forest and don't want to use the generator unless I absolutely have to. I will use the generator if I need to use the air conditioner or coffee maker but for lights, it seems like I could just use the battery since they are 12-volt. I know the battery works well because it runs the electric jack very well and is only 6 months old. Again what am I missing?
Sounds like the main battery switch is in the OFF position. The tongue jack is probably hooked up directly to the battery.
With it hooked up to shore power the converter is powering the 12v system.
Sounds like the main battery switch is in the OFF position. The tongue jack is probably hooked up directly to the battery.
With it hooked up to shore power the converter is powering the 12v system.
Is there a certain spot the battery switch would be located? I don't see anything in the owners manual about it.
Not sure on your model but maybe in the front compartment? There may be just a circuit breaker in the battery box too. You do have the battery hooked up correctly? It has been known to hook it up backwards as I know I’ve done it.
Another thing to check is the Red 40 amp fuse in the fuse box/power center. Also look on the frame behind the battery for a 50 amp resetting breaker.
Here is a link to the keystone forum where they had a similar problem. It is on a 2019 zinger ZR18BH. Not sure if 1 year would make any difference but it may provide a direction to look. https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...d.php?p=389507
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Another thing to check is the Red 40 amp fuse in the fuse box/power center. Also look on the frame behind the battery for a 50 amp resetting breaker.
Here is a link to the keystone forum where they had a similar problem. It is on a 2019 zinger ZR18BH. Not sure if 1 year would make any difference but it may provide a direction to look. https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...d.php?p=389507
I forgot to mention that when I went to hook up the electric jack the wires on the battery were loose. Not sure if it was from vibration or if they forgot to tighten the nuts. I would just about bet it may be a fuse after reading that post. I'll check the fuses. I didn't know about the 50 amp breaker.
Got it figured out. No disconnect on the camper but is a thought to install. I traced the wiring and check the battery voltage 12.86 volts. I rechecked the fuses and #6 15 amp fuse was blown. I must have skipped that one when checking the fuses. Replaced the fuse and all works. I believe the loose battery wires was the culprit but will keep an eye out.
Thanks for reporting back with the fix. Sometimes we never hear if an item was figured out.
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If you are going to boondock you need to check some things out.
Most stock rv's cannot boondock much. The batteries are the weak link.
To check the battery you must be sure all charging devices have been off an hour or more. Otherwise the voltmeter reads the chargers voltage. Not the battery. Wet cell batteries are 0-12.6 volts. Any reading over 12.7 is sort of meaningless.
If you have the stock battery from the dealer then it is an inexpensive car battery. It has about 40 Amp hours of power. That is not much. Will generally not get thru the night with an electric fridge. Furnaces and cpap machines are big users.
First step for most is a batttery monitor so that it can tell you when the battery needs charging. In your case I would assume every day.
Discharging a battery more than 50% of its capacity shortens its life. Many just make a year. Yours is about 80ah so 40ah is all you use.
You have to remember, there are other things in your camper that will be use juice from that battery. Not just the lights.
I can tell you from experience, your one 12 volt battery ain't going to cut it.
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