Battery Quick Connect

[tator447]

I went to my unit yesterday to check the air pressure on the tires and adjust the WD equipment. I opened the battery compartment and hooked up the battery (I have a quick connect) and after doing that I went inside to check my battery level and it showed "0", nada? Luckily I purchased one of those battery jumper/air compresser units. Hooked that up to the battery and bam, everything worked fine. The motor on the hitch worked and I was able to finish. I reconnected the battery and nothing. I hooked the unit up to my vehicle and took it for a 20 mile shakedown to see how the new settings on the WD worked and all was fine. Came back, parked it and unhooked from my TV and the battery showed it had power. I disconnected the quick connect and locked it all up. My unit is only a few month's old and I've never had a problem with the battery, I know the quick connect is working because the lights on the CD player go out. Is this normal for the battery to run down when disconnected or is it this heat. It has been stored for about 5 weeks. Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

[TrainSafe]

Don't really have a solid response for you on this one. In my opinion, it is not normal for the battery to run down when disconnected. It may loose a bit of charge, but not that significantly. Now, if we were talking about cold weather that would be another story. Freezing can take a toll, but even then I wouldn't think that 5 weeks should completely drain the battery.

[Dayle1]

It is possible that you are not charging the rv battery while towing, then you get back from a trip and use battery juice while unpacking, etc. Meaning the battery was very low even before you disconnected the last time. Then 5 weeks to bleed off a little more charge. And the battery is flat.

If you have shore power where you keep the unit, then a battery minder will keep the battery fully charged.

[tator447]

Dayle,
Is a battery minder something that I get at an auto parts store? Is it something that you leave hooked up all the time, like the quick connect? After I took my unit out and towed it for awhile and came back the unit showed full power on the battery? I supposed I should get a battery tester too? Or is the battery minder a tester too? Sorry to sound so naive.

Jim

[joescuba]

battery tender plus or battery tender jr are two popular charger or maintainer units,they are widely available,camping world,walmart,autopart stores and even amazon (cheapest aprox $25 for jr.),they will charge and then maintain,but all such units will put a minimum draw on battery if left hooked up (they have a quick dissconnect cable availible),also other makes avail that work the same

[tator447]

Thanks Joe I will look into getting one.

Jim

[ajlight]

It looks like you have a power jack at the hitch. Make sure the light on it is not on. The hitch jack is probably hooked to the battery directly and not though the switch. It will run the battery down even with the disconnect off. Been there, done that.

[tator447]

Thanks AJ I will go check on that today, it may just be youare right...and if that light had been on I probably wouldn't have seen it in the daytime when disconnecting everything. I appreciate the comments.

Jim

[angelinaS31]

It seems as if you have given the battery connection directly, if so such problem would be creating, make sure that you don't connect it directly.