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Old 07-19-2013, 07:26 PM   #21
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Typically, the aux 12 volts in a 7-pin connector is to charge the trailer battery when the tow vehicle engine is running. The aux 12 volts should be turned off whenever the engine is off.

It appears that you had two problems: the brakes were drawing current locked on 24/7 by being mis-wired to the aux 12 volts, and your aux 12 volts was not off with the engine stopped.

Think of batteries as electrical pressure chambers. If the voltage (pressure) of the trailer battery drops below the pressure of the vehicle batteries, the vehicle batteries will discharge in an attempt to charge the weak battery. If you are boondocking in a trailer hooked to the tow vehicle, and the aux 12 volts does not cut out, then you are running down ALL the batteries, and may get stranded. This is the same as leaving the house and starting batteries in a Skoolie or RV connected when parked (and not plugged in).

In my tow vehicle, I added a relay triggered by an ignition circuit that only puts power to the trailer battery connection when the key is in "run." A switch that you remember to turn on and turn off would also work.

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Old 07-19-2013, 09:29 PM   #22
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

exactly.


i dont even need the aux trailer wire..... i was being fancy in my hitch and wanted to hook up all the wires.

i ran a four wire flat plug, a brake wire, and a dedicated wire (aux) just to run my battery down.
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Old 07-19-2013, 09:51 PM   #23
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Turf, Laughed my arse off! I've done the same sort of thing. Glad you got it fixed.
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Old 07-20-2013, 10:21 AM   #24
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

well.... one of the batteries survived.

i'm gonna take the other down to the auto place for testing. it shows that its charging..... but a few minutes off the charger and the voltage drops down into the high 10's.
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Old 07-20-2013, 01:39 PM   #25
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Its probably done if it drops off that fast. As said I would go get MAXX batteries and not have to worry about them... Don't want to say kind of a one time purchase but it is if you keep them in that 3 year window.
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Old 07-20-2013, 06:38 PM   #26
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
i ran a four wire flat plug, a brake wire, and a dedicated wire (aux) just to run my battery down.
We've all done stuff like that. It goes with the territory.
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Old 07-20-2013, 07:30 PM   #27
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
... i ran a four wire flat plug, a brake wire, and a dedicated wire (aux) just to run my battery down.
Apparently you got that part right.

We just run a standard WalMart auto battery to crank our bus. It's also doing double duty right now to power the 12vDC water pump. We keep it hooked up to the Progressive smart battery charger. Been running like that for several months now. At least we don't have to worry about the battery going dead.
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Old 07-20-2013, 09:52 PM   #28
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
..... but a few minutes off the charger and the voltage drops down into the high 10's.
That is an indicator of a shorted cell. The battery is trash.

2.1 volts per cell x 6 good cells when charged and not connected = 12.6 to 12.7 volts
2.1 volts per cell x 5 good charged cells connected by one shorted cell = 10.5 volts

If you have a hygrometer to draw samples of the liquid out and compare the specific gravity readings, that is the true measure of the charge. You can compare the difference in charge between the cells. In a good battery, they will all be very close, but not necessarily identical. If you see one or more cells wildly different than the others, it's time for a new battery.
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Old 07-20-2013, 11:57 PM   #29
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

hmmm, i wish i could.

its a semi sealed battery. maintenance free with the plastic cups for access under the sticker. im gonna see what the pro-rated replacement is first. 15 month old battery - 12 months free replacement, pro-rated up to 3 years.
then will price shop wally like Bapos suggests.
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Old 07-21-2013, 08:43 AM   #30
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
hmmm, i wish i could.

its a semi sealed battery. maintenance free with the plastic cups for access under the sticker. im gonna see what the pro-rated replacement is first. 15 month old battery - 12 months free replacement, pro-rated up to 3 years.
then will price shop wally like Bapos suggests.
Better to replace now while in a position to shop prices than to have to buy from the closest (most expensive) place that happens to be open on the Sunday/holiday while traveling.
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Old 07-22-2013, 04:32 PM   #31
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

the battery tested bad at the auto supply place. the little electronic tester load tested it and
said it had a bad cell. they prorated the battery and replaced it for $30.
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Old 07-22-2013, 07:00 PM   #32
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Re: Dead Battery whoops

Glad you got taken care of. Ive seen ones a few months old go bad. But keep an eye on it (the warranty) and make sure it goes bad before it goes out of date....
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