Batteries are draining???

[Cindy & Ray Keen]

2014 31SL. I installed a solar panel battery maintainer and I am only running the fridge, but my batteries keep going down. I unplugged the elect. to the unit 24 hours ago and the solar panel is working but my batteries are showing only 60% full. Could there be something else running in the unit on 12 volt. Any suggestions anyone?

[travelin' texans]

I believe the frig & water heater uses 12 volt regardless whether on gas or elec to power circuit board & thermostats & also the lpg/co sensor.

[travelin' texans]

Forgot to mention those items should be minimal draw on your batteries.

[johnboytoo]

Two kinds of Redwood owners !

those that have had their batteries drained and
those that haven't discovered that the battery disconnect does NOT disconnect

there are vampire draws throughout the rw...

[Rick and Mindy]

Until you have the cutoff switch rewired your batteries will probably drain down within 1 week or 2 even with the cutoff switch turned off. JohnBoy is right!!

[atom ant]

that might be for the residential fridges. Mine goes two months at a time, and it has never drained down, nor have I rewired it yet. I'm still hot at the leveling, slides, and front hitch lights at the very least, with the switch off.

The only time I actually pull cables is when we do final storage in the winter.

[Cindy & Ray Keen]

I probably need to clarify my situation. I need to store my unit for about 4 days this summer and I need to keep the refrigerator on while I drive home to pick up my grandson. I don't want to have to unload the refrigerator while we leave our unit in storage. I do have a solar panel battery maintainer installed but i am not sure if it is keeping up with the battery usage.

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by atom ant

that might be for the residential fridges. Mine goes two months at a time, and it has never drained down, nor have I rewired it yet. I'm still hot at the leveling, slides, and front hitch lights at the very least, with the switch off.

The only time I actually pull cables is when we do final storage in the winter.

Brad, I think you might be one of the few that maybe had your cutoff wired in such a way that your batteries don't drain. Why? Who knows. It seems most have a battery draining issue from day one. It seems to be a fairly easy fix though.

[danrn]

Originally Posted by johnboytoo

Two kinds of Redwood owners !

those that have had their batteries drained and
those that haven't discovered that the battery disconnect does NOT disconnect

there are vampire draws throughout the rw...

Yep, installed an additional dual battery cut off switch today.

[martaz]

Another issue I have as well with this "quality" rig. Rewiring the cutoff switch?? Can someone elaborate on this??? Thxs.

[danrn]

Originally Posted by martaz

Another issue I have as well with this "quality" rig. Rewiring the cutoff switch?? Can someone elaborate on this??? Thxs.

I just rewired mine. If you have two batteries like I do, I installed a dual cut off switch and have both positive lines from each battery running through it. Fairly easy to do, and now I know when I turn off the switch there is NO drain from my batteries. I had to also replace my batteries that died from the constant drain and cold weather. Thankfully my dealership replaced them for me.
Good luck

[TnB]

Don't know if this is the real reason for way the switch is wired, but my tech at our PDI claimed it was for the Level Up system. He claimed that the Level Up would lose its ability to level properly if the batteries were not connected to the level Up. After awhile the Level Up would have to be re-calibrated for level.

[piper guy]

Don't think so. I rewired mine almost two years ago so that there is a total battery disconnect when I turn switch off. Have had no problems whatsoever with any system.

[johnboytoo]

WOW, a tech telling someone misinformation !?!?

I'm SHOCKED !

[Rick and Mindy]

I had the Service Center rewire mine a year ago and I haven't experienced any problems leveling.

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by piper guy

Don't think so. I rewired mine almost two years ago so that there is a total battery disconnect when I turn switch off. Have had no problems whatsoever with any system.

Vaughn.......X2.......I rewired mine last summer. I have disconnected the batteries from the loads several times and auto-level system still works fine.

That technician was just blowing hot air trying to sound like he was smarter than he really is.

[atom ant]

If it makes the Tech feel any sillier, Redwood actually changed the way the factory wires the new ones so its a total disconnect.

[markw]

I haven't done mine yet but it sure looks easy enough to do. The current switch is rated high enough a second switch isn't needed. Someone tell me if I'm looking at it wrong. It seems you can do it without needing any additional cable.


Mark

[markw]

My batteries are disconnected for 2 months each fall. Leveling has never been a problem after.


Mark

[almcc]

Originally Posted by markw

I haven't done mine yet but it sure looks easy enough to do. The current switch is rated high enough a second switch isn't needed. Someone tell me if I'm looking at it wrong. It seems you can do it without needing any additional cable.


Mark

Yes, the disconnect switch is rated high enough. I re-wired and ended up with a couple of feet of extra cable that I took out. Biggest hassle was to get a terminal crimped to that thick (8 Ga.?) wire, I ended up taking the wire to an auto parts store, I bought the terminal and they crimped it for me gratis!

In terms of the auto level, our trailer wasn't level after the auto level was done, I got out a 4 ft. level and manually leveled the trailer. There is a procedure in the manual that allows you to re-calibrate the electronics so the trailer is level after the auto level is complete. Not related to the battery disconnect at all. Sometimes it's good to read the manuals!