Headed out camping in the morning
Doing a final check of my gear and I found a dead battery on my trailer
After my last trip my wife talked me into getting a solar panel to help maintain the battery instead of bringing a battery charger
I put a fully charged battery in just days ago and tonight it didn't have enough power to turn on one of the interior lights
Battery voltage check , 0.4 volts WTF

Only thing new is the solar panel GRRRRRRRRR
CONDEM THE SOLAR PANEL ,MUST HAVE BEEN THE SOLAR PANEL
Disconnect the solar panel and check it with volt meter , 17+ volts and its cloudy

Grab an old battery out of the garage and hook it up to the trailer and it sparks when I touch the terminal WTF WTF WTF
Check for a light on in the trailer , nothing
Cant be a dead short or it would blow the fuse at the battery connection

Sinking feeling that something is wrong but don't have time to fix it before I leave


DING DING DING DING
Its has a 3way fridge and its been turned to battery
We have never used the 12V system because the dealer told me the fridge will kill the battery in about an hour unless the vehicle is hooked up and running charging at all times

Now I think I need to take my charger anyhow JIK

Anyone else have a self inflicted stress story

 

I thought this thread was going to be about another trail they closed to motorized vehicles Whew....glad it wasn't the case.

I use a small on board battery tender to keep my deep cycle battery at peak charge. They trickle charge and automatically shut on and off when the battery gets low or peak.

 

I normally take my battery tender jr but didn't think I wanted to use that all the time

 

I use a tent, lantern, fire and beer, always works

 

My boss has the same issue in his rv with the solar panel draining his batteries. Only difference is that he has 6 batteries that get killed and with it sitting in storage it actually fries the batteries to a non usable point. Since he disconnected the solar panel he hasn't had any more issues

 

I have to agree, trailering and fridges isnt really camping... You meant to say your wife and you are taking a holiday tomorrow.

Just kidding and all. But I too use the tent, sleeping bag, beer, fire, and sticks for cooking on, and I go CAMPING

 

Trailers and a fridge isn't camping, it's glamping! lol

 

I make a bed out of leaves, make shelter out of sticks and leaves, and boil lake water for drinking, and eat beaver... giggity........
but on a serious note, Trees give terrible hugs.

 

You youngins will find out one day that no matter how much you drink, sleeping on the ground is not good for your back

My trailer is pretty basic , fridge ,bed and a sink that's it

I LOL several times watching guys struggle to get to get a Motor home / 5th wheel onto their site

 

I have a Schumacher Solar Panel and they recommend a controller be used with it to avoid over charging
SPC-7A: