2011 Scamp13. When on the road, we turn the reefer to 12v thinking that the truck 12v charging system will keep the Scamp battery charged also. Is this correct?
Thanks
Fri, 07/24/2015 - 13:55
#1
Battery/Charge problem
I've found that with the 10 amp draw of the refrigerator, the wire size between the TV and the trailer has too much loss to do both. I leave the refrigerator off for trips less than two hours and turn it on and off for longer trips. That seems to work. I've also found that by turning it off when we arrive somewhere, by the time we're set up on site it lights more readily.
Lynn
Lynn,
Does a refrigerator use the battery while driving if you do not turn it off?
Do you mean by "turning it off when we arrive somewhere, by the time we're set up on site it lights more readily" that you run the fridge on propane while you drive and turn it off then light it again?
I've never used propane to run my fridge because I'v not learned how to properly do it. When I pack up to move to a new location, I just disconnect from the shore power, but do not turn off the fridge. Should I be turning it off? I assumed that once the shore power was off the fridge was not getting any electricity. Seems that I was wrong if it uses battery power.
Hey, beebobby, BTW "reefer" has a whole different meaning for those of use who grew up in California during the Nam erra
Krestine
If you've been running the refrigerator on 110 shore power and then disconnect, it goes off and uses no power from any source unless you have switched it to 12v. It will, however, warm up eventually. The first question had to do with running on 12v while driving. My comment about turning it off on arrival referred to driving on 12v and then turning it off for a while before trying to light the propane flame while at a non-electric sight.
Lynn
My fridge does not have a 12 volt selection. We use freeze packs inside the fridge when towing to our destination. Without opening the door, food stays very cold for,up to 8 hours easily, and with the freeze packs we are further assured of food staying quite cold! It's wise to true OFF the fridge when towing, so as not to have a spike of power when connecting to shore power.
<p>Doug Allen 2016 Ford F-150 2018 Lance 1575</p>
Thanks to all for the above comments! We've been having battery problems during our latest trip. We purchased a new trailer battery last week (marine, 140 AH?) prior to towing our 2007 16 ft Scamp, however, upon arriving at the campground, lights and pump stopped working after only 1/2 hour! My husband purchased a trickle charger and we charged it for 10 hours. Reinstalled, it worked fine. However we are now traveling home and have noticed our TV, a 2004 Toyota Tundra, is not charging the battery at all! We turned off the 12V travel setting for the frig, hoping that would help. THEN we remembered the Tundra is having battery problems too, and we had to jumpstart it in the campground. Might be an alternator problem w the truck. We are thinking that's why Scamp battery not charging. Could it also be that the truck is pulling power from the Scamp battery? Do you think we should get a more powerful battery? We aren't turning the truck motor off and hope we can make it home tonight!
<p>Lupine</p>