Beeping in the trailer

[Dragonflly]

Hi, we are total newbies to RVing, we just purchased a new 2017 Fun Finder RB21. We have had it stored for about 6 weeks and picked it up today to use for the time and it is beeping inside. We've checked the smoke detector it doesn't appear to be the problem, I've read about LP Leak Detector, could that be it, the trailer has never been used the plastic is still on the mattress. Hoping you. An help us as I said we are total newbies. I appreciate any help you can give us, thank you!

 

[profdant139]

Could be a low battery! Some of the alarms will beep if the battery is low.

Be sure to ask lots of questions -- we love to answer them. Where are you located?

 

[Dakota 1120]

The co/lp leak detector will beep and a red light illuminate. It has a reset tab to push and that may clear it..stop the beeping IF it's that.

Otherwise, as Profdant said, could be low battery in the smoke detectors.

 

[LJAZ]

Check your CO/propane alarm. If the indicator light is flashing red then green it means the battery is low or there is some other malfunction. If it's low battery the reset won't clear it. That is if you have this model: http://www.mtiindustries.com/PDFs/rv/35_Series.pdf

 

[Dragonflly]

Thanks everybody! We think it was low battery & CO 2 indicator... we finally found the CO2 detector it was on the floor between the fridge and pop out... who knew! On our way for first camping trip wish us luck!

 

[M Wilkie]

Thanks everybody! We think it was low battery & CO 2 indicator... we finally found the CO2 detector it was on the floor between the fridge and pop out... who knew! On our way for first camping trip wish us luck!

Good! Have fun and be safe!

 

[profdant139]

When you get back, tell us about the trip!

 

[Dragonflly]

Our weekend trip went great, we learned a lot though we have a question that we are hoping you all can help us with. We seem to be having trouble with the main battery not charging. However it's likely something we're doing wrong. In the trailer there is a main battery shut off switch. When we hooked up the trailer to 30 amp, we turned the main battery switch off. And it stayed off as we drove home. The battery seems almost dead again. Now we're thinking that if the master battery switch is in the off position, the battery won't charge. Any thoughts?

 

[M Wilkie]

Absolutely right! You took it out of service and the vehicle could not charge it. It is also necessary because you negated your emergency brake away switch when you turned it off.

 

[Dakota 1120]

I pull out the switch (on position) and leave it there.

 

[Dragonflly]

Thank you so much, it's what we suspected ... we have so much to learn! So happy for your experience to guide us newbies through

 

[M Wilkie]

I pull out the switch (on position) and leave it there.

Our Shasta doesn't have one. Some new units don't either.

 

[Diver Rick]

.....we turned the main battery switch off. And it stayed off as we drove home. The battery seems almost dead again. Now we're thinking that if the master battery switch is in the off position, the battery won't charge. Any thoughts?

The ONLY time that switch should be off, is when your trailer is parked in your driveway, and not in use for a few weeks. It will prevent any possibility of your trailer battery slowly discharging when you aren't using your trailer.

Like Eagle said, leave it on and forget it. Except as described above.

And like someone else mentioned, I was quite shocked to find out that my emergency brake away switch would not work unless that master battery switch was left on during transit!! (and the battery wasn't being charged)

 

[M Wilkie]

We remove the battery if we park it with no shore power for a long time. But we camp so frequently that it will be late October before that happens. We sure do love our old trailer with the new insides.

 

[Dakota 1120]

Keep mine plugged into shore power when at home so switch is always on & battery is fully charged when getting on the road.

When the camper goes in for winter storage, the battery is removed and put on a battery tender....so actually, never turn the switch off.

 

[profdant139]

The only time I turn off the battery switch is when I am installing the battery or removing it. The disconnect switch helps avoid shocks. Please do not ask me how I discovered this.

 

[John_C]

Hey DiverRick and Dragonflly,
We discussed another issue with the battery disconnect switch. Depending on its location, it can be inadvertently turned off!! Mine is located in my storage area and as you probably already learned, pulled is on, pushed in is off (or at least that's how mine works). Well, if a person is not careful with hoses, blocks, tools, or whatever, they could push the switch in. We discussed this a while back and most folks have installed a guard to help preclude this from happening... I used a steel conduit U-Clamp to protect mine... see pics...
Unprotected and Protected... This has worked well for me since 2014...

 

[LJAZ]

Keep mine plugged into shore power when at home so switch is always on & battery is fully charged when getting on the road.

When the camper goes in for winter storage, the battery is removed and put on a battery tender....so actually, never turn the switch off.

I do the same, except for the winter storage part.

 

[Diver Rick]

.....Mine is located in my storage area.....

I can't even imagine who the rocket scientist was that decided to put the switch there.... At least they are now usually installed on the panel inside with all the other buttons. (where mine is labelled "Out = On" since I can't seem to remember......)

Your fix was simple and works. I wonder how many other owners don't even know its in there and are wondering why their battery is never charged up!

 

[twinster2]

As far as keeping the battery charged, I use my portable solar panel (50 watts) to charge it when the trailer is sitting along side the house. I lay the panel on the roof and It is directly hooked up thru a solar panel controller that bypasses the main switch. Keeps the battery about 90 -95 percent charged.