Trailer battery issue

[Zevida]

My horse trailer is killing its battery entirely within 3 months of being replaced. This means the lights and electric jack don’t work. I am not leaving anything on. I know a trickle charger of some kind would prolong battery life but even without it doesn’t seem like the battery should die this fast and there is something else going on with the electrical perhaps?

Any recommendations on what to say when I take it in for service or what to make sure I have them look at. I’m afraid I’m just going to get they replace the battery then it works immediately but dies again a few months later. I already played that game once.

[FitToBeTied]

It sounds like you have a short somewhere in the system. A battery that is not being used regularly should last much longer than that.

[clanter]

the style of the battery could be the problem, an AGM battery is designed to withstand vibration-resistant … a GEL Cell battery is similar but will discharge quicker under no use… either are superior to a standard lead-acid

Extreme heat or cold can kill these small batteries as their original use never intended to have been used outdoors

[DMK]

You could replace the battery and add something like a marine battery quick disconnect switch so when the battery is not in use, it’s also not feeding power to anything. If you have to replace the battery anyway, they are pretty cheap

[wsmoak]

Is it a LQ? Are there any sensors or LEDs using power?

DH wired a little solar panel charger into my old trailer’s battery. I’d just set the panel out and it would stay charged.

210905_8983 by Wendy, on Flickr

211024_9236 by Wendy, on Flickr

211024_9235 by Wendy, on Flickr

(It was supposed to be wired to charge from the truck, but that was not done, so we had to do something, and this is what he came up with.)

[Xanthoria]

That’s neat! Can you share where you got the solar panel and how it’s done?

[Zevida]

Thanks for the input! I have made an appointment and specifically mentioned looking for a short, and I’ll reiterate when I drop it off (a month from now - everyone is getting their travel trailer ready for the summer).

I’m interested in a solar charger to extend the longevity of the battery, but I think it should still be lasting longer than 2-3 months.

My trailer is not living quarters - the only thing that needs the battery are the external and internal lights (not the running lights) and the electric jack.

[clanter]

@Zevida

• the only thing that needs the battery are the external and internal lights (not the running lights) and the electric jack.

I think the primary purpose for the battery is for the electric brakes to be applied if the breakaway connection between the trailer and the towing vehicle is activated … at least that is what I have been lead to believe.

[wsmoak]

@clanter

I think the primary purpose for the battery is for the electric brakes to be applied if the breakaway connection between the trailer and the towing vehicle is activated

That’s usually different battery. There should be a small one that is only for the brakes.

Many of us have a separate battery to run an electric jack, lights in the trailer when it’s not hooked up to the truck, maybe an inverter and some outlets to plug in a laptop or phone charger.

For example, the battery in my photos above goes to this inside: 210905_8982 by Wendy, on Flickr