2018 Shadow straight load two horse battery That has hardly been used and battery only 18 months old, keeps dieing in the heat when i am not using trailer. Deka marine deep cycle cca 550 mca 675 130 minutes. This battery powers emergency brakes, fans, and lights when trailer not hooked to vehicle. Should I be disconnecting battery when I am not using trailer to save battery and/or should I get different battery? I only used my trailer and had it hooked to truck maybe once in last year. Will use it more in next year but still only about 6 times a year and wondering how to make my battery last longer when the trailer is not hooked to truck electrical often. I know nothing about batteries or electrical in trailers so any advise is appreciated
marine deep cycle batteries can be “killed” if fast charged, a trickle charger can be used without an issue
a solar charger with regulator could be used if the area where trailer is parked does not have AC power
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As above - solar charger. I have one on the lid of my trailer tongue storage box to keep the battery inside it charged up. And though I have an electrical outlet just 8 feet away from the trailer parking spot, the solar charger means that I neither have to disconnect a Battery Tender when I am ready to haul nor worry about re-conncting wiring when I get back home.
And in addition, consider checking your trailer wiring for a parasitic draw that might be depleteing the battery when sitting otherwise unused. Or an alternative may be installing a battery disconnect switch, but that is something you’d need to remember to turn off and on.
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You can buy a kill switch, yes. I have my two batteries in the off position unless I am actively using them.
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You buy one of these;
Together with one of these;
You leave the “genius” attached to the battery and it conditions it etc…
I use these on all my equipment batteries that don’t get used over the winter. They are great.
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No electrical access where my trailer is parked when not in use. I think I need to get the solar trickle charger and maybe disconnect battery when its not in use in case of parasitic use
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Battery will drain even with a kill switch set to off. They lose a little bit at a time. I keep a battery charger in my trailer and every once in a while or if I notice something is slow, I recharge it.
I have a 2018 Shadow and never even thought about the battery. I think there’s a charge indicator in the nose near the battery, is that what you are checking? Also, my battery doesn’t power fans and lights, I’m wondering how you got that set up? I do keep my trailer hitched most of the time, including electric, so I have no real fear that my battery is dead.
Some trailers, primarily goosenecks, have a large rechargeable battery that powers its accessories such as interior lights, cameras, power jacks and such. Other trailers, like most bumper pulls, have just small battery usually mounted in a box on the tongue of the trailer that serves only to activate the trailer’s electric brakes full on in an emergency where the trailer separates from the tow vehicle. What model Shadow trailer do you own?
I have looked for a video showing what happens when a bumper pull trailer breaks away, and this was all I found. Just the first few seconds in a longer video, and thank goodness not a horse trailer. This will make you remember the safety chains.
I cant remember model so would have to look at label with Vin and let you know. Its a 2 horse bumper pull with dressing room and center entry from dressing room to horse area, no side doors to horse area. Trailer came with fans in horse area and dressing room. Trailer has big full size marine deep cycle battery outside on trailer tongue in a big battery box - does not have the small breakaway battery with charge light inside that most bumper pulls seem to have. I just ordered the solar trickle charger someone recommended and will get new battery and hope the trickle charger keeps it maintained better when not in use. Generally I only use it when I show 2-3 times in Mar- May and then again 3 times in Late Sept through Nov. and then maybe 2 clinics a year so its has long periods of sitting without use.
Sorry, I was asking the previous poster @OTTBs about her Shadow trailer. I should have quoted her to make myself clearer.
if you can het a AGM series battery, these are often called Glass Mat batteries
They
- have a lower self-discharge rate than standard more common flooded lead acid automotive style batteries
- are highly resistant to vibrations and shocks.
- can retain their charge for longer periods when not in use
.
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I’m a fan of my lithium ion battery - I’ve only charged it twice in a year. It recharges when I’m driving really well.
LiTime 12V 100Ah MINI LiFePO4… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX8S2VJ5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
3 H BP slant load. I figured it was not very different from OP since she said 2 horse straight load BP. If hers were a LQ I could see it having the feature of battery operated lights. I think it’s a PITA to have to turn my truck on to see when I’m cleaning out the trailer in the dark, I wish my lights could stay on even a few minutes after turning the engine off.
