12v power but no 120 AC power. - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-29-2019, 10:21 PM   #21
Senior Member
 
Ronn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 864
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
The fuse on the battery gets blown when:
  1. The 7 pin connector gets wet and shorts
  2. The tow vehicle is started with the 7 pin connected.
  3. The wiring from the battery to the converter fuse panel shorts

There are other reasons but #1, #2, and #3 get the most votes. #1 is by far the most common.
I don't understand #2 - the tow vehicle is started with the 7 pin connected.
Doesn't that happen constantly?
__________________
The Sweet Suite
Ronn and Colleen
Ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 10:29 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
tdf-texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronn View Post
I don't understand #2 - the tow vehicle is started with the 7 pin connected.
Doesn't that happen constantly?
As the tow vehicle can charge the battery in the trailer, the same connection allows the tow vehicle to pull current from the trailer battery. When the tow vehicle is started, a large flow of current comes from the tow vehicle battery and can come from the trailer battery as well. If the total current (tow vehicle + whatever the trailer is using) being pulled from the trailer battery exceeds 40 amps, the fuse blows.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
tdf-texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 10:43 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Ronn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 864
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
As the tow vehicle can charge the battery in the trailer, the same connection allows the tow vehicle to pull current from the trailer battery. When the tow vehicle is started, a large flow of current comes from the tow vehicle battery and can come from the trailer battery as well. If the total current (tow vehicle + whatever the trailer is using) being pulled from the trailer battery exceeds 40 amps, the fuse blows.
I think I took this too literal, what you are saying is that could be a cause of blowing the fuse, but we needn't unplug prior to starting the vehicle.
__________________
The Sweet Suite
Ronn and Colleen
Ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 10:45 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
As the tow vehicle can charge the battery in the trailer, the same connection allows the tow vehicle to pull current from the trailer battery. When the tow vehicle is started, a large flow of current comes from the tow vehicle battery and can come from the trailer battery as well. If the total current (tow vehicle + whatever the trailer is using) being pulled from the trailer battery exceeds 40 amps, the fuse blows.
True, but not a problem if the connection to the trailer is not active when the truck is in "start" mode, so this depends on how the power to the trailer is wired.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 10:49 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
tdf-texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronn View Post
I think I took this too literal, what you are saying is that could be a cause of blowing the fuse, but we needn't unplug prior to starting the vehicle.
It all depends on the conditions. The tow vehicle battery has a low charge, some high current devices are on in the trailer (fridge on DC would do it), and you have a blown battery fuse.

It happens rarely but can happen.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
tdf-texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 10:53 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Ronn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 864
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
It all depends on the conditions. The tow vehicle battery has a low charge, some high current devices are on in the trailer (fridge on DC would do it), and you have a blown battery fuse.

It happens rarely but can happen.
Thanks Tom, newbie here and I was trying to see that picture (unplugging before starting).
__________________
The Sweet Suite
Ronn and Colleen
Ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2019, 11:08 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
tdf-texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
True, but not a problem if the connection to the trailer is not active when the truck is in "start" mode, so this depends on how the power to the trailer is wired.
Your right, some tow vehicles have a disconnect relay on the 7 pin - but some don't. It can make for a fun morning leaving the trailer hooked up on a truck that doesn't have the relay - truck won't start because the trailer drained it's battery.

I did that one time - now I always disconnect.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
tdf-texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2019, 01:52 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Suppose #2 can happen and it's good to know but I've never heard of anyone disconnecting to start the vehicle.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2019, 07:53 AM   #29
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
Now I have to go back, way back into my youth, and figure out how I came to the understanding that a trailer, any trailer, should be plugged in to the tow vehicle BEFORE starting the tow vehicle. I've always done it that way (except when I forget) with no problem. And I never unplug when travelling and stop temporarily for food, fuel or potty break. But then again, I've never had a problem when I forgot and plugged the trailer in with the tow vehicle already running, either. With modern electronics, perhaps it's "much ado about nothing." That said, it's always good to thoroughly understand your camper's electrical system - where there are fuses, where there are breakers and where there are GFI devices.
War Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2019, 02:42 PM   #30
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by War Eagle View Post
Now I have to go back, way back into my youth, and figure out how I came to the understanding that a trailer, any trailer, should be plugged in to the tow vehicle BEFORE starting the tow vehicle.
My guess is that the logic was that if you plug the trailer into a live receptacle, there could be terminal damage from arcing as the live circuits (battery charge and lighting, if on) make contact.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2019, 03:37 PM   #31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
My guess is that the logic was that if you plug the trailer into a live receptacle, there could be terminal damage from arcing as the live circuits (battery charge and lighting, if on) make contact.
Deja vu all over again! Brian, your reply reminded me that we've had this same conversation before, many moons ago.
War Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.