So my spouse is deployed with FEMA in NC at the moment, so I’m able to experiment with “boondocking”. Boondocking is in quotes because I’m doing it while parked at our full hookup site about 25 minutes from Disney World.
From the 15 hours the CZone display suggested I had remaining with my current, minimal usage (14 amps), everything went off (fan and fridge) after about 6 hours. Since this happened around 2 am, I didn’t think about this until the next morning.
After awakening, I did the math 14 amps times 6 hours equals 85 amp hours. It’s as if I only have 1 battery! This started my deep dive into troubleshooting.
After calling Battleborn, I followed their Low Voltage Disconnect procedure:
- Pressed the Battery Disconnect button (the trailer went dark except for 120v appliances)
- Took a picture of the batteries as they were currently connected
- Disconnected all wires from batteries, waited 30 minutes, and measured the voltage: Battery 1 was 13.6 volts, and Battery 2 was… 6.25 volts!
- I connected via jumper cables Battery 1 to the truck for 15 minutes. While the truck delivered 14.4 volts, after disconnecting, Battery 1 voltage never went above 6.24v. The battery never “woke up” from it’s deep sleep.
While I waited to hear back from my email to Battleborn (over the weekend) I decided to hook up the dead battery by itself inside the battery box, flipped the shore power on, and let the CZone system boot up. It read the same voltage as before when both batteries were connected together, 13.56v, so I (as the WFCO WF 9855 LiS converter docs said) cycled the shore power for 5 seconds. Back inside, the converter fan was running and 14.46v was reading in the CZone. I thought this might have worked!
After charging for an hour, I read the voltage at the converter (14.55v) and at the dead battery (14.44v). After about 4 hrs, the CZone read 13.6v and then this morning 13.3v.
Feeling hopeful, I went outside, disconnected the dead battery let it sit for 30 minutes and read the voltage: 6.24v. 😔
It was worth a shot but alas, the converter couldn’t/wouldn’t wake up the battery either.
My next instructions from Battleborn: get a lithium charger and try that, and if that fails, fill out a form to return the battery for them to determine if it’s warrantied or not.
While I wait for the charger to arrive, I’m wondering, “did this battery EVER work?” I should have tested it more extensively other than just while disconnecting shore power for a trip.
I’ll let you know how the charging goes. I’ve read where lithium chargers are able to do very low trickle charges which might revive the battery 🤷♂️
Update
After attempting a charge via the Victron Lithium Charger (#ad) recommended by Battleborn, no change to the state of charge 😕. I contacted Battleborn and arranged return shipping to them in Reno, Nevada.
In a few days, I received a cardboard pallet, 2 feet by 4, feet along with nylon twine and some buckle devices for locking down the twine that is wrapped around the battery and pallet. I had to look for a YouTube video to understand how this 40-pound battery was going to stay attached with nylon twine. This explained it so much better than Battleborn’s paper instruction sheet.
The next issue was scheduling a Fedex Freight pickup, but since I was in a campground I didn’t think it would be easy for an 18-wheeler to get in here. (Yes, it’s considered freight and not a normal Fedex pickup…go figure 🤷♂️). I instead drive it to a Fedex Freight location about 45 minutes away and it arrived in Nevada a week later.
After a week, it was determined to be a manufacturer defect that can’t be repaired, so they’re sending me a new one…via Fedex Ground 🤔. I guess new batteries can be sent normally. I’ve it arrives, I’ll reconnect and try boondocking while at this full hookup site…just in case.
Nomad Nexus 