Battery, do I need one if plugged into electricty?

[Karalyn]

I have a Scamp - If I want to run the furnace, fridge, or the bathroom pumps do I need a battery if I am plugged into electricity? I know some lights run off battery only, but what about the other stuff.
My battery died and I am wondering if I really need to buy one if plugged into electricity?
Thanks in advance for any insite you may have.

[Byron Kinnaman]

There are only two electrical systems in Scamp trailers. One the 120 volt system that runs the converter, maybe a light, and maybe the fridge. The battery or converter supply power to the 12 volt system. There are no lights that run off the battery only unless somebody has mess with the wiring.

[BobB]

Hi Karalyn,

You can operate the electrical system with the battery removed, but you should make sure the positive battery cable cannot touch anything conductive, which might cause sparks and a fire. You can check the positive cable with a test lamp or voltmeter while the trailer is plugged into shore power. If it is hot, thoroughly wrap the positive cable with vinyl electrical tape to prevent any sparks.

[Roger C H]

There is the case of the electric brakes breakaway switch not working without an onboard battery...

[iplumb]

I have heard it is hard on you converter? Not sure if its true or not.

[Greg H]

Byron, are you sure about that?

[Carol H]

Scamp wiring diagram

[Curtis F.]

The converter will try very hard to charge the non-existent battery. It will keep pushing it's maximum DC voltage nowhere. I'd recommend disconnecting the converter if you aren't going to have a battery. But then you won't have the water pumps either.

I'd strongly recommend that you have a battery for the bathroom water pumps and to make life easier for your converter. Is the trailer wired to get 12 volts from the TV? Do you have electric brakes on the trailer?

You could go with a marine/rv group 24 battery since you are not planning to need it for extended stays.

[Karalyn]

Thanks everyone. You have talked me into getting a replacement battery. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Nancy]

Karalyn,

We had to replace our battery too. L&M Fleet has group 27 Deep Cycle Battery on sale for $56.75. 27DC-5 SKU #1270039. (all prices with exchange)

You need to check the size of your battery box. We had a 27 in our Scamp already. You may not have that large of a box and need a 24.

Too bad, we got ours before the sale. Sale ends June 11.

Nancy

[Susanm34]

We have a 1989 16ft Scamp Deluxe-we are just now starting to experiment with using the battery. It seems a few lights will operate, but thats it. Any suggestions on troubleshooting--we are wanting to be able to operate our electric water pump and maybe an outlet for a fan.
Gene & Sue
Illinois

[Thomas G.]

Looks like you have an answer in the other post you made with the same question.

[john warren]

i'll tell you from my perspective having just spent a week dry camping with my fridge running on propane my battery kept me in lights and occasional use of my fan for the week and only on the last day was it pooped out. and that was after running the fridge on 12 volt for 8 hours.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Susanm34

We have a 1989 16ft Scamp Deluxe-we are just now starting to experiment with using the battery. It seems a few lights will operate, but thats it. Any suggestions on troubleshooting--we are wanting to be able to operate our electric water pump and maybe an outlet for a fan.
Gene & Sue
Illinois

Something doesnt sound right. On my Scamp everything including the water pump runs off the battery except the one long kitchen light.

[Susanm34]

We put a new battery in today-and the pump still doesn't operate off of it. We have a few lights, over the sink, bathroom and outside light that work, otherwise thats it. UG

[Deb & Chuck]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Karalyn,

We had to replace our battery too. L&M Fleet has group 27 Deep Cycle Battery on sale for $56.75. 27DC-5 SKU #1270039. (all prices with exchange)

You need to check the size of your battery box. We had a 27 in our Scamp already. You may not have that large of a box and need a 24.

Too bad, we got ours before the sale. Sale ends June 11.

Nancy

If you have a Costco near by your can get a 100 month RV battery either a group 24 or 27. I had a group 24 that went bad after three years. Costco gave me a credit of $75.00 and the replacement Battery cost $75.00.
Chuck

[Robin G]

Originally Posted by Susanm34

We put a new battery in today-and the pump still doesn't operate off of it. We have a few lights, over the sink, bathroom and outside light that work, otherwise thats it. UG

Have you checked the fuses? One time a whole herd of goof balls took my trailer apart trying to find why nothing would run off battery! Hello, the fuses were all burnt out. I asked that a bazillion times, but nobody would listen to me! Finally a couple weeks later at a Rally I was talking to another member of the forum and telling him what was going on, he said is there a fuse out? I said, well not according to the herd of goof balls! 5 seconds on his hands and knees he found that all the fuses were bad! Waaaaaa laaaa, everything actually worked once the fuses were replaced!

[Susanm34]

Fuses will be the next base we cover--I also (lol) have mentioned this to my husband....."did you check the fuses"??? His response was, well the lights are working so the pump should too!
We will be checking fuses-there is one inline and one on the converter box, otherwise we are uncertain where any others are.

[Thomas G.]

You might want to invest in an inexpensive multimeter - they are very handy for diagnosing electrical problems.

7 Function Multimeter

[Paul Braun]

For those boondocking and using the battery be aware it is not recommended to fully drain the battery. The accepted drain is no more than 50%, draining further will shorten the life of the battery. You may need a monitor for your battery.

If you happen to have a 12 volt outlet, this device from Amazon works very nicely. The brand name is Equus. There are many other models and styles.