Lithionics large phantom draw

[DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI]

We have Elite II Pro package with 3 Lithionics batteries. Currently boondocking near Capital Reef Utah. I checked batteries mid-morning with good sun and saw 2-3 amp draw on each battery. I came back after a good day of sun to same draw and batteries down 15% in a day with no usage. Inverter off. Norcold refrigerator on propane.

Here’s what I’ve done

Restarted inverter

Reset inverter breaker (red switch streetside bed)

Power cycled batteries

Reset all AC breakers while watching amp load - nothing changed

pulled each DC fuse one at a time - no change

 checked all wire connections in dinette by pantry. No loose wires

Batteries are taking charge from generator but show same loss as soon as generator turned off.

Any ideas where to check next? 
 

Thanks in advance Oliver crew!

Edited 12 hours ago by DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI

[jd1923]

55 minutes ago, DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI said:

I came back after a good day of sun to same draw and batteries down 15% in a day with no usage.

You should be getting +A from your solar. So 2-3 amps/battery, is say -8A total with everything off? You should be getting approx. +12A from your solar, given the fridge on LP. That means during the day your about net -20A. That's a large draw!

The one time this happened to us, I had the hot water heater on AC (electric). Are you certain no change with all the breakers OFF? You wrote you restarted the inverter. Did you leave the inverter OFF for a period of time to measure draw with it off? Do that to be sure it is not anything 120VAC provided by the inverter.

Hard to imagine anything DC taking that much power. Do you have any special DC accessories?

Also, pull your 30A jack fuses, one at a time. A jack could perhaps be shorted in a way where it's drawing power to ground through the motor. Do you have a fridge cooling fan or other fans? Battery heaters ON?

I cannot think of anything else DC that could draw so much amperage. Hope the best for you two! Bummer to have this worry when you're in such a beautiful place.

[DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI]

20 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

You should be getting +A from your solar. So 2-3 amps/battery, is say -8A total with everything off? You should be getting approx. +12A from your solar, given the fridge on LP. That means during the day your about net -20A. That's a large draw!

The one time this happened to us, I had the hot water heater on AC (electric). Are you certain no change with all the breakers OFF? You wrote you restarted the inverter. Did you leave the inverter OFF for a period of time to measure draw with it off? Do that to be sure it is not anything 120VAC provided by the inverter.

Hard to imagine anything DC taking that much power. Do you have any special DC accessories?

Also, pull your 30A jack fuses, one at a time. A jack could perhaps be shorted in a way where it's drawing power to ground through the motor. Do you have a fridge cooling fan or other fans? Battery heaters ON?

I cannot think of anything else DC that could draw so much amperage. Hope the best for you two! Bummer to have this worry when you're in such a beautiful place.

JD

we have Truma on demand hot water. Turned off. No change.

Inverter I only turned off for a short time. Can try shutting off for longer period tomorrow.

No custom fridge cooling fans. I do think Norcold fan has gotten louder. I turned off fridge and still see draw.  No special DC accessories.

i will try jack fuses in AM.

Edited 11 hours ago by DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI

[Snackchaser]

Check to make sure that your brake "breakaway switch" wasn't  accidentally pulled out.  If so, the electric brakes have been on the whole time.  

Four brakes would draw  3-4 amps each.  If you were reading 2-3 amps draw on your Lithionics battery App, then that's only one of the 3 batteries.  So it's actually 9-12 amps.  Add in the solar input and it's about right for what the brakes would draw.

Good luck, Geoff

Edited 10 hours ago by Snackchaser

[John Dorrer]

8 hours ago, DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI said:

We have Elite II Pro package with 3 Lithionics batteries. Currently boondocking near Capital Reef Utah. I checked batteries mid-morning with good sun and saw 2-3 amp draw on each battery. I came back after a good day of sun to same draw and batteries down 15% in a day with no usage. Inverter off. Norcold refrigerator on propane.

Here’s what I’ve done

Restarted inverter

Reset inverter breaker (red switch streetside bed)

Power cycled batteries

Reset all AC breakers while watching amp load - nothing changed

pulled each DC fuse one at a time - no change

 checked all wire connections in dinette by pantry. No loose wires

Batteries are taking charge from generator but show same loss as soon as generator turned off.

Any ideas where to check next? 
 

Thanks in advance Oliver crew!

We have a 2022 and when I see something like your situation, my brain goes to "Inverter Breaker".  We have the 3 Lithonics batteries and 3000 Xantrex Inverter.

We spent the night at Oliver after pick-up and plugged in. The next afternoon we packed up and moved to David Crockett State Park and plugged in. That evening I opened the Lithonics app only to find my batteries down to 73%. Shore power wasn't charging the batteries. I reached out to Oliver and Mike sent me a picture of the breaker. He stayed on the phone and walked me through checking the breaker, which was tripped and resetting the breaker. All was good for 2 months and it happened twice more. Oliver sent me a new breaker. In October 2024 we were boondocking, turned on the inverter to cook oatmeal, and 30 seconds in the microwave shut off. Jason was at the Texas Rally and ran tests. In February 2025, during service, it was determined that the issue was the breaker. Since they were no longer using the breaker and didn't have any, we lived with things until we got home. We were plugged in for the trip, so really was not inconvenienced. I order two new ones. I followed the shut down procedures, solar off, inverter breaker off, then each battery. Start up is reversed.

I discovered to my horror that problem was very loose connects, resulting in pitting of the cable ends. Arching was obviously occuring. I replaced the breaker and now will check the connections each fall after our last trip.

 

While your breaker might not be the issue, I would really check it over. Just make sure you completely power down per the sequence mentioned in this post.

Good Luck. Please provide an update.

During this period we experience a few weird things, which we attributed to the loose connectors.

I suggest you send a service ticket request to Oliver so they can provide input.

support@olivertraveltrailers.com

Edited 3 hours ago by John Dorrer
Typo

[DaveAndBecky_NorthernMI]

9 hours ago, Snackchaser said:

Check to make sure that your brake "breakaway switch" wasn't  accidentally pulled out.  If so, the electric brakes have been on the whole time.  

Four brakes would draw  3-4 amps each.  If you were reading 2-3 amps draw on your Lithionics battery App, then that's only one of the 3 batteries.  So it's actually 9-12 amps.  Add in the solar input and it's about right for what the brakes would draw.

Good luck, Geoff

Snackchaser was spot on. I got up this morning and found the emergency breakaway switch had gotten pulled out during setup. I put it back in and voila, back to 0 draw. 

Thanks you all so much for the responses. I was really stressing out about this issue.

[HDRider]

Wow.

 

This forum is worth its weight in fiberglass.