Dave and Kimberly Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 While helping a friend with his 2018 E2 (with AGM batteries and solar panels) .... in an effort to prepare it for storage (no electricity is available at the facility), I was showing him how to shut down anything that might have any "phantom" electric draw, ie... the inverter, Furrion sound system, etc., I discovered that there is no apparent way to shut off his Zamp Solar charge controller. On mine (2022 E2) I can turn the red switch up in the street side storage area and shut off the lights (on the controller). Anybody know how to do this on a 2018 Oliver configured like his? 2022 Elite II, Hull #1097 Elli Rose 🌹 and she has the solar panels with the 390Ah lithium batteries. Our tow vehicle is a 2019 Ford Lariat F-150 4wd, 3.5L Eco-boost, 3.55 rear end, with the Max tow package. Elli Rose also has the street side awning and several walnut and cherry mods on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Sagebrush Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 Nope, but I’m following. Thanks for getting the question started. 1 Hull #364 - The Roadrunner 2023 F350 CCLB SRW 6.7L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenB Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 On 10/31/2023 at 6:24 PM, Dave and Kimberly said: Anybody know how to do this on a 2018 Oliver configured like his? I asked Service the same question while upgrading to Battleborn batteries this spring. Here is a copy of their response: The zamp system does not have an easy disconnect. The best way would be to pull the zamp controller from the wall & then disconnect the battery connections on the backside. 1 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 2018 Twin Bed Elite II #351 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave and Kimberly Posted November 2, 2023 Author Share Posted November 2, 2023 Thanks for that! It was my suspicion that something like this was the case... but I was hoping there was an ON/OFF somewhere between the solar panels and the Zamp charge controller that I had overlooked. If this is done (pulling it off the wall and unplugging it) does it then lose it's settings (ie battery type, float charge, etc.)? A related question: Since I have noticed that mine goes off at night and then comes on with the daylight (with the solar charge starting up)... maybe the phantom drain isn't such a big deal. My original concern (for my friend) is that he is putting it in storage for 3 ~ 4 months, and leaving the AGM batteries in place... that any electrical draw, no matter how minimal is not a good thing. 1 2022 Elite II, Hull #1097 Elli Rose 🌹 and she has the solar panels with the 390Ah lithium batteries. Our tow vehicle is a 2019 Ford Lariat F-150 4wd, 3.5L Eco-boost, 3.55 rear end, with the Max tow package. Elli Rose also has the street side awning and several walnut and cherry mods on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Sagebrush Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 With our Airstream, the simplest method was to just disconnect the trailer leads to the battery negative terminal. If I recall, there were three, the heavy gauge for the trailer, the lead from the solar controller, and the tongue jack. That eliminates all paths for current draw. 2 Hull #364 - The Roadrunner 2023 F350 CCLB SRW 6.7L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geronimo John Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 More than a few of use a 350 amp BlueSeas master switch to eliminate any parasitic losses. It for sure would solve the problem and provide an emergency cut-off for peace of mind. GJ 5 TV: 2019 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat, 3.5L EcoBoost, Max Tow, FX-4, Rear Locker OLLIE: 2018 OE2 Hull 342, Twin Bed. OLLIE DIY’s: Timken Bearings, BB LiFePO4's, Victron 712 Smart, 350 Amp Master Switch, Houghton 3400, Victron Orion DC - DC, 3000-Watt Renogy Inverter, P.D. 60-amp Converter, Frig Dual Exhaust Fans, Kitchen Drawer Straps. TV DIY’s: 2 5/16" Anderson System, Nitto recon’s, Firestone Rear Air Bags, Bilstein 5100’s, Mud Flaps & Weather Tech all, installed Ham Radio (WH6JPR). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted November 3, 2023 Moderator+ Share Posted November 3, 2023 17 hours ago, Dave and Kimberly said: ...A related question: Since I have noticed that mine goes off at night and then comes on with the daylight (with the solar charge starting up)... maybe the phantom drain isn't such a big deal. My original concern (for my friend) is that he is putting it in storage for 3 ~ 4 months, and leaving the AGM batteries in place... that any electrical draw, no matter how minimal is not a good thing. A phantom draw (AKA Parasitic loads) are the electrical draws from appliances that continuously suck power from your RV battery. Items like carbon monoxide detectors and other electronics with lights or display screens can be parasitic loads.is a loss The phantom draw on our trailer is 0.4 amps. That's 9.6 amps daily. On a typical AGM battery bank, you will have between 200-225 amp-hours available for use before they reach that critical 50% mark. Our trailer with no power input and those same batteries would be at that point in about 3 weeks. I'd warn that friend because there's no possible way those batteries won't be completely, irrevocably dead in 3-4 months. Even if he disconnects the batteries, AGM batteries will have a self-discharge or internal electro-chemical “leakage” of between 1% and 15% per month, depending on storage temperature. The warmer it is, the faster they will discharge. He basically has two choices. He can remove all the batteries, take them home and put them on a 3 stage charger for the winter OR he can go to his storage unit about once every month and pull the trailer into the sun or use a generator to run the charger and charge them there. Regardless of their construction, whether it's a "sealed" AGM deep cycle or flooded auto starter battery, a fully charged lead acid battery has a freezing point down around -55°C/ -67°F. 6 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave and Kimberly Posted November 3, 2023 Author Share Posted November 3, 2023 (edit) Thanks to all for your educated responses! Its what I suspected. I've shared this all with him... and strongly encouraged him to take them out and bring them home this winter and put them on the appropriate charger (mentioned above). We've worked thru a lot of the more basic items for providing our Ollies with the tender loving care they deserve. He's off to a good start going forward now. 2 1 2022 Elite II, Hull #1097 Elli Rose 🌹 and she has the solar panels with the 390Ah lithium batteries. Our tow vehicle is a 2019 Ford Lariat F-150 4wd, 3.5L Eco-boost, 3.55 rear end, with the Max tow package. Elli Rose also has the street side awning and several walnut and cherry mods on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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