Battery Drain

[Fred Cook]

 My chassis batteries are date coded for July 2017. I have noticed that some of my 12 V assessories are sluggish so I checked the voltage at the batteries and it reads 11.35 volts which is way low.  Also, the motor will not turn over enough to start unless I push the assist from the house batteries. I can only think that there is some kind of a drain somewhere in the coach but I cannot find it.  Any suggestions on what might be the problem?

[David T. Richelderfer]

Is your inverter/charger functioning?  If the coach is plugged into shore power or if the generator is running, then the inverter/charger should be charging both the house and chassis batteries in that order.

Does your coach have solar panels on the roof?  if so, then the solar panels should be maintaining the charge in your batteries if the coach is outside in the sun while no electronic devices are being used.

If your batteries are down some, then don't start the engine to use the alternator to charge both battery banks.  A heavy charging load will overheat the alternator and cause its demise.  Use either the generator or shore power to first charge the house batteries to 12.5v or higher.

Your coach should have a crossover charging device - an Echo Charger or BIRD System - that will allow the charging current to be connected to the two battery banks in either direction.  If the engine/alternator is on, then the chassis batteries will be charged first followed by the house batteries.  If the generator or shore power is on, then the house batteries will be charged first followed by the chassis batteries.

Just don't run the engine to charge both battery banks if both battery banks are low.  A new alternator will cost upwards of $500 installed.

The inverter, if on, is a drain on the batteries.  The engine brain (the ECM) is a drain on the batteries.  Without any charging - either solar, generator, or shore power - these "drains" will kill the batteries within several days to over a week.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Fred,

I think your coach has an Echo charger. It charges the chassis batteries once the house batteries are at 13v or above. To check its operation you can remove the fuse in the red/yellow wire from the Echo and you should see 13v or so on it if the house batteries are =>13v. Also check to see that the green light is lit on the Echo.

If you have a BIRD system, both chassis and house batteries are charged together when either is above 13.3 v, indicating a charge condition exists.

Steve

[Fred Cook]

Thanks David, Steve... I just bought this coach a month ago don’t know much about its electronics. It does have a solar panel but not sure if it’s even working. Also the previous owner took out the inverter and replaced it with a battery charger. The house batteries voltage reads around 13.5 volts while the chassis read only 11.35. I am not sure what the echo or bird system is or where they are located. Any help is appreciated.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Fred,
What kind of battery charger?
Steve

[Gerald Farris]

Fred,
Your coach was originally equipped with an Echo Charger, and if it is still there, from your description it is not functioning. It will be located in the battery compartment, and the most common reason for a failure is a defective fuse that is about 6 inches from the Echo Charger in one of the power wires. If both of the fuses are good, here is a link to the owner's manual that will help you understand and diagnose the unit.
http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Accessories/Auxiliary-Battery-Charger/Echo-charge-OwnerGuide(445-0204-01-01).pdf

Gerald

[Fred Cook]

Gerald, Steve... Thank you very much for the manual. I have located the echo box and can see that the green light is blinking. I have checked the voltage on the house batteries which reads 13.65 and the chassis battery reads 11.6.  I have also located the in-line fuses but I am having difficulty getting them disconnected  to determine if they are still good.  I will keep trying to pull them loose.  According to manual the green light will blink if the echo system is not receiving more than 13 1/2 volts.. It should be receiving the proper voltage because the house batteries are fully charged.  I am having difficulty understanding why the house batteries are fully charged but not the chassis, plus the green light is blinking. The type charger I M using is Intelli-Power 9200 Series,Recreational Vehical Converter/ Charger.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Fred,
Since the house batteries are at a voltage high enough to activate the Echo and the blinking green light indicates it is not seeing that voltage, it could be a bad fuse in the house battery to Echo line (red wire) or a poor/corroded connection at the house batteries.

I'm surprised that the PO replaced the inverter with a charger as I assume that deprives the coach of any AC except when on shore or generator power.
Steve

[Fred Cook]

Fred,
Since the house batteries are at a voltage high enough to activate the Echo and the blinking green light indicates it is not seeing that voltage, it could be a bad fuse in the house battery to Echo line (red wire) or a poor/corroded connection at the house batteries.

I'm surprised that the PO replaced the inverter with a charger as I assume that deprives the coach of any AC except when on shore or generator power.
Steve

I just traveled 110 miles from St Louis  to my home with the motorhome.  Saw your post and changed out the two fuzes and checked the battery connections.... a couple were somewhat lose so I tightened them down.  The voltage at the house battery is now at 14 volts and the chassis at 12.95.... charged from the alternator on the trip home. The sliding door over the entrance steps would not work at all last night but is working now.... I assume it operates from the chassis battery. After changing the fuzes and checking the connections, the Echo light is still blinking green, which means something is still wrong and the voltage will drop from the chassis battery overnights... correct?

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Fred,
I suspect either an open wire from the Echo to the chassis batteries or a bad Echo. Pull both fuses and see what voltages are present on the battery side of the fuse holders. They should be the same as at the battery banks. If they are, I would suspect the Echo. If not, there is a problem between the fuse holder and the batteries.
Steve

[Fred Cook]

Fred,
I suspect either an open wire from the Echo to the chassis batteries or a bad Echo. Pull both fuses and see what voltages are present on the battery side of the fuse holders. They should be the same as at the battery banks. If they are, I would suspect the Echo. If not, there is a problem between the fuse holder and the batteries.
Steve

Steve, I just checked the voltage as you suggested with both fuzes out on the battery end.  The red wire with yellow stripe reads the same as the battery terminals, 13.87 volts for the house and 12.88 for the chassis. The solid red wire fuze holder reads at 12.43 volts and noticed when pulling the fuze that the green light stopped blinking but starts blinking again when reconnected.

[Gerald Farris]

Fred,
Use a push pin through the wires between the fuses and the Echo Charger to check the voltage after the fuses to make sure that you have a good connection at the fuse. If there is a good connection at both fuses and the Echo Charger still does not function, you need a new Echo Charger.

Gerald

[Fred Cook]

Gerald, Steve... Yep, I do have voltage past the fuzes.  Looks like I will order a new Echo on Amazon.  Thanks for all your help!  Fred

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Fred,
I'm pretty sure your coach uses an air activated step cover. If your air pressure was way down it would explain the problem. Also make sure the tracks it runs in are clean. A bit of silicone spray is a good lube that won't collect debris.
Steve

[Fred Cook]

Wow...air activated? Never would have thought that. I will check it out