dead batteries

[Tim n Katie Peterson]

Would it be reasonable to think that I could leave the MH in storage for 10 weeks and not have the batteries go dead.  And now that I have done this is it reasonable to turn off everthing I can and plug the MH into a 15 amp 110 volt outlet and let the battery charger do it thing?  In the future I could pull the cables of to be sure things don't discharge when sitting.  If this is not normal then I may need to chase down a electrical gremlin.  I understand to catch one of those is best to be quick and use a net.

Tim and Katie
2000 Bever Patriot Ticonderoga

[Dick Simonis]

I thought those coaches had a 100W solar panel?

Also, which batteries go dead, house or chassis?

[Edward Buker]

I would leave it plugged into the 15 amp outlet. If the batteries are charged well when you shut down the 15 amp 120v source will be adequate to maintain them using the charger. I would shut off any 120v breakers that are not being used just as a safety precaution and consider turning off the main house and  chassis battery switches if you have them as a safety precaution. Charger will still work with those off.  My chassis batteries would be dead in about a week with no charging source on, mostly due to the engine ECU current draw and some current for other electronics. The alternative is to pull off either the ground or plus terminals from the battery bank that exit the bank going to the coach and have the 120v not connected. Charger if running needs to see a load (batteries) so having the 120v disconnected is safer.

Later Ed

[Karl Welhart]

I think you will have problems using a 15amp/120v outlet for your onboard inverter/charger.  Consider a seperate battery charger that you can just connect to your coach batteries when in the storage unit.  Just make sure your remote main battery switch is in the off position.

[LarryNCarolynShirk]

My coach is in storage 2-4 months at a time with no sun for solar charging.  I keep it plugged into 120v 15 amp and the batteries stay charged.  Since I have the old style batteries, I need to add water every 2-3 months.  I do not unplug anything.  There have been zero problems using the on board inverter/charger to keep the batteries charged.  There are 2 chassis batteries and 6 house batteries.  Give it a try.

Larry

[Gerald Farris]

Tim,
The solar panels on the roof are sized to handle the parasitic loads that exist in your coach (mainly from the ECM (engine control module) with every thing in the coach turned off.  If you are storing the coach indoors, the solar panels obviously can not work.

The easiest solution for battery charge maintenance with indoor storage is to plug the coach into shore power if available. The inverter/charger will maintain the batteries on a 15A outlet if they are fully charged when plugged in. If your inverter has a power sharing feature, set it to 15A to prevent tripping the breaker on the shore power outlet, otherwise watch the coach a few minutes after plugging in to be sure that the charging current is well below the 15A capacity of the outlet before leaving the coach.  

The other option is to remove the negative cable for the chassis batteries or install a manual disconnect in it to prevent the keep alive memory of the ECM from discharging your batteries. The decision will have to be yours, depending upon what resources you have available and what you are comfortable with.

Gerald

[Mel Griffin]

Tim,

I had the same problem with batteries discharging,

put a disconnect on, no problems now.

Miami Mel

[Tim n Katie Peterson]

You all have given Katie and I a lot of good advice.  Most important is that the electrical system is not at fault.  I am going to spend the day with the MH while I have the onboard charger bring things up to charge.  I hope all goes well.  I have an amp meter and can pull the receptical and put the clamp around the black wire and see what I am pulling in terms of amps when I plug it in.  In the future I will pull the grounds on both systems when stored for the summer.  I store my 36ft. sailboat through the winter with grounds off and have not had a problem for years.  Thanks for all your comments.

Tim and Katie