Author Topic: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES  (Read 6300 times)

Julie Nagy

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VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« on: June 13, 2013, 12:14:53 AM »
I have a .3amp voltage drain on my house batteries on my Monterey 2005 Beaver even with both battery switches off.   The chasis batteries are not affected.  I did not experience the problem before I had my house batteries professionally changed but I can't see how it is related.   Wierd one.  Any ideas?
« Last Edit: June 13, 2013, 03:58:50 AM by 5 »

Gerald Farris

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2013, 04:21:53 AM »
Julie,
Your problem is one that will take some investigating. There are three areas that I would look at. The draw is tied to the batteries before the cut off switch if it does not affect the draw, so that will make the hunt a lot easier. The highest probability for the draw is the inverter. The next thing to look at is the solar panel for a failed diode. If you still have not located it, check to make sure that the ECM (engine control module) is not being powered by the house batteries.

Gerald    

Edward Buker

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2013, 02:32:35 PM »
Julie,

You may want to describe how you got the .3 amp current flow measurement with the switches off. If you lifted the plus terminal of the battery bank that feeds the coach and inserted an amp meter in series, that would be a true current flow measurement. Most on board systems use a DC Shunt (low value resistor in series) of some sort and measure the voltage drop across it and the electronics calculates the current value. Sometimes these systems are not accurate at low values but you could measure the current flow at the battery lead to confirm. As Gerald points out there is still a lot going on with the switch off, some systems are tied in anyway. The inverter settings should have inverter "off" to use minimal current in standby. I do not know your monitor system but a +.3 amps may be charging current while a -.3amps would be discharging. This value does not seem like a problem to me and would be overcome by minimal light energy reaching the solar panel. As far as having the batteries professionally charged, that is something that should not be necessary, and I do not see how that could cause discharge unless the batteries were removed for this and put back with some wire attached differently which seems unlikely. I do not think there is much to worry about here with such a low value of discharge. Let us know if you find out how to get back to zero....

Later Ed
« Last Edit: June 13, 2013, 09:38:41 PM by 910 »

Julie Nagy

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2013, 04:01:38 PM »
Thanks for the info, any suggestions on who's good with electrical problems in northern ca. or Oregon?

Jerry Carr

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2013, 07:38:38 PM »
Julie,Beaver Coach Sales located in Bend OR they will be your best shop.

Julie Nagy

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2013, 09:29:33 PM »
Thanks we have made an appt. with them but have to wait until July

Jerry Carr

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2013, 11:51:24 PM »
Julie the other shop that could help is  Advantage RV (also in Bend Tom was with BCS for many years) I think you have another shop in Bend also.
We are going to have a mobile service van at the Seven feathers rally in Sept. the guys that run this shop are out of Eugene I can't think of the name but Mike Humble would have it
they are really sharp guys they did some electrical trouble shooting for me 3 years ago.
  

Julie Nagy

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2013, 08:02:00 PM »
We are going to be at Seven Feathers Tues. June 18th, for about 7 days.
It would be great if we could get the name and phone number of the mobile service that you new of.
Thank you in advance .

Bill Sprague

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Re: VOLTAGE DRAIN ON HOUSE BATTERIES
« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2013, 08:44:16 PM »
Julie,

I think it is called "Elite".  Call Mike Humble (Region 1 VP).  He is a regular and happy customer.