Community Forums

TheJazzMan · 05-25-2009, 07:33 PM

I currently have my Essex stored at a local campground. Unfortunately, their storage area has no electrical connections, so I need to make sure that all electronics are off before I leave the coach for a few weeks. I first parked it there at the end of April and returned 3 weeks later to find the batteries almost completely dead. I first tried to start the generator - "click, click, click". I then tried to start the engine - "rurr, rurr, click, click".

Panic was starting to set in when I remembered the Battery Boost button on the dash. I tried it and she cranked.
When I stored the coach back in April, I turned off the Inverter, pushed the battery disconnect switch over the drivers seat and verified that nothing was on. Today, I returned the coach from storage and did the same thing, plus I flipped the yellow 150amp breaker in the engine compartment. Even then, I see that the door keypad still has power. I can't find any instructions in any of my Newmar literature that describes how to shut down the coach when no external AC power is connected.
Any tips would be appreciated.

two2go · 05-25-2009, 08:04 PM

I don't have a similar coach, but I had the same problem of discharge during prolonged storage. It's nearly impossible to shut off all the phantom power drains (radio, converter, etc) without disconnecting the battery cables at the terminals. Even if you totally disconnect the batteries at the terminals, you still have self-discharge. If your batteries have been discharged more than a couple of times, chances are there is internal deterioration that will prevent full recharge and shorten their life. My solution was to install a 50 watt solar panel and a charge controller. This past winter in storage, I had full charge in all batteries every time I checked. An advantage to getting extra solar power is recharge assist for dry camping.

GaryKD · 05-26-2009, 05:19 PM

Hi Randy,
If your coach has propane, you'll need to turn off the LP detector separate from the coach store switch. There should be another button/switch for this). It does not turn off when you push the storage button.

Because you have an 09 coach, I'm assuming the batteries are okay. However, are the coach batteries flooded (must fill with distilled water) or are they AGM sealed (no water can be added)? In either case, look at the batteries and see if any of the sidewalls bulge outward. This indicates a problem in the battery.

The Essex should have a chassis disconnect switch. The switch may be located in the engine compartment. Turning this switch to the off position should halt the draining of the chassis batteries. If you are parked so the sun hits the coach roof, the ESSEX should have a small solar charger to maintain the chassis battery. Make sure the solar panel is clean and has access to the sun.

With the coach switch in store mode, the LP detector off and the chassis switch turned to off, you should have no problem with the batteries for at least a month.

The longest I've had mine "stored" is 6 weeks and the batteries were fine. The coach was at about 80%. I don't know about the chassis, but the Cummins fired right up.