Didn't start...

[rockcj]

after 2 weeks of storage, my coach wouldn't start. Since my RV delaer, Saddleback RV was only a mile away from the storage, I called them and the GM, brought a charger to jump start it. All switches were off including the main switch but I am not sure what can draw power to drain the chassis battery? The 30 sec power switch from the house didn't work either.
After this weekend, I am taking it back to Saddleback RV to find the problem. Meanwhile, I am charging the battery at home.

David
05 Alpine.

[rockcj]

after 2 weeks of storage, my coach wouldn't start. Since my RV delaer, Saddleback RV was only a mile away from the storage, I called them and the GM, brought a charger to jump start it. All switches were off including the main switch but I am not sure what can draw power to drain the chassis battery? The 30 sec power switch from the house didn't work either.
After this weekend, I am taking it back to Saddleback RV to find the problem. Meanwhile, I am charging the battery at home.

David
05 Alpine.

[EngineerMike]

There is likely to be a small "parasitic" drain on the chassis batt on an '05; too many purely electronic gizmos these days to have a true "off" setting on the ignition.
However, there is more likely a problem in the wiring if it is taking good batteries down to zilch in 2 weeks. Either the batt's are not getting properly charged to withstand nominal parasitic drain, or the drain is large & should not be.
Friend had a new Dynasty w/a 5 amp parasitic drain. Took the dealer 3 seeks to find it ('course I'm sure dealer was working on it all that time).
Check battery electrolyte is above plates & even between cells. Then put an amp meter clamp on either red or black batt cable to chassis to see how much drain.

[Audrey & John]

There seems to be a parasitic drain on our chassis batteries, but some of that seems to be related to a bad solenoid in the battery compartment that is not allowing the chassis batteries to be recharged.

We probably wouldn't have noticed any drain if our chassis batteries were being recharged properly along with the house batteries.

Audrey

[rockcj]

I spoke to Rex at Alpine. He is telling me that the solenoid will have to be changed. I am taking it to the dealer on Monday.

David
05 Alpine

[Dsouthw524]

It would help if you told wether this is a new problem or the first time it happened. When we stored our unit, it would run down the coach batteries in 2-3 weeks if we also ran the refrigerator. However the engine battery can sit for an extended time without the problem you describe. I suspect your engine battery unless you left something on inadvertenly.

[rockcj]

It is a new and first problem however, I just bought this rig in March. Yes, it was the engine battery that went south.

David

["007"]

Some people have had run down coach batteries on there rigs lately.
Its happening on different coach's, I don't want to be a smarty but my coach has a 1' square solar panel on the roof that constantly charges my coach battery.
I have had one on all three Newmar coach's an a Bounder. I have items that will drain battery if I didn't have this panel.
The battery has never gone dead on me dry camping or during winter storage.
It maybe something to look into for those of you experiencing dead starter batteries. My starter batt is a maintenance free. --"007"

[Audrey & John]

Thanks 007. We have a 100W solar panel on our roof. But since our bad solenoid is keeping our chassis batteries from being recharged from anything it's not doing us any good right now! Right now the only thing that will charge our chassis batteries is the engine alternator.

Another thing - the way the Alpine is wired, the house batteries take precedence over the chassis batteries, so the 100W solar panel (and the generator) will only charge the chassis batteries after the house batteries are at float. I'm not sure if this is the case with the standard 10W panel - maybe that is dedicated to the chassis batteries.

One thing though - if you have a coach in covered storage, a solar panel isn't going to help! If there is a parasitic drain on your chassis batteries even with the chassis disconnect switch set, your batteries will eventually go dead. You will have to leave the coach plugged in (and the chassis batteries connected so they can charge).

Audrey

[EngineerMike]

Audrey- If the only thing keeping solar charge off your chassis batt's is the solenoid, you can jumper around from 12V-in terminal to 12V-out terminal on the solenoid, making it a through connection (I'd use a heavy duty spring clip jumper for easy removal IIWM). If you are not sure if solenoid is the only culprit, you can probe w/a voltmeter B4 & after to see if the chassis batt's get charge this way.
Is it just me, or does it seem a lot of these solenoids are bad from the factory?

["007"]

Audrey, This panel is only connected to the chassis battery directly. The house batteries have larger solar panels connected with a controler so as not to over charge them. The chassis battery is always being charged no battery cut off switch. My coach is never covered, even with snow cover the charge lite is lit. ---"007"

[Audrey & John]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by EngineerMike:
Audrey- If the only thing keeping solar charge off your chassis batt's is the solenoid, you can jumper around from 12V-in terminal to 12V-out terminal on the solenoid, making it a through connection (I'd use a heavy duty spring clip jumper for easy removal IIWM). If you are not sure if solenoid is the only culprit, you can probe w/a voltmeter B4 & after to see if the chassis batt's get charge this way.
Is it just me, or does it seem a lot of these solenoids are bad from the factory? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes, it does seem like a lot of folks are having to replace the solenoid in the battery compartment.

We got a marine battery charger - very compact and generally useful device. So that's what we have used to recharge our chassis batteries until we get the solenoid replaced. We're pretty sure it's the only culprit. It is not closing when given the signal by the VANSCO unit and it is pulling excessive current.

Audrey

[EngineerMike]

Audrey- here I sit w/dead chassis batteries, and house batt's charging fine off the solar.
Where is that pesky solenoid? Thanks, Mike

[Wayne R]

Mine was in the black metal box in the battery compartment up against the frame above the batteries. 05 quad