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Old 06-04-2016, 10:48 AM   #1
bkb
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Chassis Battery drain

Hello All.....We are having an issue with the chassis battery draining after about 3 days when in storage. We have turned everything off and doubled checked. My first thought is the step? Any ideas on what the problem could be? Thanks for any input much appreciated!

I guess I should add: 2003 Dolphin 5320
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Old 06-04-2016, 11:10 AM   #2
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If you haven't already done so, turn off your inverter. When left on & not using your generator, it will drain your house batteries in about two days. Only turn it on when not connected to outside alternating current (AC) source or running generator AND needing alternating current (AC). I personally never turn mine on as we don't boondock.


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Old 06-04-2016, 11:13 AM   #3
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Sorry, reread your post after I submitted my response. I see that you're having a problem with your chassis battery, not your house batteries. I'll let someone else address your issue.


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Old 06-04-2016, 11:20 AM   #4
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Could be a lot of things. Easiest answer is to put in a battery disconnect.
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Old 06-04-2016, 11:27 AM   #5
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In our '05 Dolphin, the BOMB (Box Of Many Buttons) was hard wired to the chassis battery. I have installed a (house stile) off/on switch and organized several of the DC circuits into a screw post buss connector that the switch controls. When I put the MH in storage, in addition to hitting the "Battery is connect" switch, I turn the (now) Dc power switch off so that the things associated with the BOMB are off. I usually have shore power to the MH at all times so I have a float charger on the chassis battery. Another equally isolating strategy is to use the chassis disconnect switch (red handle in horizontal "on" position in the picture) if you have one. If you do it will close to the chassis battery and connected to the positive cable.
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Old 06-04-2016, 11:40 AM   #6
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I would be willing to bet it is your dash radio. There is a long history of that being the cause of chassis battery draining in several different brands. Takes about three days for the battery to die. Made us crazy for a good six months before the problem was diagnosed.

To test if this is causing your problem, fully charge your battery and then pull the fuse to the dash radio and see what happens.

In our case, we decided to leave the radio fuse out altogether since we never use the dash radio. It was suggested to us we could put a disconnect switch on the radio, but instead we also installed a battery disconnect switch on the chassis battery, and we still carry a trickle charger and battery cables (just in case).
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Old 06-04-2016, 12:56 PM   #7
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Thanks Everyone

Thanks for all your help. We are confident that your answers will solve our issue.
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Old 06-04-2016, 01:01 PM   #8
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Put a disconnect switch on each battery and problem will be solved.. Step,radio and lp gas all can drain battery. I have a disconnect switches set up on all my batteries and also a battery minder hooked up each of them. If I have AC, the batteries are being desulfated and charging. I am getting around 11- 14 years on my Motorhome and boat batteries.

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Old 08-24-2016, 05:00 PM   #9
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Post 2007 SeaBreeze LX Chassis Battery Drain

Our 2007 SeaBreeze LX came with a Xantrex Freedom 458 10 Inverter/Charger. With the Inverter off, this unit charges the house batteries when the coach is connected to AC power. As I recall, it also charged the chassis battery since we could leave it stored for 3 months with AC plugged in without house or chassis batteries running down. Just had to keep battery water up.

Now, with AC connected, the house batteries stay charged but the chassis battery goes down to less than 10 volts in about 2 weeks. And no, no radio, light, or other power user left on.

I'm now using a step trickle charger to keep chassis battery up but would like to do without that if possible.

Question? Maybe my recollection is bad and the Xantrex never did charge the chassis battery, or did something fail in the comparator circuitry? Do any of you have a SeaBreeze with a Xantrex that charges the chassis battery in addition to the house batteries? Any answer/suggestion much appreciated.
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Old 08-24-2016, 11:04 PM   #10
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How old is the battery? It's possible you just have an old battery.
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Old 08-25-2016, 09:56 AM   #11
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Battery is 16 months old. Replaced both chassis and house batteries at the same time.
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Old 08-25-2016, 11:34 AM   #12
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bkb,

I had the same issue but in my case it took a bit longer. There is a phantom current draw somewhere and it's possible it is the computer for the chassis. I finally got tire of running battery dead as that will ruin the battery to a point where it will not recover. The simplest and best solution is to install a chassis battery disconnect. There are many different ones out there, here is the one I used.

https://www.amazon.com/Docooler-Batt...connect+switch

Very simple to install.

~Bill
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:35 PM   #13
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Thanks. Will look into disconnect switch but need to figure out where to locate it. For now, I'm simply disconnecting the negative battery terminal. In the SeaBreeze there is very little room - batteries are located underneath the hinged entrance step as you come into the door and there is no room on top of the batteries when the hinged step is down.
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Old 08-28-2016, 08:40 PM   #14
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I attached a knife blade disconnect switch on the neg. post works great.

Amazon has this unit for side mount battery posts.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Disco...ery+disconnect

Fred
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