Rapid chassis battery discharge

[Gary111]

I have a 2004 national dolphin 6355LX. My problem is the chassis battery will completly drain in about 6 days when not in use. I can not find anything left on that would drain the battery. Anyone have clues as to find the problem?

Thanks
Gary

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary111 I have a 2004 national dolphin 6355LX. My problem is the chassis battery will completely drain in about 6 days when not in use. I can not find anything left on that would drain the battery. Anyone have clues as to find the problem?

Gary, You desperately need to install a battery disconnect or knife switch on to the negative cable of your motorcoach. This will once an for all disconnect your battery from any parasitic loads that you may have. I know I have a bunch since I recently found my battery dead as a door nail but that was my fault because I forgot to plug in my Battery Minder.

[Jeepster47]

Gary111,
I had similar problem after about three weeks with my chassis battery down 50%. The chassis has a fair amount of electronic equipment parasitic drain when not in use, along with approximantly 1% drain per day normally. After the 7W roof solar panel stopped working I replaced it with a 10W panel and it seems to keep up with the drain while in storage.

Ed

[Fred and Bonnie]

How old is the chassis battery?

fred

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie How old is the chassis battery? fred

That's my first thought and have they been tested for specific gravity or load?

Rick

[GSGracie]

Had the same problem on my 99 Coachmen Mirada. Replaced te battery, but the problem persisted. I had a battery disconnect, but the previous owner had bypassed it so the radio and cig lighters ran 24/7. Got the disconnect rewired and haven't had a problem since. As soon as we park up, I disconnect the chassis, (have to to put the slide out anyway) and if I park up the bus, I do the same. Solar keeps the house batteries charged, but they are AGM's and the chassis is a wet lead-acid so can't (shouldn't?) be on the same circuit.

Nothing worse than coming out to dead batteries!!

[Gary111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie How old is the chassis battery? fred

It is a new battery

[davecampbell]

Put an ammeter in series with one of the cables and read the parasitic drain, the battery(ies) have an amp-hour rating from full charge so just divide that total AH capacity by the drain and see if that works out to 6 days.

[noozeyeguy]

FWIW: I've had this problem intermittently in my '05 Seabreeze. What I've noticed is that sometimes the power steps don't retract completely... the theory being that when they don't, the relay that controls the motor never switches off. That would be enough load to kill a battery in a few days, easily.

I've gotten in the habit of giving the steps a gentle helping hand when they close, and I haven't had the problem lately. I don't know if turning the steps off would solve the problem as well, since the ignition-sense overrides the cutoff switch...

My $.02, your mileage may vary, void where prohibited or taxed.