Newbie M/H owner has Coach & House Dead Batteries? WHY?

[woody92354]

M/H plugged into 30A service in driveway. Started motor & unplugged. Moved unit 20' & shutoff. Returned 2 Hrs. later to find ALL 3 batteries drained. What happened? Had to swap out starter battery to retract slide & return to 30A service spot. Unit is an 03 Fleetwood Southwind w/32K. Called local dealer...solenoids (under hood in breaker box) click when battery disconect switches are pushed. Dealer says that indicates they're OK/Good. What do these 2 switches do exactly & when should I push them? Please help newbie B4 I sour on this new adventure. I figure (hope not) I have an intermittent short somewhere!?

[John H...]

Woody, Welcome to the forum and don't give up. These beasts are complicated, but can be something simple sometimes that will cause you to want to pull out your hair if it's available. Can't give you a definite answer, but first thing would be to check battery condition and be sure they are able to hold a charge or maybe they aren't getting a proper charge. Will need some meters to check them. Maybe you should try charging them seperately with a battery minder... Good luck...

[SarahW]

Woody--do you know if your motorhome has an inline inverter? If so, check the on/off switch and make sure the charger isn't turned off. Do you know whether your batteries were fully charged?

Like John said, moho's can be frustrating with all the different systems...but usually we can put our collective heads together and help each other figure this stuff out. (View this as a learning experience and try not to get discouraged. )

Be sure to post back if you find out what the problem is, as others might use the info.

[Poke a Long]

Wow, it started right up, you moved it and two hours later dead? We have a Fleetwood, as you enter the coach next to my yard light switch there is another switch, if I turn the switch off it kills my entire electrical system. Did you turn off a switch somewhere? Wish you luck...lg

[evansj2]

Something is drawing current, and something big to kill your batteries that quick. Check all of the fridges, we have a spare underneath that was plugged into 12v outlet once-same thing happened. Check heaters, block heater is another one.

Hope this helps.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Something was drawing enough current to kill the batteries. You shouldn't have to shut off battery power for a just a couple hours - they are for use when you shut it down for a couple WEEKS.

It seems likely that your house batteries are very weak and you are living mostly on the 12v provided by the converter/charger when you are plugged into shore power. As soon as you disconnected, the normal power draw in the rig quickly used what little power the batteries had stored. I would suggest a battery load test, which requires removing them and taking to a auto parts or battery store for a free test.

[Acm210]

On the dash by the steering column, there may be a switch that if you hold down while starting, it uses all battery juice to start the RV. Might have a battery icon on the switch. Mine is an 04 Pace arrow. Very similar.

[woody92354]

I was so freaked out, since it's been fine since i bought it a couple months ago. Then it's in the street w/one slide out & Dead batteries. Put in a spare batt. & got it put away. I guess i found out the hard way about those batt. disconnect switches. After some investigation, found that Starter battery was weak. Did not know Elec steps drew off Starter Battery. Slowly charged batt. over several days w/battery tender device. Now back up to full 12.9 volts. Do ALL M/H's have battery disconnect feature. This is for storage in winter/long down time I take it. My solution is THIS: 1) leaveing M/H plugged into 30A service i had electrician buddy run. 2)DISCONNECT Both Starter & House battery's via switches.I know they're out of service when NO VOLTAGE shows on control center readout!! 3) Plugged in Battery Tender inside coach on other side of firewall & ran hook-up to Starter Batt. Now starter battery isolated & stays topped off. Freakout over. Till next unexpected/unexplained event. Again, thanks for all your replys. Maybe my post will clear some things up for other newbies.

[woody92354]

P.S. Have since bought Owners Manual from Fleetwood for $10. B-I-G H-E-L-P!!!

[Steve N Sal]

I know the two that we have owned have the battery cutoff switch. Glad your problem is resolved. Happy reading with the new manual.

[SarahW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by woody92354 I was so freaked out, since it's been fine since i bought it a couple months ago. Then it's in the street w/one slide out & Dead batteries. Put in a spare batt. & got it put away. I guess i found out the hard way about those batt. disconnect switches. After some investigation, found that Starter battery was weak. Did not know Elec steps drew off Starter Battery. Slowly charged batt. over several days w/battery tender device. Now back up to full 12.9 volts. Do ALL M/H's have battery disconnect feature. This is for storage in winter/long down time I take it. My solution is THIS: 1) leaveing M/H plugged into 30A service i had electrician buddy run. 2)DISCONNECT Both Starter & House battery's via switches.I know they're out of service when NO VOLTAGE shows on control center readout!! 3) Plugged in Battery Tender inside coach on other side of firewall & ran hook-up to Starter Batt. Now starter battery isolated & stays topped off. Freakout over. Till next unexpected/unexplained event. Again, thanks for all your replys. Maybe my post will clear some things up for other newbies.

Great!! Thanks for posting your followup. You're right...that info might help someone else sometime.

[sooner]

I had a problem with my Mobile Scout, foud out I had a fuse blown on my converter. You might try that.