Community Forums

cruzbill · 01-30-2018, 03:06 PM

Ok, For all you DC guys; I measure 150ma current at house battery with house batt disconnect switch OFF. Chassis battery measures essentially zero current with chassis batt disconnect switch off. I used the generator two days ago to bring the house/chassis batteries from 12.3v to 100% charge (about 3 hrs). I watched as the Xantrex display progressed thru bulk, adsorption and finally float charge. So today I read 12.53v at batteries (90%).

10% loss in two days; I'll be at 50% SOC in less than two weeks. I have to keep rig (under cover) in storage yard, no electrical. Since under cover, 100w solar does no good.

Normal or???

2005 Beaver Patriot Thunder 40'w/tag
4xGC2 6v batteries, about 9 months since new.

dennis45 · 01-30-2018, 03:11 PM

Yes it's normal. With the disconnect off you still have things like gas detection etc still drawing current. Only way fully disconnect for long term is to remove the neg term at the battery.

cruzbill · 01-30-2018, 03:14 PM

I don't have a wiring diag but I would think that a batt disconnect switch would be the first thing that the pos. cable would attach to. I can't roll under the coach to check.

Old-Biscuit · 01-30-2018, 03:20 PM

Parasitic Draws

Items that are 'DIRECTLY' wired to battery (bypassing disconnect) so that they are ON all the time
Propane Detector, circuit boards, memory circuits etc.

Parasitic Draws (drains) will lower typically battery below 50%SOC within a couple weeks or less

Soppy · 01-30-2018, 03:22 PM

The battery disconnect doesn't always disconnect everything . The inverter and a few other items are still connected. The only way to be sure is to remove the cables that are not going the disconnect from the battery. It would sure be nice if coach manufactures installed battery disconnects that disconnected everything .

cruzbill · 01-30-2018, 03:33 PM

I read the Beaver manual, and it says that when using the disconnect switch "The batteries will be completely disconnected". The solar IS wired to charge both chassis and house with disconnects OFF.

Still wondering....

Old-Biscuit · 01-30-2018, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

I read the Beaver manual, and it says that when using the disconnect switch "The batteries will be completely disconnected". The solar IS wired to charge both chassis and house with disconnects OFF.

Still wondering....

Guess the 'manual' is correct and you do not have any parasitic draws

nothermark · 01-30-2018, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

I read the Beaver manual, and it says that when using the disconnect switch "The batteries will be completely disconnected". The solar IS wired to charge both chassis and house with disconnects OFF.

Still wondering....

Then disconnect the solar. It is a drain without sun so it will charge.

Your batteries will still run down due to internal resistance but it will be at a lower rate.

cruzbill · 01-30-2018, 04:00 PM

My Aladdin system says that the solar is putting out about 9vdc. I thought each panel (I only have one) has blocking diodes so that the things don't drain batteries at night.

Quincy · 01-30-2018, 05:48 PM

I dont believe the solar will drain anything. 150ma is not much, do you have a charger or small electronic thing plugged in somewhere?

Unplanned Tourist · 01-30-2018, 06:07 PM

Like others have said, it's parasitic draw. Do your radios, still remember the preset stations and time? It takes power to do that as well as keep the propane, CO and smoke detectors going also.
Even your chassis batteries will over time draw down if left hooked up. There is a very small, but still a draw there also.
Only way to guarantee the batteries will stay up is to disconnect them if you are inside with no shore power.
Happy Glamping.

nothermark · 01-31-2018, 06:07 AM

If the only thing on the battery side of the disconnect is the solar charger. The charge line and isolator to the engine charging system is probably also connected. Disconnect them and see what happens. Basic trouble shooting. If everything was working correctly the drain would not be there. Figure out where it is then figure out why.

OLYLEN · 01-31-2018, 07:10 AM

Put a knife switch on the ground cable. Now you have a true disconnect.

LEN

Blandry29 · 02-04-2018, 12:44 AM

On mine the culprit was the inverter. Even fully powered down it was drawing about 200 ma. An appropriately rated disconnect switch in the battery feed solved the problem. PITA, though, because its one more thing you have to remember when putting the rig into storage.