Chassis Batteries

[alluran]

Hi Guys
I need help with my Chassis Batteries.
We have been at this RV Resort for five weeks and when I went to start the engine all the lights on the dash lit up for about a second then went dim and would not start so I pushed the battery Boost switch and the engine started. I stopped the engine and tried again this time the lights on the dash did not came on and even when pushed the Boost switch nothing ,dead as a door nail.
I pushed the battery test button and the Cassie Battery read 10.50 is this normal? Then I asked my wife to hold the test button down as I tried to start the engine and it went down to 3.66, are my batteries DEAD.
What I don’t know is when you are plugged into shore power do you turn off the Battery Disconnect switch. If I need new batteries any suggestions.

Thanks.

[CLIFFTALL]

It appears that your chassis battery does not charge off of your converter/inverter. It may only need to be charged.

[nothermark]

Two suggestions:

1. If you have to use the boost switch let the engine run for an hour before you turn it off.

2. Get a battery maintainer or a charger if you are going to park for long periods. You will need to top off the chassis from time to time. I'd suggest weekly. The computers and some other stuff on new engines do not shut off so there is a constant small battery drain that will suck down the starting battery in a few weeks.

FWIW cheap chargers are not maintainers and cheap maintainers will not charge a really flat battery. Your best bet is to get a voltmeter and check the battery weekly and charge as necessary. Do not leave that charger connected. From there you spend more to do less work. I'd check the voltage anyway. YMMV ;-)

[lymanlouis]

Just a thought...did you test the battery at the battery? It almost sounds like a loose connection somewhere. Worth a look.

[Yakimaman]

[Q ]What I don’t know is when you are plugged into shore power do you turn off the Battery Disconnect switch. If I need new batteries any suggestions.

My batteries will not charge from shore power with the battery switch in the OFF position. As it's clearly stated in my owner's manual, it's designed that way.

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by lymanlouis

Just a thought...did you test the battery at the battery? It almost sounds like a loose connection somewhere. Worth a look.

I agree. If it was me, the battery connections would be the first stop in fixing this problem.

To answer the question about the battery disconnect, on my Discovery I never turn off the battery disconnect unless she is going to be sitting unused and unplugged in for a long time.