How much power do steps use?

[Unicorn Driver]

Before I got our toad we never had any starter battery issues. We loaded up the coach and drove off.

Now my Victron bmv712 is alerting on the starter constantly at start of each trip. The only difference is my steps are in and out maybe 4 times as we stop and connect the toad. Is this enough to drop the voltage?

I don't like leaving a vehicle running if no one is in it.

[Spdracr39]

How old are the batteries and could they be low on water ?

[Unicorn Driver]

The house batteries are AGM. The steps are powered by the chassis battery. It was fitted about 13 months ago.

[twinboat]

Is your isolation solenoid bi-directional and maintain the chassis batteries while on shore power ?

If its supposed to, maybe its not, and the battery is dropping due to parasitic loads.

[Unicorn Driver]

Not sure to be honest Twinboat but when I start the generator I can see the starter battery voltage increase. The battery does have a physical disconnect which I use

[Soppy]

The steps use 10 to 15 amps when operating. So if operating continuously for an hr , they would only use a maximum of 20% of your batteries capacity. The do have a parasitic draw , but that would take days to kill the battery.

[Unicorn Driver]

Thanks Soppy, Thata good to know.

I will get the battery details later and post them here. I will also further test. I may need to set my Victron alarm voltage lower.

[Unicorn Driver]

It's possible the battery was undersized. The selling dealer replaced it when I purchased the coach.

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver

Before I got our toad we never had any starter battery issues. We loaded up the coach and drove off.



Now my Victron bmv712 is alerting on the starter constantly at start of each trip. The only difference is my steps are in and out maybe 4 times as we stop and connect the toad. Is this enough to drop the voltage?



I don't like leaving a vehicle running if no one is in it.

Not much, like rolling car window down 4 times it should not even show a voltage difference.

[Unicorn Driver]

Thanks Tha_Rooster, great to know.

All,

The Victron alarm voltage is 12.2, today the battery voltage 12.99.

The battery is a Deka Ultimate.

[Soppy]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver

Thanks Tha_Rooster, great to know.

All,

The Victron alarm voltage is 12.2, today the battery voltage 12.99.

The battery is a Deka Ultimate.

If you only get the alarm while cranking your engine , don't worry about it especially if it is set for 12.2v. A battery may drop as low as 10v during cranking and still be good. 12.99 is real good for a fully charged battery.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Driver

Before I got our toad we never had any starter battery issues. We loaded up the coach and drove off.

Now my Victron bmv712 is alerting on the starter constantly at start of each trip. The only difference is my steps are in and out maybe 4 times as we stop and connect the toad. Is this enough to drop the voltage?

I don't like leaving a vehicle running if no one is in it.

If the engine is shut down (key off), then flip the switch to the steps to the off position. That should keep them from moving in and out every time the door is opened and closed.

Having said that, I don't think them opening and closing a few times would cause the situation you describe anyways. Sounds like a bad battery, bad connection, or something else that is pulling battery voltage down.

Isn't there a dedicated battery hot/charging terminal in the trailer plug? If so, could it be something within your toad's wiring harness drawing power when plugged in?

[Unicorn Driver]

Thanks both,

I usually hear the alarm when the engine is off. I do normally set the battery switch to off but sometimes forget:-)

I am going to be storing the coach at home in a month ao in future it will always be plugged in.

I will monitor it for the next month:-)