Community Forums

bridluz · 08-05-2019, 08:03 AM

I have a 2014 Tour and I am wondering how to properly store the rv while keeping the battery's charged or not drained while stored. I have turned off the refrigerator.

The picture shows two switches; one for the chassis and one for the house. Can I simply turn both off and be good?
Or turn both off and use a trickle charger on the battery's (keep in mind the house battery's are under the bed)
Or keep them both switches ON and plug the rv in to a 110 outlet to keep the battery's fresh?

My 05 Monaco was set up differently so I am trying to figure out the best way to store the Tour.
Thanks!

puttin · 08-05-2019, 10:49 AM

Well, our coaches are definitely different but I turn both switches off. I have a Trickle Start that keeps current going to my starting battery while I'm on either generator or shore power....so it stays up and ready all the time. I know I have nothing in the coach needing d/c when it's sleeping so it's all ready to go when we are- even a month or so after storage. I've never kept any sort of maintainer charger on the batteries ever.

chuckftboy · 08-05-2019, 07:37 PM

You mentioned leaving the switches on and plugging into a 110 v outlet. I think this is the best choice, letting you on board charger maintain all the batteries, house and coach.
You also mentioned batteries under the bed? You will find them actually under the slide tray in the basement.

bridluz · 08-06-2019, 06:11 AM

Thank you both. Currently I am plugged in to a 110v with the refrigerator off hoping to maintain my battery's. At home plugged in I am fine even with the refrig on BUT when I get to storage and plug in after a day or two or three the GFCI trips. Then I get to the RV everything is dead. I share the outlet with my neighbor so I don't know if the draw is too much for both of us to be plugged in or what. With my refrig. off I wouldn't think I would have a large draw on power.

That's I guess what I was asking.

My options are to turn off both switches and trickle to the chassis to maintain those battery's. But does the house battery's suffer any damage not being run my the energy management system?
Other option is try to get the storage owner to replace the GFCI and see if that works.
Last option is to find new storage which I don't want to do.

Thanks again.

Skip Y · 08-06-2019, 01:09 PM

I normally disconnect both batteries using the switches. ALSO, turn off the inverter as it is direct connected to the coach batteries and will drain them. The solar panel will trickle charge the engine battery, but probably isn't adequate for a full charge.

Skip Y
2010 Journey 40TD
WIT 47083, FMCA F263635

Ray,IN · 08-06-2019, 09:59 PM

The GFCI has nothing to do with amp-draw, it is tripping because a ground fault is detected in one of the RV's. One of you at a time disconnect and remove negative battery cable to prevent returning to a dead coach. If the GFCI trips on one of you, that is the cause.
Using the switches does disconnect the batteries, BUT things like CO detectors remain powered by the batteries. That's why I say remove the negative battery cable, it remove ALL power drain.
If the GFCI trips on both of you, request it be replaced.

AllanK · 08-07-2019, 06:31 PM

I turn off both switches and place a battery Minder on the coach batteries when I have a shared 15 amp outlet at storage.

It makes me feel better.

bridluz · 08-13-2019, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllanK

I turn off both switches and place a battery Minder on the coach batteries when I have a shared 15 amp outlet at storage.

It makes me feel better.

I believe this is what I am going to do. And after reading the manual it says to turn off the coach battery switch. But does not say to charge them.
In any case I'd like to think I should charge them so next question is...

...since the bank of 6 house battery's are in parallel wiring where do you properly put the positive and negative clips from the charger/maintainer on the battery's.

Here is a picture of the bank of battery's.
Thanks for any input!!!

Robi.1014 · 08-13-2019, 07:40 PM

When storing my rig, I turn off both battery-bank switches. My rig is stored outside, no AC available. The solar panel seems to keep both banks fully charged (or at least sufficiently charged).

PS: Like you, my previous rig was 2004 Monaco Diplomat

Wayne M · 08-13-2019, 08:23 PM

I have a 2015 (built in August 2014) Winnebago Tour 42Qd. I turn off all appliances and plug into 110 AC. I also turn off the step so that it is extended, and off. Winnebago is notorious for the steps drawing more current when in the on postition than the trickle charger can handle. This was also a Winnebago Service Center recommendation when My previous WBGO lost battery juice when plugged in.

Also they said to leave both disconnect switches turned on. Turning one off will disconnect it from the system and the Trik-L-Charge will not charge the battery disconnected. I've had the new to us Tour 42QD since October, 2017 and leave it in storage plugged in as I described and never have a problem with the batteries going down.

As posted, with a shared 15 Amp plug you sharer may be pulling more than his share. Ask him what his system states he is pulling when YOU are not plugged in. I'm lucky in that I do not presently have to share 110Vac at my storage