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medic149 · 03-22-2025, 03:37 PM

Okay, I must have done something wrong somewhere, but I can't figure this out.

We put our 2019 Allegro Bus 45OPP back in storage 15 days ago. It was plugged into a 20 amp outlet at the storage unit. The GFI was not tripped.

The house battery master and the inverter master switches were both turned to the off position since we needed no power to go inside the coach.

I went down the next day and everything appeared to be fine. GFI not tripped. All batteries had power. MH started.

Fastforward 14 days to today, every battery is dead! No power coming in from the house batteries. No power to the chassis. I didn't have my meters with me so I could test the battery voltages.

Any thoughts????

TIA!

d23haynes57 · 03-22-2025, 03:42 PM

Turning off the house battery master and the inverter disabled charging and some parasitic loads were still there. You also need to understand how charging is performed and if there is a means to charge the chassis batteries. You should have some metering so that you can confirm charging status as part of storage prep.

Unplanned Tourist · 03-22-2025, 04:08 PM

Always have a VOM in your rig. A $10.00 one will do. I think if I were to include the one in our MH, I have six or more.

garykk · 03-23-2025, 06:33 AM

I’m confused, did you turn off all the disconnect switches? If you turned off the inverter completely which, the newer Tiffin have the capability of, you will not charge anything. If all battery switches were off then nothing 12 volt should have been in operation. All I can think of is that one of is a defective disconnect switch.
All it takes is a few days to kill the batteries.

Ricci · 03-23-2025, 07:28 AM

Hi - The inverter does not go through the battery switch so you killed the ability to charge the battery (switch off) while still having the parasitic load of the inverter. Always be sure to turn the inverter off or leave a way for the battery to be charged.

Tom

jandcr · 03-23-2025, 08:34 AM

The battery disconnect switches should completely isolate them from everything - and that's why they are located right next to the batteries. If you look at the wiring, you will see that the main battery cable (both house and chassis) goes directly through them. That's what they are for - for long term storage and major work on the electrical systems. So they are supposed to isolate those "parasitic" loads. However... No telling what Tiffin did on any given model or year with inverter/chargers, etc. Some also have trickle chargers - small battery maintenance chargers - which may be connected independently. You should be able to see that in your power bay. Several possible issues. Have you tried pressing the reset switch on the inverter/charger? With the battery disconnects off, if there was a power cut to you 20 amp shore supply as well, it is possible it would trip and shut down with no source of power at all. Less likely in your case but unfortunately quite common - The batteries dry out and if they are not topped up (or if they are old and worn out) they could have discharged too far and/or need topping up. Have you checked ALL the main fuses and breakers? Are you sure the 12volt house disconnect switch is on? It should be right inside the main entry door on the panel there. Its purpose - though rarely used by anyone - is to disconnect all the house 12 volt supply when refilling propane or fuel. It's a legally required safety measure in some States (typical over kill!). Very occasionally a gas station will ask you to turn it off. (Say no thanks and go somewhere else, so you don't have to reset your clocks and all that stuff afterwards.) It is not a simple switch. It is essentially a double momentary contact push button - one push off/one push on - and drives a latching relay. If the relay has no power, it will drop out. Not the actual root cause of your problem, but would complicate troublshooting. So try pressing it to on. I think everyone else has covered the other possibilities - except calling Tiffin or a dealer or repair shop. Some of the mobile guys are really good and familiar with these odd ball things. Dealers should know, since they have coaches sitting on lots for a very long time with no shore power and don't typically mess around trying to keep them charged. Oh, and just one more thing (apologies to Lt Colombo) - since you say the engine started, the chassis power is good. Try pressing (and hold) the emergency start switch and see if anything works. All it does is connect the house and chassis batteries together, so it actually works both ways. I have used it to close a slide once with dead house batteries. That may give some more clues as to where the issue is.

garykk · 03-23-2025, 10:05 AM

I reread your post and I see you left the chassis batteries on. They will go dead in less than a week if left on with no charge.
Still can’t figure out why the house batteries went dead when the house switch and inverter switch were off.
Unless one of the switches is defective or wired wrong. When house batteries are charged up, turn them off and also the inverter and then check for voltage at the inverter and also on the output side of the house switch.

medic149 · 03-23-2025, 11:56 AM

So, I have roadside assistance coming as part of my warranty.

Chasis batt measure 3.5v. House batteries at 2.5. All batteries were new in May.

I totally forgot about the TPMS transmitter that connects directly to the chasis batteries. Maybe that drained tjem, but why would the house batteries drain as well?

I now know to not turn off the inverter when in storage like the dealer told me to do.

Thank you one and all for the help! Another Educational moment lol

garykk · 03-23-2025, 12:05 PM

You must have something else directly wired to the house batteries.
I am assuming you’ve done the same storage routine for an awhile.
Is there anything that’s been added to the coach that could draw current since the last storage?
Just out of curiosity, does your Spyder panel indicate the inverter is off?

Flyer15015 · 03-23-2025, 12:07 PM

Medic,
You can check for any parasitic drain with a simple multimeter.
Unless you are running the fridge or some other appliance, why would you need a plug in when you store the coach?
Easiest way when storing for more than a couple of days is to just unhook the batteries. Charged batteries will keep for 6 months or more, and it's not a big deal to pull the POS lead from both sets and just let them sit.
Been doing that for many years now with no bad results here.

Mike in Colorado

medic149 · 03-23-2025, 12:20 PM

It looks like the only thing connected to the house batteries is the Magnum power plus battery monitor.

medic149 · 03-23-2025, 06:03 PM

Well, had roadside assistance get the chasis batteries charged enough to get the MH started.

Then, the electric cord reel wouldn't work. So, had to charge the house batteries enough to get the shore line reeled in.

The drive home was interesting. The heater/blower wouldn't stay on. The shades wouldn't work. No cameras, radio, or anything else 12v was working.

Once home, hooked up to shore power and slowly everything started to come back. Even the steps worked! lol

Let's see how things are in the morning.

Thanks again for all of the advice.

SteveBev · 04-01-2025, 06:09 PM

If you have solar on roof the house battery disconnect will not shut off power from batteries. Check it next time you disconnect house batteries. I think where you went wrong was disconnecting batteries and turning off inverter. I just plug it in to shore power and let it do its thing. I do turn off refrigerator.

garykk · 04-07-2025, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medic149

Well, had roadside assistance get the chasis batteries charged enough to get the MH started.

Then, the electric cord reel wouldn't work. So, had to charge the house batteries enough to get the shore line reeled in.

The drive home was interesting. The heater/blower wouldn't stay on. The shades wouldn't work. No cameras, radio, or anything else 12v was working.

Once home, hooked up to shore power and slowly everything started to come back. Even the steps worked! lol

Let's see how things are in the morning.

Thanks again for all of the advice.

Well, how did things work out???