Community Forums

Mogulite · 08-05-2022, 07:39 PM

New to me 34pa. I took my coach to my storage facility until we use it again in a few weeks. All I did as far as shutting down the batteries was to turn the switch to off in the house battery compartment. I checked on it today, a week later, and the batteries were at 8.7, ouch! It seems to me that either something drained the batteries or they are bad. Should I have also pressed the disconnect at the panel by the entry door?

Also, I just recently added four more solar panels. Not sure if that system needs to be disconnected as well. I emailed Go Power Solar with that question.

Is there something else that needs to be disconnected when in storage for a few weeks?

Thanks, Steve

99dart · 08-06-2022, 07:59 AM

The solar panels should be working to keep those batteries charged, ready to go. So, that doesn't seem to be working correctly. Do you have a residential fridge? If you didn't turn it off it would be a huge drain on batteries. The coach should also have a battery disconnect switch to completely disconnect the batteries from coach. Look for a big red cutoff switch in storage compartments.

twinboat · 08-06-2022, 08:17 AM

If the disconnect switch shuts of all positive cables coming from the batteries, the batteries are shot.

As a test, charge them up, disconnect the cables, wait a few days and check voltage. If are below 12.6 they are shot.

wolfe10 · 08-06-2022, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogulite

Also, I just recently added four more solar panels. Not sure if that system needs to be disconnected as well. I emailed Go Power Solar with that question.

We/you need to determine if the the solar and its controller are wired to the battery side of the disconnect switch or the "far side" of the battery disconnect switch.

If on the battery side, indeed either the solar system is not working and/or the batteries are shot.

But, if on the "far side" of the battery disconnect switch, it can't charge the batteries with the switch off.

In any case, fully charge the batteries, separate them and have them load tested.

ArtJoyce · 08-06-2022, 08:30 AM

When you turn off the switch in the battery box. Do the interior lights still work?

garykk · 08-06-2022, 09:44 AM

If you shut off the battery switch, does this also turn off solar power input?
Unless you have a separate switch to turn off your inverter, that’s what was drawing your batteries. The inverter is hard wired to the batteries on Tiffins, it wasn’t until later models that Tiffin included a separate switch to turn off the inverter.

Arch Hoagland · 08-06-2022, 10:59 AM

How old are the batteries?

Have you checked their water level?

Mogulite · 08-06-2022, 05:03 PM

To answer a few of the questions…

It is stored under cover, so no solar power.

I did turn turn the cutoff switch to off, but didn’t check to see if interior lights worked.

I do have a residential refrigerator so I check the battery water level every couple of weeks.

Not sure how old the batteries are but it is a 2019 so not old.

I’ve emailed Go Power! Asking them if I need to disconnect the system when not in use.

Maybe I’ll be forced to buy new batteries and can upgrade to AGM’s

Persistent · 08-06-2022, 05:32 PM

Always store lead acid batteries fully charged. Fully charged means 14 to 18 hours on a high quality charger like the one built into your RV. Fully recharge for 14 hours before battery terminal voltage drops below 12.4 volts.

Check battery terminal voltage frequently until you know how long your battery bank will stay above 12.4 volts.

Also check water level frequently until you know how much you RV will use. Charging consumes water.

Your battery bank may survive a week deeply discharged. You may need an external charger to bring voltage up to 11.0 volts or more. Some built in chargers will not charge if voltage is below their programed cutoff voltage.

PKI · 08-06-2022, 07:20 PM

We had the batteries go flat in a week of storage when we had everything in the house off, except, that I forgot to shut down the two house disconnect switches and trip the inverter breaker. Most likely the biggest power draw was the inverter. Suspect that was your problem as well.

W.J. Demo · 08-06-2022, 09:27 PM

Need to also turn off the inverter switch that is located next to the battery switch.

revbucco · 08-16-2022, 05:30 PM

I found out the hard way that Your domestic refrigerator can run your batteries down in less than 12, hours. The only way to avoid this is to (1). Turn it off, or (2) plug it into shore power. I found that if you will open the port on the side of the rig this will give you access to the refrigerator. You can unplug the fridge and use a 110 extension cord and plug your fridge in. You will still need to turn off everything else to keep from drawing power from your batteries.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogulite

To answer a few of the questions…

It is stored under cover, so no solar power.

I did turn turn the cutoff switch to off, but didn’t check to see if interior lights worked.

I do have a residential refrigerator so I check the battery water level every couple of weeks.

Not sure how old the batteries are but it is a 2019 so not old.

I’ve emailed Go Power! Asking them if I need to disconnect the system when not in use.

Maybe I’ll be forced to buy new batteries and can upgrade to AGM’s

Jbc37 · 08-16-2022, 08:26 PM

2020 37AP , finally tried it without a power hookup. Residential Fridge would run for 12 hours....then we had to start the Generator.

HerbieHauler · 08-17-2022, 10:58 AM

It sounds like your inverter was still drawing power even after the house battery shut was engaged. I'm not sure when Tiffin finally added the Black knob disconnect for the inverter but I do know that it will continue to draw power even when the house battery disconnect was engaged. I do not believe that your solar will run your batteries down even if it isn't receiving any sun light, the solar should go into shut down automatically. Beside getting a cut off for the inverter if you don't already have one, You may want to check the house batteries. If your not the original owner of the coach, You don't know how the batteries where cared for or if they have been deep drained in the past or allowed to run out of distilled water. I would ask you to check the date code on the batteries because even if the coach is a 2019, the batteries maybe older and after (possible) 4 years they may be on there way out particularly if they were not maintained.