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Old 08-01-2012, 12:29 PM   #1
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Unhappy 2005 American Eagle 40W

Hello,
To everyone out there. I am new to rving and ooh so excited with my purchase of the 2005 American Eagle. I am having problems with shutting down and returning to find the batteries are weak. Can anyone help me with the shut down so i can aviod this problem in the future. Tks
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Old 08-01-2012, 12:45 PM   #2
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There are a lot of phantom loads in a modern motor home. The best solution is if you have access to electric power, even a 15/20 amp circuit. If you keep it plugged in, with all loads turned off, so the inverters built in charger can keep them at a float charge level. It will be better for the long term health of the batteries also. If no electric available then removing the neg cable from both battery banks is next best. Be careful & don't cause an arc.
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Old 08-01-2012, 01:36 PM   #3
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I know this may sound naive, but I have made this blunder! Are you opening the battery bays and turning off the selector switches. If not your batteries will drain below 12 volts in a matter of days. Just a guess ?
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Old 08-03-2012, 08:04 AM   #4
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House batteries or chassis (engine start) batteries?

There are a lot of electronics in an American Coach and the house batteries will die in a just a few days. Chassis batteries will probably go a couple weeks.

There is a battery disconnect (aka "Main") switch by the entry door. Cycling it off will help eliminate parasitic or phantom loads on the house battery. Won't eliminate it completely, though, since things like the LP and CO detectors stay on.

A better solution is to leave it plugged in, if you can.
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Old 08-03-2012, 08:11 AM   #5
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Thanks Gary,
i don't have the option of leaving it plugged in where it's stored. i always disconnect the main switch by the door before leaving but still return with the same problem about 5-7 days later.
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Old 08-03-2012, 10:38 AM   #6
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My Eagle is much older (98), but turning off the door switches and the main battery switch in the engine compartment solved this problem for me.

Congratulations on your new AE!

DaveS
1998 American Eagle 40EVS
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Old 08-03-2012, 12:54 PM   #7
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CLT2, my Revolution is similar and I had the same problem when I first got it. Using the battery shutoff at the door, my (new) house batteries would drain down within a week or two. The solution is to install manual shutoffs on the negative battery terminals at the battery bay. On mine, two were necessary becuase there are cables from two different negative battery posts into the coach electrical system. I used the big blade-type switches from CW (I think around $10), which are made to attach to the posts. Problem solved. The only downside is that this process so completely cuts power that the dash radio loses the memory for presets. No big deal to me. Also, be sure to disconnect the chassis batteries using the shutoff in the engine compartment. Here's something weird: Even after using the door solenoid shut-off, the two manual house battery shutoffs, and the chassis battery shutoff, the green led on my propane detector is still lit. How in the world is that thing still getting juice?
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