Community Forums

Renegade RV · 09-20-2019, 01:00 PM

I took our coach to the local Freightliner Service Center in town for annual PM Services this week. During the service, they determined the chassis batteries were only holding 28% charge. I did notice this past weekend that the motor was a bit sluggish to start backing up their findings.

When I asked the tech why they went bad so quickly he said because they sit a lot without being run. Especially the time from when the chassis is manufactured and then sent to the converter and then from the converter to the dealer and then to the new owner. I checked and our chassis was manufactured in November 2017 so this all makes some sense to me. The tech also said to also disconnect the chassis batteries when not traveling even if for a couple days.

I’m putting this out there to one see if anyone else has experienced this same issue and second as a heads up to potential new owners to have the chassis batteries checked as part of their PDI process.

netjam · 09-20-2019, 02:12 PM

What the tech told you sounds about right. My chassis was built Dec of 16 and still OK although they have never been tested. If I was to store mine ( fulltimer so never store it) I think I’d use the knob under the seat to isolate the batteries.

ragoodspeed · 09-20-2019, 02:18 PM

My chassis is three years old and the batteries are therefore atleast that old. I keep a battery tender on them any time the chassis is sitting. While I have not put a meter on them they seem to keep a charge nicely. I actually keep a trickle charger on both banks on batteries. I do not leave the coach plugged in but choose to use the trickle charge approach. ( coach batteries would no be charged by being plugged in anyway. I like to all so shut battery power off to the chassis with that knob to the left of the drivers seat. Good luck

joes2901 · 09-21-2019, 01:40 PM

Does the Renegade Verona lack a device to charge the chassis batteries when the house batteries are being charged at greater than 13.2 volts?

Does it have a switch that allows the house battery bank to boost the chassis batteries when starting a cold engine?

My Bay Star (see signature) has a Bi-direction Relay Device (BIRD) that does that and allows the solar panels to keep both chassis and house battery banks charged if parked in the sun.

netjam · 09-21-2019, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragoodspeed

My chassis is three years old and the batteries are therefore atleast that old. I keep a battery tender on them any time the chassis is sitting. While I have not put a meter on them they seem to keep a charge nicely. I actually keep a trickle charger on both banks on batteries. I do not leave the coach plugged in but choose to use the trickle charge approach. ( coach batteries would no be charged by being plugged in anyway. I like to all so shut battery power off to the chassis with that knob to the left of the drivers seat. Good luck

There is an old thread(chassis battery) which indicates that the chassis batteries charge when on shore power. I asked renegade if that was true and they replied to the affirmitive. Doesn’t mean they do.....but maybe. I have sat for over 2 months on shore power without starting the coach and the batteries turned it over like they were new.

ragoodspeed · 09-22-2019, 04:59 AM

I am not aware that is the case Netjam. I honestly have never heard of any
manufacturer wiring the chassis batteries to be charged of coach shore power but who knows?

twinboat · 09-22-2019, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragoodspeed

I am not aware that is the case Netjam. I honestly have never heard of any
manufacturer wiring the chassis batteries to be charged of coach shore power but who knows?

Wow, since about 2006 bi-directional charging has been a regular feature in the MH world.
Before that, only the high end Pushers had it.

Plug in shore power, wait until house batteries voltage reaches 13.3 volts and click, the device combines the chassis battery into the system.

tdeperte · 09-23-2019, 10:22 AM

The Renegade batteries are kept full while on shore power by a smart charger in the invertor. It has three stages, absorb, float, and full. This is indicated by your invertor remote display. No need for any other charger if you are plugged into shore power and leave the battery switches on.

ragoodspeed · 10-01-2019, 06:07 PM

I am sorry to have misled in regards to chassis batteries being charged from shore power, I stand corrected. In my defense my last two B+ coaches that were 2011 and 2012 they did not have this feature. Thanks