Battery problem

[davismills]

Originally Posted by MisterT

again, WRONG! the slides are NOT operated with the Chassis 12v battery(s), but by the House 6v batteries - operating the slides would have NOTHING to do with cranking the engine!

Every coach is different, but on my coach the chassis battery operates the slides, jacks and steps. The manufacturer recommends running the engine when operating the slides/jacks. When I replaced the chassis battery, my slides worked again. I WISH the house batteries operated the slides, but they definitely do not.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by MisterT

if you have an AUX button/switch on your dash area, it ties together all the batteries, both the Chassis 12v and the House 6v batteries, in order to either crank the Engine, or the Generator, or operate the Slides, etc. in the event one set of batteries is low.

When you are plugged into shore power, the 6v House batteries are recharged by the Charger, but the Chassis 12v 'engine' batteries are not affected - they are charged only by the alternator while cranked/driving. Only some larger coaches, like your previous diesel model, provides a connection between the two.
You'll also find that your Inverter typically provides 120v power, when off grid, to your fridge only. Larger coaches, especially diesels, have inverters providing 120v power to everything in the coach, including outlets, fridge, microwave, water heater, tvs, etc., which is one of the differences/advantages of larger coaches.

I'm not sure I would call a big inverter an advantage. It can suck the biggest battery banks dry in a couple of hours of careless use. Microwave, water heater and vacuum cleaner come to mind.

Yes, I know the water heater, like the A/C is probably not connected to the inverter output. ;-)

[Sbrownstein]

Originally Posted by davismills

Every coach is different, but on my coach the chassis battery operates the slides, jacks and steps. The manufacturer recommends running the engine when operating the slides/jacks. When I replaced the chassis battery, my slides worked again. I WISH the house batteries operated the slides, but they definitely do not.

It should be relatively easy to switch that over to the house bank, depending on your wiring layout. On many coaches all that is necessary is to move the power lead for the slides from the chassis post to the house post on the battery control center. It generally has its own, in-line fuse anyway.

[twinboat]

Not sure why you would want the high amp draw, of slides and jacks on the house bank. Leave it on the start battery and just start the engine.

That gets the alternator output and the house bank in the picture when the isolation solenoid closes. Thats better then drawing down your already depleted house bank and running your pump motors at lower voltage, after boondocking.

Same with the generator. I would wake up to low batteries and hear the generator crank slow and kick out my inverter. I moved the generator to the fresh, unused, start battery, and it cranks much faster.

[Sbrownstein]

There is no telling why manufacturers do one or the other. Either way, a simple push of the boost switch solves the problem. Used to start my genny with depleted house batteries by boosting.

Generally leave my engine running when using the jacks, but my slides are locked out with the ignition on.