Community Forums

Ryan Brown · 03-23-2023, 07:16 AM

New to owning my 2019 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 45. Plugged in my RV to a15 amp outlet looking to keep hydro flowing through the unit throughout the winter. Just went to indoor storage facility yesterday and chassis batteries completely drained. inside the front door the battery disconnect (where the main - on & auxillary - on switch) is located was not turned on. Would I need to have this turned on to have electricity flowing to the batteries? Would that have caused this? Knowing that removing the batteries from unit is best solution we figured having it plugged i would have saved us a step. Any feedback would be awesome!

Thanks!

mrboyer · 03-23-2023, 07:25 AM

Yes, turn on; but 15 amp may not be enough power, also.

Ryan Brown · 03-23-2023, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrboyer

Yes, turn on; but 15 amp may not be enough power, also.

I was wondering that...I'll perhaps give it a test over summer when I store for a few weeks at a time. Appreciate it!

Persistent · 03-23-2023, 07:45 AM

Different RV's are wired differently. Measure battery terminal voltage to be sure how any individual RV works. Chassis and house battery banks may be different, but the same advice to measure applies.

There are many ways to store lead acid batteries. RV's are often wired differently. Some are different from the manufacturers. Some are different from owners changes. Some are different from dealers add-on's.

The fundamental underlying rule is as follows. See attachment for various specific methods.

For storage.
Fully charge lead acid batteries for 14 to 18 hours to clean lead sulfate off the plates. Abused batteries can benefit from longer times. Abused flooded cells can benefit from "conditioning" cycles.

Check water level of flooded cell batteries after charging. Charging consumes water.

Change settings per your method of storage. (Switches off, etc.)

Monitor battery terminal voltage at the battery terminals frequently.

Fully recharge 14 hours before voltage drops below 12.4 volts.

Adjust frequency of checking to match time to 12.4 volts that you found.

After good experience, you will know what to do.

**Camp CA** · 03-23-2023, 07:55 AM

Did you connect a smart battery charger to your batteries?......that is what do when parking my tow vehicle for months at a time.

Cat320 · 03-23-2023, 11:57 AM

15 amp shore power should be plenty to run a battery charger. If your Fleetwood is like mine, the coach batteries are charged first and they must reach at least 13.3 before the relay opens and the charge goes through to the chassis batteries. If you have a Magnum with your inverter charger and don't know how to set it so the charge goes through....call them, they are very helpful

153stars · 03-26-2023, 10:51 PM

What does keep hydro flowing mean.? Not hydrohot heat correct.
One thing battery combiner are not 100% reliable . Use charge only function for inverter charger. Or reliable battery maintainers or dual bank marine charger.
Possible to be better protected in case of power surge/lightning less hours on the expensive inverter. Less likely to trip a GFCI also with just a charger/s IMHO.