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Old 11-06-2021, 03:02 PM   #1
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Chassis Battery problems

We are new to full time RVing. We have settled down in Southern BC for the winter for a few months. We are totally plugged in and winterized for the mild winter. However, we have never parked our 2018 Baystar (Newmar) for more than a couple weeks then traveling again. Yesterday we noticed the chassis battery was dead. The only think that we can figure out that uses that battery is the front blind. Is this usual? We have been parked for approximately one month. Any information is welcome.
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Old 11-06-2021, 04:23 PM   #2
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Seems to be quite common that manufacturers leave it up to the owner to figure out how to keep chassis batteries charged.
Adding a trickle charger of some type works well.
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Old 11-06-2021, 04:38 PM   #3
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We are new to full time RVing. We have settled down in Southern BC for the winter for a few months. We are totally plugged in and winterized for the mild winter. However, we have never parked our 2018 Baystar (Newmar) for more than a couple weeks then traveling again. Yesterday we noticed the chassis battery was dead. The only think that we can figure out that uses that battery is the front blind. Is this usual? We have been parked for approximately one month. Any information is welcome.
The BIRD and it it associated relay should keep your chassis battery charged when you are on shore power. My best guess is the charge bridge relay has failed. The BIRD usally is not the point of failure.
You will both components under the hood in the Newmar chassis electrical box. It is the box with the clear cover buried above and behind the air filter box. The BIRD is typically a Intellitiec module. You will find 2 relays in the box one is the house disconnect relay and the other is the charge bridge relay, it should be on the far right. To test measure the voltage on the two small terminals if it shows 12 volts tha5 indicates that the converter should be charging the chassis battery. Then measure the voltage between each one of the two large terminals on the top and ground. The voltage should be very close if they are not the relay is bad.

When the relay is closed the house and chassis battery are connected together. Measure the voltages and report back, a few pictures would help as well.
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Old 11-06-2021, 06:06 PM   #4
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The BIRD and it it associated relay should keep your chassis battery charged when you are on shore power. My best guess is the charge bridge relay has failed. The BIRD usally is not the point of failure.
You will both components under the hood in the Newmar chassis electrical box. It is the box with the clear cover buried above and behind the air filter box. The BIRD is typically a Intellitiec module. You will find 2 relays in the box one is the house disconnect relay and the other is the charge bridge relay, it should be on the far right. To test measure the voltage on the two small terminals if it shows 12 volts tha5 indicates that the converter should be charging the chassis battery. Then measure the voltage between each one of the two large terminals on the top and ground. The voltage should be very close if they are not the relay is bad.

When the relay is closed the house and chassis battery are connected together. Measure the voltages and report back, a few pictures would help as well.
I showed this to my husband nil either of us is very mechanical so we will see if we can get someone to help. Using this information. Until then we will just use a trickle charger. Is there more than the curtain pulling from it that you know if? Thank you!
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Old 11-06-2021, 06:51 PM   #5
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Are you leaving the house Battery Disconnect switch in the Use mode. Some are called the Main switch and are often near the door.

It needs to be ON to charge the house battery. That battery charging will also trigger the BIRD OR BIM to charge the chassis battery.
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Old 11-06-2021, 08:17 PM   #6
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I showed this to my husband nil either of us is very mechanical so we will see if we can get someone to help. Using this information. Until then we will just use a trickle charger. Is there more than the curtain pulling from it that you know if? Thank you!
Additional loads on the chassis battery would most likely any Dash mounted USB ports, radio memory, cockpit map lights, a few other sensors also are tied to the chassis battery such as feeds to the steps and levelers. The chassis body and engine modules pull a small amount of power as well.
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Old 11-06-2021, 09:06 PM   #7
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elksands, the trickle charger is the usual method of keeping the other battery bank charged when the MH does not have a BIRD installed. Some MH's even come that way from the factory.
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Old 11-07-2021, 12:01 AM   #8
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The computer and dash clock, and Dash Radio Memory (stations) are always drawing milliamps, and good recharge every two weeks best, esp. in cold/ freezing weather risk, as dead battery will freeze and be destroyed; can even crack the case. A CHARGED BATTERY WILL NOT FREEZE. SLIGHT battery corrosion can STOP charging at about 70%, so clean/ shiny connections required for BEST charge to 100%. BUT, as others suggest, it MIGHT be a bad component in the battery charge management or BIRD system, or possibly, a CELL or several just went bad suddenly? It can occasionally happen that a piece of lead plate breaks off, falls to bottom of cell and shorts out plates? or loses connection to terminals? It Happens. What is AGE of battery? Might last 1 to 3-yrs, (WHY they have warranty) or I just had one last 7-yrs and one last 10-yrs
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Old 11-07-2021, 12:31 AM   #9
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AND, since I see you have a much newer rig and a Newmar, I suspect you have a BIRD system that should keep it charged? Check for clean terminals, and then read some battery voltages, and let us know?
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Old 11-07-2021, 01:52 PM   #10
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We will see if we can borrow a voltage meter. We have a trickle charger so we will charge it and see how fast it is going down.
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Old 11-07-2021, 06:51 PM   #11
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We will see if we can borrow a voltage meter. We have a trickle charger so we will charge it and see how fast it is going down.
Be sure to check liquid level and refill if necessary, AFTER recharging; unless cell liquid level is below plates.
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Old 11-09-2021, 12:58 PM   #12
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We used the trickle charger and found somehow the radio was on. Don’t know if we accidentally hit it or what but seems to be working and holding charge. Posts are clean and water levels are good. We didn’t find a voltage meter but if it dies again we will diffidently go that route. Thanks everyone.
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Old 11-09-2021, 01:06 PM   #13
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didn’t find a voltage meter but if it dies again we will diffidently go that route.

STRONG SUGGESTION: Don't wait for something bad to happen for you to be motivated to buy a digital voltmeter. You WILL need on in an RV. PERIOD.



They start under $20 at any auto parts house and many other places.
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Old 11-11-2021, 07:31 PM   #14
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Keep in mind small problems, when ignored, soon become BIG problems; and usually at the most inconvenient time.
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