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10-08-2014, 07:59 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 229
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UNPLUG to charge batteries????
My parents have a new 2014 Coachman Pursuit. When plugged in to shore power the engine battery will drain.
The technician at the local warranty place told them this...
"The guy also said not to leave it plugged into electricity all the time, to let the converter recharge the batteries."
WHAT?
I'm new to RV's - so, correct me if I'm wrong... but doesn't the converter USE the external OR generator power to charge the battery??? Is you don't have the RV plugged in how can any charging happen? That's like telling me to UNPLUG my phone charger so my phone will charge.
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10-08-2014, 08:33 AM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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I tried to look up the manual for your unit.
Looks like there is no provision to charge the chassis batteries from the onboard
converter/charger. (Unless I have the wrong manual or read it wrong)
The onboard system charges the house batteries only. You could use an external battery charger to keep the engine battery charged, or something like a "trik-l-start" unit.
Here is the link to the manual. I reproduced a couple of the most relevant pages
On battery charging below.
http://www.coachmenrv.com/OwnersManu...-Motorized.pdf
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10-08-2014, 08:51 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 229
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my Dad bought a trickle charger and he has been connecting it to the engine battery.
the main issue (posted in Coachman forum) is that if you park for more than 24 hours EVEN with shore power hooked up, the engine battery will drain to where you cannot start the vehicle.
So, something is pulling power from the engine battery even with it (the engine area) shut down.
It just seems silly to go on a road trip and everytime you stop for the night you have to hook up a charger to your engine battery.
Also: I downloaded that manual and read the entire thing last week - the part that is frustrating is that the manual is for "all coachman motorized vehicles" and most paragraphs start with "you may or may not have this..." AND usually the photos don't match what we have. I would really think that a new $80K motorhome would have a better book - heck my $200 car stereo came with a more detailed book than this...
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10-08-2014, 08:57 AM
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#4
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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You can hook this little gadget up, and problem solved. It takes a little electricity
from the other batteries while they are charging and uses it to charge your engine batteries. All automatic. Install and forget!
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10-08-2014, 10:19 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,365
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By now I thought all NEW Rv's came with a B.I.R.D.
__________________
2021 Trail Runner 211rd 25'
2015 GMC Canyon
Mark & Carole Big Bear, Ca. RVM 54 
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10-08-2014, 10:30 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wfcentral
My parents have a new 2014 Coachman Pursuit. When plugged in to shore power the engine battery will drain.
The technician at the local warranty place told them this...
"The guy also said not to leave it plugged into electricity all the time, to let the converter recharge the batteries."
WHAT?
I'm new to RV's - so, correct me if I'm wrong... but doesn't the converter USE the external OR generator power to charge the battery??? Is you don't have the RV plugged in how can any charging happen? That's like telling me to UNPLUG my phone charger so my phone will charge.
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You are correct.... a RV converter/charger USES external OR generator power to charge the battery or batteries.
Mel
'96 Safari
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10-08-2014, 10:40 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Horse Town USA, CA.
Posts: 3,784
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Unless Coachman went super cheap on the converter/charger it does not hurt the batteries to be plugged in all ths time.
Chuck
__________________
1999 35 ft. Dolphin 5350, F53, Banks System, 5 Stars Tune, Air Lift Air Bags, Koni Shocks, Blue OX TruCenter, TigerTrak track bars F&R, Roadmaster 1-3/4" rear auxiliary sway bar, 2004 F450 Lariat Pickup 6.0 Diesel Crew Cab DRW, 4X4, GVWR 15,000, Front GAWR 6,000, Rear GAWR 11,000, GCWR 26,000,1994 36ft Avion 5er, GVWR 13,700, 2,740 Pin Weight.
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10-08-2014, 10:40 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wfcentral
the main issue (posted in Coachman forum) is that if you park for more than 24 hours EVEN with shore power hooked up, the engine battery will drain to where you cannot start the vehicle.
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If the engine battery in ANY RV drains to the point that you cannot start the vehicle after parking it for 24 hours, (whether "plugged in" or not), something needs fixing!
Mel
'98 Safari
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10-08-2014, 11:33 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Horse Town USA, CA.
Posts: 3,784
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Does Coachman (not dealer) acknowledged that is the norm for the chassis battery? There is always some parasitic battery drain, but to kill the chassis battery in 24 hrs is way to much. As Mel said something needs to be fixed. If you can't convince the dealer, go directly to Coachman.
Chuck
__________________
1999 35 ft. Dolphin 5350, F53, Banks System, 5 Stars Tune, Air Lift Air Bags, Koni Shocks, Blue OX TruCenter, TigerTrak track bars F&R, Roadmaster 1-3/4" rear auxiliary sway bar, 2004 F450 Lariat Pickup 6.0 Diesel Crew Cab DRW, 4X4, GVWR 15,000, Front GAWR 6,000, Rear GAWR 11,000, GCWR 26,000,1994 36ft Avion 5er, GVWR 13,700, 2,740 Pin Weight.
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10-09-2014, 07:44 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa
Posts: 2,772
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An RV chassis is not much different than a car's in operation. If it go's dead over a short time something is wrong. Disregarding operator error; leaving something on. If you can park your car at an airport for two weeks and start when you get back you can park the RV for that time also. T a me it back under warranty and get it fixed correctly.
LEN
__________________
2004 Clss C 31' Winnebgo
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10-09-2014, 01:16 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
Posts: 1,052
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It's not impossible that the seemingly new chassis battery is just bad. Case in point, we just had Honda replace the battery in our 2013 toad for that reason.
Also, just a note that many coaches have a small solar panel just to make up for self-discharge that is normal for batteries.
Tom
__________________
Tom & Jan ---- Westwing43 (RVM28)
2008 NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE 4528
Pulling a 2014 CHEVY CAPTIVA
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