Although I’ve had my motorhome (2006 Itasca Sunova) for almost three years, this past weekend was the first time I tried “dry camping”. To my dismay, the house batteries do not appear hold a charge. The first day, after driving 4 hours, the battery indicator light showed a bright green – indicating a full charge. The next morning, the indicator still showed a bright green light, but when I plugged in the new 12v coffee pot, the lights dimmed, and the battery indicator light fell to the last red light. I then had to start the generator by using the MOM switch to allow the chassis battery to start the generator. I ran the generator (around 45 minutes) to charge the batteries, and make my coffee. Once the battery indicator light was at top green, I shut down the generator, and the battery remained in the green until the next morning when the same thing happened, and again the following morning. I checked the batteries (which appear to be smaller travel trailer batteries and not motorhome batteries), and the electrolyte level seemed OK.
And now for the rest of the story – I was camping with a friend who has a 2006 Winnebago Sightseer (purchased at the same time with the same floorplan and options as my Sunova), and the same thing happened to him.
Can anyone shed any light on this situation and offer any solutions? Since the same thing happened to the both of us, I find it hard to believe that both sets of batteries went bad at the same time. Surely, I should be able to brew a pot of coffee without killing the batteries !!
BigJohn51 wrote: Although I’ve had my motorhome (2006 Itasca Sunova) for almost three years, this past weekend was the first time I tried “dry camping”. To my dismay, the house batteries do not appear hold a charge. The first day, after driving 4 hours, the battery indicator light showed a bright green – indicating a full charge. The next morning, the indicator still showed a bright green light, but when I plugged in the new 12v coffee pot, the lights dimmed, and the battery indicator light fell to the last red light. I then had to start the generator by using the MOM switch to allow the chassis battery to start the generator. I ran the generator (around 45 minutes) to charge the batteries, and make my coffee. Once the battery indicator light was at top green, I shut down the generator, and the battery remained in the green until the next morning when the same thing happened, and again the following morning. I checked the batteries (which appear to be smaller travel trailer batteries and not motorhome batteries), and the electrolyte level seemed OK.
And now for the rest of the story – I was camping with a friend who has a 2006 Winnebago Sightseer (purchased at the same time with the same floorplan and options as my Sunova), and the same thing happened to him.
Can anyone shed any light on this situation and offer any solutions? Since the same thing happened to the both of us, I find it hard to believe that both sets of batteries went bad at the same time. Surely, I should be able to brew a pot of coffee without killing the batteries !!
Thanks for your advice.
John
When was the last time you serviced the "house batteries?
The reason I ask is beacause you might have a dirty battery connection(s) not allowing the battery to charge.
Load test the batteries, at a shop, when you have a chance.
IMHO, neglected batteries have about a two year life span.
Fourty five minuets isn't going to charge a battery, you need at least 10 hours, four hours will give you about 80 percent. And forget those lights, measure it with a volt meter. The only thing those lights are good for is to let you know someone hasn't stolen the batteries. JM2Cents. Bill
Your coffee maker is probably in the neighborhood of 1500 watts. If you have a simple 2 battery-12 volt setup, I would bet your coffee maker is draining your batteries. It doesn't take much.
Whenever I brew coffee and I'm boondocking, I run the generator until the pot is done, and then pour the coffee into a container made for hot beverages. Then turn the generator off. Or, use the time to charge your batteries from the day before.
If you haven't exercised the batteries for three years, they're likely partially sulfated and will have diminished capacity. Lead-acid batteries are like biceps --- they need exercise to remain strong.
Hans, KØHB & Colleen, KØCKB Master Chief Radioman, US Navy -
'04 Prairie Schooner 34FBR Platinum XL
'08 3500HD Silverado Big Dooley LTZ Go-power by Max & Allie
If you drained the batteries as far as you say you did, it will take more than 2 hours to get them to 90% charge. I do not run my coffee maker with electric, I boil the water on the stove top and then pour it directly into the brew basket which then drips into the pot. To keep it hot I use the stove top also. Usually we just make enough for a couple of cups each which does not require us to keep it on the stove top.
Frank O.
Frank and Vicki
Niwot, CO
2006 Itasca Sunrise 35A
States visited/camped in, not just driven through.
As the above posts have indicated, you need to look at your coffee maker. If it is 750 watts, which I think is fairly normal for 12 volt ones, that is a draw of about 60-65 amps. If you have two group 24 batteries of the cheaper type, they may be only 65 amp hours each, giving you 65 amp hours useable before reaching 50% charge-it could indeed be using up most of your battery capacity.
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