Goldencrazy
madison wi
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Joined: 06/21/2007
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2012 winnebago Vista 30t. All winter while sitting for up to three weeks at a time connected to shore power I never had a dead chassis battery. While sitting in my driveway for one week again connected to shore power the battery was dead. I took it to camping world a certified warranty service center and they replaced a solenoid for my levelers and told me my converter does not charge chassis battery when plugged in. I also have an inverter if that matters. I had a 2010 and never had a problem when plugged to shore power with the chassis battery. So i wonder if this is correct info and if so do I have something else to check. Any thoughts?
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artkt
Nenana, Alaska
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Joined: 12/06/2006
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It is correct that the converter does not charge the starting/chassis battery bank. This has been the case for quite some time, as my 96 Safari did not either.
Most people will put a battery tender on the chassis batteries, or use a small jumper wire across the boost solenoid. If you use the wire, be sure to remember to remove it before starting the engine otherwise the wire will go poof!
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Son of Norway
Denver, Colorado
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I replaced the momentary aux. start switch on my coach with a regular on-off switch. We were having problems with the chassis battery discharging due to stereo use and some parasitic drains when staying put at a campground for days at a time. Now I can use the switch to make sure that the battery stays charged. The new switch has a bright red light on the paddle so I remember to turn it off.
Miles
Miles and Darcey
1989 Holiday Rambler Crown Imperial
Denver, CO
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Admiral
Upstate Ohio
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Joined: 06/08/2003
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artkt wrote:It is correct that the converter does not charge the starting/chassis battery bank. This has been the case for quite some time, as my 96 Safari did not either.
Most people will put a battery tender on the chassis batteries, or use a small jumper wire across the boost solenoid. If you use the wire, be sure to remember to remove it before starting the engine otherwise the wire will go poof!
Ah yes...the DIY automatic disconnect feature.
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FuzzyKnight
Santee, Ca
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I just made up a small set of jumpers, # 10 wire, and connect the coach batteries to the starting battery
Fuzzy and Mary
1994 Pace Arrow 33
1928 Model A
1953 Ford Club Coupe
1963 1/2 Falcon Ranchero Original factory V8 4 spd
1963 Fairlane SportsCoupe
1965 Honda SuperHawk
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Goldencrazy
madison wi
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I have a battery disconnect switch so I guess I need to use it when parked. It was just surprising that it happened now and hadn't before. I had lost charge when parked for several weeks and not plugged in but never when plugged in until now.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Trik-L-Start will keep the chassis battery charged. Google it.
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Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
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I installed an automatic trickle charger to charge the engine (chassis) batteries. I plugged it into the same outlet as the engine block heater so it only works when connected to shore power or the generator is running. Works great and it doesn't require that I remember to disconnect anything.
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wa_desert_rat
Central Washington State
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Joined: 01/27/2012
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Some coaches have a "boost" switch that connects the chassis/coach battery banks. I push the switch once every 4 weeks while the RV is in storage to keep the chassis battery charged up. The nice thing about the boost switch is that if the chassis battery is discharged the coach batteries will start the engine and allow the alternator to recharge everything.
Craig
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Lobstah
Northeast
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Joined: 06/28/2005
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artkt wrote:It is correct that the converter does not charge the starting/chassis battery bank. This has been the case for quite some time, as my 96 Safari did not either.
Most people will put a battery tender on the chassis batteries, or use a small jumper wire across the boost solenoid. If you use the wire, be sure to remember to remove it before starting the engine otherwise the wire will go poof!
It's not correct on all coaches. On our Pace, all batts are charged when we're plugged in, even to 15a in the driveway. I can look at the energy system and monitor the voltage on both chassis and house batts and they're at 13.2V.
Jim
2005 Pace Arrow 36D
Very Understanding Wife
2 Boxers
4 Cats
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