I have a 2006 35 foot Allegro Bay currently parked in my driveway and I stoopidly left a light on overnight without shore power and the lights are not working now. I am guessing my house batteries are depleted.I am a recent widow, hoping to keep up the rving lifestyle by myself, but I don't know the first thing about batteries. (Except how to kill them, apparently!)The MH has only been in my driveway for a little over a week, following a trip from FL to NJ (which I drove!) and I need to get it out of the driveway in the next week or so. Is this something I can "fix" by hooking up to shore power at my home (which will be only 30 amp)or by running my generator for a time or do I need to get a RV mobile mechanic to come do something? If you ask me what type of batteries I have, please also let me know where to look to find out. I can drive the MH and do the hook ups but batteries are way above my (pre-widow) paygrade. :(Sorry to sound so clueless but I am, indeed, clueless but trying to learn and keep on RVing.Thanks for your responses,Kim

Hook it up to shore power and your converter will recharge the batteries. Make sure the battery disconnect switch is in the connected mode. Yes, it's that simple!

Just get it plugged in asap. Use an adapter to plug into a regular outlet. Let it charge 48 hours minimum. A small voltmeter would allow you to verify all is working as expected.Here is some reading to help you sleep tonight:The 12 Volt Side of Life

Thanks so much for the quick responses! Where do you think I'd find a "battery disconnect switch" and what would I do with a voltmeter? Again, I'm sorry to sound so clueless but I AM clueless. My husband took care of all these things. I don't even know where the batteries are. Bad me. But I will learn with the help of the good folks here.

Pretty much every motorhome has a battery disconnect switch. Mine is near the entry door. The issue is that the disconnect has to have the batteries connected for them to charge. Plug it in right away, give it 12 to 15 hours and everything should work. In the future keep it plugged in while it's at home.

Here's the thing, dear lady. These problems will continue to occur, so it's vital that you pick up the knowledge to deal with some of them. You need to get friendly with someone who has a motorhome something like yours, and who will spend a day or two walking you through the systems in your motorhome. If there is a nearby RV park, that might be a place to start, as someone will surely be willing to help you.There isn't anything magic about these things -- it's like anything else, you just need to learn how to approach the problem, and when you need to call in outside help.In the meantime, you have a new-ish rig, and it probably has a very complete owner's manual. That's got to be your bedside reading for the next while!Good luck -- you can do this!

House Batteries Depleted. How to Fix?? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

iamcanuck45
Explorer
Jun 08, 2014
Are you a member of the Good Sam Rv Club? If you are, go to their site and click on Community, and then click on Standby Sams. These RVers are there to help you. Choose the one nearest you. If you are not a Good Sam Member, I suggest that you join.

Keep smilin'. You'll get there.:B
wolfe10
Explorer
Jun 08, 2014
Yes, a 30 amp outlet for your RV needs to have:

ONE hot
one neutral
one ground

It is different than, say a 30 amp dryer outlet.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jun 08, 2014
Hi,

Be very careful. The electrician needs to understand you want 110 volt power for the RV. Hammer that home to him and ask him to check the voltage before you plug in the RV.

water witch wrote:
He can do that?? Will do.
water_witch
Explorer
Jun 08, 2014
He can do that?? Will do.
wallynm
Explorer
Jun 07, 2014
Suggest you have the electrician check out battery charging while he is there.:B
water_witch
Explorer
Jun 07, 2014
Thanks all for your encouragement and info. I do have a 30 amp outlet in my garage, which is near the MH but, unfortunately, the power is currently not working in my garage (residual electric problems thanks to Superstorm Sandy) but my electrician is coming Wednesday and I will plug in then and report back here if that helped.

And, Jim M, thanks for your congrats. I can assure you that, before my husband was diagnosed with ALS in 2012, my only interest in the MH was sitting in my lounge chair with a glass of wine, like a princess, while my husband did all the work and driving. As my RV driving instructor told me after my husband passed away, my princess days are over-it's Captain Kim now. I prefer the role of princess. :(
JimM68
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
Kim, congrats for having the will to carry on with your coach.

For this problem, I think you just need to plugin (as described above) and your batteries will come back.

I do think some in person intervention would be helpful.
Perhaps a family member or neighbor could help you "figure it out"?
You could go to a nearby campground, look helpless, and have a supply of volunteers looking to use their skills.
Or perhaps someone here who is close to you could help you out?
(is the location in your profile accurate?)

My own wife would be completely lost. She won't drive it, and seems to have no interest in learning how it works.
Again, hat's off to you.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
wa8yxm wrote:
And just for the record.. I do not feel AGM batteries are worth the added price, IN fact, I do not think they are that good at all..... I like flooded wet cells.. But then I do not mind adding the odd quart of distilled water.

Maintenance free also do not need added water, are cheaper than AGM, very few advantages to AGM over Maintenance free.

HOWEVER.... DEEP CYCLE are not often found in Maintenance free, Marine/Deep cycle yes but those are not true deep cycle. Golf Car batteries both six and 12 volt, ARE deep cycle

I will admit that what I know about batteries wouldn't fill a thimble. But, the sulfating from the wet cell batteries got very tiring. I had to have my slide-out battery trays painted twice because of sulfating. The AGM's are clean as a whistle.

MM.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 06, 2014
And just for the record.. I do not feel AGM batteries are worth the added price, IN fact, I do not think they are that good at all..... I like flooded wet cells.. But then I do not mind adding the odd quart of distilled water.

Maintenance free also do not need added water, are cheaper than AGM, very few advantages to AGM over Maintenance free.

HOWEVER.... DEEP CYCLE are not often found in Maintenance free, Marine/Deep cycle yes but those are not true deep cycle. Golf Car batteries both six and 12 volt, ARE deep cycle
myrtle_beach_rv
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
Your allegro bay should have two 6v coach batteries located under 2nd step and a 12 v chassis batt under the hood. You can charge them by running generator for a couple hours. You have a 12 v disconnect switch located on a panel at the bottom of your cabinet on left side as you open the door to your coach. It will be your last of 5 switches in the panel. This be turned off when not using the coach. You can download the entire manual for your motorhome at the tiffin web site located under the owner info section.

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House Batteries Depleted. How to Fix??

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