Solar charger but still dead batteries
A few weeks ago my coach's batteries (coach is a 2009 fleetwood excursion 40x DP) were dead when I went to pull it out of storage . Completely dead - even the aux start would not work. Couldn't even...
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When you say 'solar panel' - it is like saying flashlight. It can be anything from a tiny 15 watt panel to something substantial, such as a pair of 100 watt panels that will actually charge the batteries.
Can you see the roof from a second story overlook or something? About how many square feet are the panels? I have a pair of panels about 40" square that are 120 watt each, and will charge the battery at a rate of 35 AH each per day in sunny weather that you have in Florida. Even with some clouds, it would still put out around 25 AH daily each.
If there is only a tiny solar panel on the top of one or both air conditioners, they are only rated at 10 or 15 watts, and basically will do nothing to recharge a dead battery.
As for how 'new' the battery is that the dealer installed - who knows. Have you been keeping them full of distilled water? If the battery is low on water, it can cause it to seem dead and to discharge faster than normal.
Are you shutting off the battery disconnects when you leave the RV? This is required to prevent the CO detector from draining the battery while it is in storage.
My guess is that you are shutting off the propane leak detector. The CO and propane leak detectors together draw 0.8 amps per hour, and this can add up over 100 hours to 80 amp hours every 4 days. This is why Fleetwood started installing battery disconnect switches back in the 80's.
Good luck,
Fred.
Can you see the roof from a second story overlook or something? About how many square feet are the panels? I have a pair of panels about 40" square that are 120 watt each, and will charge the battery at a rate of 35 AH each per day in sunny weather that you have in Florida. Even with some clouds, it would still put out around 25 AH daily each.
If there is only a tiny solar panel on the top of one or both air conditioners, they are only rated at 10 or 15 watts, and basically will do nothing to recharge a dead battery.
As for how 'new' the battery is that the dealer installed - who knows. Have you been keeping them full of distilled water? If the battery is low on water, it can cause it to seem dead and to discharge faster than normal.
Are you shutting off the battery disconnects when you leave the RV? This is required to prevent the CO detector from draining the battery while it is in storage.
My guess is that you are shutting off the propane leak detector. The CO and propane leak detectors together draw 0.8 amps per hour, and this can add up over 100 hours to 80 amp hours every 4 days. This is why Fleetwood started installing battery disconnect switches back in the 80's.
Good luck,
Fred.
