Forum Discussion

Explorer

Feb 07, 2019

Starting battery goes dead

My starting battery is going dead when parked and while plugged in. The house batteries stay charged. The starting battery doesn't get charged.

Is there any reason why I just couldn't connect the house batteries to the starting battery with a jumper wire on the positive terminal just for when it's parked in the winter? I could install an inline fuse in the wire. They are both connected to the frame on the negative side.

Any reason not to?

Class A

23 Replies

doxiemom11
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2019
We have an auxiliary start button on our dash that when on will use the house batteries to help start the engine if the chassis battery is weak. We also have a battery disconnect/shut-off for the chassis battery that we use any time we will be parked more than a few days. Even after a full winter stored outside in Michigan, we turned the battery back on and the motorhome started right up. You don't have either of these things?
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 07, 2019
I use to put a jumper between coach and chassis battery during storage.
I used some 12 gauge wire with a 20 amp fuse for added protection.
I now have a Battery Tender charger.
rk911
Explorer
Feb 07, 2019
or this product will keep your starting battery charged while the coach battery charging system is active.