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garmp's avatar
garmp
Explorer II
May 08, 2022

Power drain

We are not full timers at all. Our coach will sit for a month or so, especially in the winter months. We do start it and check things periodically. Without starting & running frequently it seems that our engine battery drains to the point it needs a jump to restart.
My question where & how do I look to find the source of the drainage?
I know nothing of electricity other than when you stick your finger in outlet it hurts. A lot!
Your thoughts?
thanks
  • garmp wrote:
    That's what I did. I put a knife type switch on the negative terminal and the issue has stopped. What had prompted the question is that I had the coach at the repair shop to have the catalytic converted replaced, third one stolen, and this one had a CatClamp installed and the part is on back order. So I had to remind them about the cut off switch to save from buying another battery. Just a minor inconvenience unless you forget to tell some one.

    Thanks for all the replies.


    D@mn man! You should change your storage strategy, or get a bit mean dog or something…
    And in the meantime I’d stop putting new cats on it!
  • LittleBill wrote:
    engine battery's will die without being disconnected or hooked to a trickle charger. the computer will run it down over a month.


    No, it shouldn’t.
  • That's what I did. I put a knife type switch on the negative terminal and the issue has stopped. What had prompted the question is that I had the coach at the repair shop to have the catalytic converted replaced, third one stolen, and this one had a CatClamp installed and the part is on back order. So I had to remind them about the cut off switch to save from buying another battery. Just a minor inconvenience unless you forget to tell some one.

    Thanks for all the replies.
  • garmp wrote:
    My question where & how do I look to find the source of the drainage?

    I had this same issue with our Coach. I could isolate the house batteries, but not the coach battery which could drain and kill itself within a couple months. I started off by bringing the RV home after 6 weeks and with a 30 minute drive on the freeway and leave it plugged in for a couple nights then back to storage.

    I suppose I could have gone through each fuse trying to isolate the draw. But it was much easier to put a knife blade battery disconnect switch on the battery. Once I did, it solved all of my issues.
  • Do you park it in the sun? If so, even a small solar charger like this can take care of the digital clock and small drains.
    Unit is small enough to set on your dash, or run the wire to the battery direct.
  • theoldwizard1 wrote:
    LittleBill wrote:
    engine battery's will die without being disconnected or hooked to a trickle charger. the computer will run it down over a month.

    Computer drain should leave enough power to start the vehicle every 2-3 weeks. Get a master disconnect switch or a trickle charger.

    Chasing small power drains not be easily taught.
    X2
  • Trickle chargers save battery lives, and make your life easier. If you can’t plug in, do solar.
  • LittleBill wrote:
    engine battery's will die without being disconnected or hooked to a trickle charger. the computer will run it down over a month.

    Computer drain should leave enough power to start the vehicle every 2-3 weeks. Get a master disconnect switch or a trickle charger.

    Chasing small power drains not be easily taught.
  • Lots of things that can potentially draw small amounts of current. If you don’t have access to power the best you can do is disconnect the ground wire to the battery. Of course everything will reset when you reconnect it.
  • engine battery's will die without being disconnected or hooked to a trickle charger. the computer will run it down over a month.

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