any newer rv comes with a battery disconect that shuts off the battery from most of the stuff. I have only used mine once in 10 years, I hate it just for the reason you said, but they wern't as popular in 1997 so chances are that isn't the issue.
I have a disconnect on this RV, but that's not the charging issue as when I have had it plugged in, I didn't have the disconnect.......disconnected. I will go get my RV today and measure the bat bank at idle (pretty dead) and plugged in to see if there is a difference. Can't believe I have never done that since I just assumed what I stated in the original post. You know what they say about assuming.............................
