Brought the Sea Breeze home...but have a question

[Jayco28BHS]

So the Sea Breeze drives really well. I was impressed for a 1995. I had driven it before buying but this was an actual trip and the results were very good. The 7.4L TBI did a great job and only kicked down on the bigger climbs. Never went lower than 3rd and didn’t have to stay there long. The engine is so strong in this thing…I was worried because it isn’t the Vortec but it has more than enough get up and go.

I do want to install a tach just to monitor what the engine is doing, but other than that I think she is good to go. We burned just over an eight of a tank of gas traveling roughly 90 miles in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri into Illinois. I haven’t even started figuring mileage yet but that seemed pretty reasonable for a ten thousand pound RV. I am figuring probably 7 or 8 MPGs, which is what the previous owner reported. Seems about standard for a gasser.

One question: In motor homes, are their two battery systems? Like is there a standard battery for the engine and then a deep cell attached to the inverter for the 12 volt systems? That is pretty much the only thing I don’t know. I haven’t seen a second battery but I am thinking that there is….?
Anyway, really pleased with the purchase! Motor homes are really cool!

[Jayco28BHS]

I will have to take a look under the steps....thanks for the tip.

[WadenCeeJay]

This thread has made me think about adding my second battery in parallel. Thanks!

[WadenCeeJay]

I have a 95 Dolphin and they're under the step up into the camper. I'm not sure how the Sea Breeze and the Dolphin differ, but being the same year, probably not a lot. Check under the steps.

[Jayco28BHS]

Thanks for the information. I figured there were two systems. Need to go out to the RV storage and poke around. Any idea where the 'house' batteries would be on a 1995 National Sea Breeze M129?

[RVUSA]

RSchleder wrote:
You will need to keep close track of the water level in the house batteries. The charging systems, especially on older motor homes tend to "boil" some of the water out of the house batteries due to over-charging them when plugged into 110V. It's pretty common to need to add water monthly if you are using the RV a lot or store it plugged into 110V. If you do not keep the batteries topped off and the internal battery plates begin to show, the battery will be toast in a short period of time!

Very true. Find the batts, and top them off with distilled water. It's next to the regular water in gallon jugs.

[RSchleder]

You will need to keep close track of the water level in the house batteries. The charging systems, especially on older motor homes tend to "boil" some of the water out of the house batteries due to over-charging them when plugged into 110V. It's pretty common to need to add water monthly if you are using the RV a lot or store it plugged into 110V. If you do not keep the batteries topped off and the internal battery plates begin to show, the battery will be toast in a short period of time!

[C350amg]

Like stated by others there are batteries for house and engine.

In my case I have 1 battery for the engine and 2 group 27 for the house part.

[donhoward49]

On your batteries. Google "the 12 volt side of life" lots of understanding on your system.
Have fun

[wa8yxm]

Most all motor homes do indeed have two batteries.. One (Called Main, Chassis or Engine) battery is for the "Truck" part of the vehicle.. The engine, Headlights, marker lights, tail lights, and such. if you had a same length box truck this is the battery that would power everything on that truck that needs power.

The other (HOUSE or AUX) battery system is responsible for the "House" part, Water pump, LIghts, Water pump, House radio (if of the dash type) control power to the fridge, Air Conditioners, furnace (Also operational power) and water heater.

You have either a converter (Makes 12 volt out of 120 volt converts AC to DC) or an inverter/converter.. These make 12 volt DC out of 120 AC (convert) and make 120AC out of 12 DC (Invert, the inverse of conversion) when needed.

If you have a converter, you may also hae a seperate inverter (usually a small one that runs the main entertainment section)

Though some RV's use "Marine/deep cycle" batteries, whihch are the worst of two worlds (Starting and very slightly deeper than normal cycle)

Many motor homes come with a pair of GC-2 size Golf Car DEEP CYCLE batteies. (much better)

Some.. Well there is one poster in another forum who is asking for options changing out his batteries.. 700 dollar a pop 8D AGM Deep cells.

now.. I will say I wish I could afford that kind of battery power.. (I can't even CARRY that kind of battery power in this coach)

Folks here like to ask which is better 2 sixes or 2 12's... I keep telling them "NOT ENOUGH INFO" here is why.. Each of those 8D's is bigger than the standard six volt pair.. So two of those is clearly better.

Two Group 24's however.. Well a pair of sixes is like 3 1/2 Group 24's.

[ddndoug]

I would be surprised if you DON'T have one battery for the chassis/starting, and one or possibly two house batteries.

What part of So IL do you live?


Doug

[powderman426]

Seeing as its a 95, your on the edge. That is about the time they started putting in the ODBII ports. Look under the dash near the steering column, and if yours has one, a cheap way to add the tach as well as many other gauges such as temps for engine and transmision is to get an ELM bluetooth device off of ebay. They sell for about $12. Then you can use any bluetooth device as a display such as a smart phone, tablet or laptop. The final part is an app called Torque which is another $5. Lets hope yours has the port.

[cybrfalcon]

In my '05 Sea Breeze there are two separate batteries and both are located under the entry steps.

[Pass42]

Yes - there should be 2 separate battery systems....my Tradewinds has 2 -12v starting & 4 - 6v house batteries, all in the same basement compartments, on 2 shelves......