thegriffins wrote:
We have a 2005 Winnebago Journey. Even when the motor home was new the chassis batteries would lose charge and have to be recharged every 5 days. I can't figure out what is draining them. Can anyone help?
thegriffins.
First off, you need realize that your coach, an '05 Winne, like all other D/P Winnes and Itascas in the '05 and earlier versions, was not equipped with any form of keeping the chassis batteries charged while on shore power. Your coach is more than likely on a Freightliner chassis and, IS equipped with the Dimensions 2000 watt Inverter/Charger. And the charging side of that Inverter is what keeps the HOUSE BATTERIES ONLY charged while on shore power.
But, Winne and Itasca both recognized this problem of dead and dying chassis batteries in late '05 and decided in '06 to start installing what's known as a "Trik-L-Start" system. Long story short, it IS NOT A BATTERY CHARGER!!!!!!! It is simply a small computer, about the 1/2 the size of a pack of cigarettes, that simply diverts some of the charging being sent to the house batteries, and divert it to the chassis batteries.
It will do this when it sees a .5V difference between the two sets of batteries. And, the maximum amount of amperage it will allow to be sent to the chassis batteries is 5 amps. It is not very hard to install. There are many ways of doing it but, there is a Winnebago TSB web page that tells you EXACTLY how they do it and would like aftermarket installs to be done.
Anyway, you now know HOW to setup your chassis batteries for charging while on shore power and generator power. But, you still have to investigate what's taking them down in the first place. As has been stated, there are several forms of "parasitic" draws that can take down chassis batteries while parked. Some would be radio channel memories, Engine ECMs, Tranny TCMs, Gas detectors, maybe steps, and more.
There are simple ways of testing which circuit(s) may be doing this but, I don't know how technical you are. One way is simple. If you have a test light, all you need to do is, disconnect the chassis battery ground and, place the test light in between the ground post and, the cable. It should light up if you've got a draw on the chassis batteries. Now, all that needs to be done is, with that test light in position and lit up, start pulling, one at a time, your interior 12V fuses and see if that test light goes out.
If it does, after you've pulled a certain fuse, then that circuit is the primary cause of your chassis batteries drain. You'll have to investigate a remedy for the problem. Hope this helps some.
Scott
