Engine starting battery being charged while parked?

[DOTLDaddy]

I do not presently own a class A, but maybe someday . . . :@

While parked for an extended time, how does one keep the engine starting battery charged? I know the house batteries are kept charged via shore power, but does that also take care of the starting battery?:h

[wildmanbaker]

Fleetwood MHs from 1999 on charge both house and chassis batteries when on shore power, gen, or when the engine is running. I cannot speak for other brands. Fleetwood kept all the electrical systems the same for supply parts, and construction purposes, not to mention repair work. Not everything you read on this form is factual, or true. It takes at least a 40 watt solar panel to charge the house and chassis batteries. Most have a 10 watt or less panel for the chassis battery to maintain it. If it is low, it will maintain it low, not charge it back to life. A charger with at least 1.5 amp output is required, and will take at least 24 hours to return it to starting condition.

[IAMICHABOD]

As stated before "it depends".

There are some brands that come from the factory with them already installed,Fleetwood products such as mine and some Winnebagos come from the factory with a BIRD a Bi-Directional Isolator Relay Delay

It charges both batteries when either one is
being charged. When the coach is being driven,both
batteries will be charged from the engine's
alternator. When the coach is plugged into shore
power,both batteries will be charged from the
converter. If neither battery is being charged, the
batteries are fully isolated. The controller also
senses heavy loads on either battery to prevent
the wrong battery from being inadvertently
discharged.

In your search for that RV it would be something to ask about.

While sitting even while plugged in, if some type of charger is not hooked up to the Chassis battery it will go dead from the parasitic loads.

[jplante4]

The Sahara has a solar panel that keeps the house and chassis batteries up.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

It is possible to add a Trik-l-Start to the system. If you want even more charging an Amp-l-Start can be used.

[doxiemom11]

Ours has a battery shut off switch so nothing is drawing from the engine battery when parked. We usually leave it on though so we can start the generator from inside if we wish. We have not had any problems with it discharging while sitting, but we are parked in a warmer climate during the winter. We also have a shut off for the house batteries so could also use that and shut all batteries off if it were being stored.

[wildtoad]

Some do, some don't. Ours is supposed to but I don't think it's working. Ours as most do has an engine battery disconnect switch that I turn off when parked.

There is also a switch that allows to temporarily tie the house batteries to the engine battery to start the engine in an emergency. And if all else fails, I carry jumper cables long enough to connect the house to the engine battery

[Matt_Colie]

All of your remark and question is an open discussion.
Some coaches don't do a good job of caring for the house bank when on shore power. That can be fixed with a good converter/charger. Once you know you have a good converter/charger, then there are numerous devices that can connect the house bank to the main engine start battery and keep it properly maintained. They are not expensive, but I have not yet seen a production coach equipped with one as standard equipment from the factory.

Matt

[mowermech]

As with so many things, "It depends"!
It depends on how the coach is wired. It depends on what modifications a previous owner may have made.
I have heard that SOME brands of coaches are wired so the converter charges the chassis ("engine starting") battery. I have owned a Pace Arrow, a Tioga, a Southwind, all by Fleetwood, ranging in year from 1977 to 2002.
I also owned a 1988 Suncrest (an "orphan" brand).
NONE of them were wired so the chassis battery charged from the converter.
None were wired so the chassis battery powered the house electrical system.
I have rarely had a problem with the chassis battery being discharged from sitting for up to 13 weeks. Several months, yes, the parasitic loads are enough to drain the battery.