Parasitic Draw on Batteries

[jocat54]

I am trying to figure out where my excessive draw is (1.9 amps).
I think I have everything turned off-----looking for suggestions where to start.

This is on a 38ft 1999 Monaco Diplomat DP. I just replaced all 4 house batteries and they do charge to a full charge. If I turn the charger off the batteries go pretty low in about a day.

Thanks

[wcjeep]

While not common, standard light bulbs can develop a partial internal short. Agree with previous post. Test one at a time for amperage.

[wilanddij]

Since you say "parasitic draws", I assume you are not using the coach, and only want to keep the batts from drawing down in storage. If that's the case, why not install something like this Disconnect in the ground return and eliminate all the draws,

[jocat54]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
24 hours 1.9 amps will 50% deplete one battery in one day.

Grab your digital voltmeter than has of course, a 10 amp setting.

Go to the DC fuse panel.

One by one.

Remove fuse, and connect the pair of meter leads to the now empty connector pins.

Replace fuse and go to the next fuse.

When you find the fuse that is passing the 1.9 amps, do not replace the fuse. Go on an Easter egg hunt and find out what appliance or what accessory does not work.

Oh, it's the refrigerator. Just kidding.

Thank you. This is what I had in mind to do.

[Golden_HVAC]

In my motorhome, the CO meter and propane leak detector can use about 0.8 amps per hour. With the refrigerator on, the total is 1.2 amps per hour, or about 35 amp hours per day, what one of my 120 watt solar panels puts back daily.

You can try removing 1 fuse at a time until the amp draw goes away. Then try to figure out what is connected to that fuse.

OR install a pair of 120 watt solar panels, and make up for the power being consumed.

Check the rear TV. It might be 12 volts and draw some power due to the remote control being "Ready to use", so it constantly uses a little power to wait for the remote control to tell it to turn on. Normally people unplug the 12 volt DC TV, and only leave it plugged into 120 volt power.

Also check the inverter. if it is left on, it can use about 1 amp, perhaps the whole 1.9 amps that you are looking for.

Fred.

[Artum_Snowbird]

On what basis are you saying battery low? Looking at a four bar light for battery power? Or an actual voltage measurement?

The best solution is, put in an accurate voltmeter, then record it's voltage as you camp. Pretty soon you will know the actual decline rate by plotting a chart and then you will see how long it really lasts.

[ChooChooMan74]

Refrigerator, CO detector, LP Detector, Radio, Thermostat.

[BFL13]

1.9a in 24 hrs is only 45.6AH. Not enough to be "low" More info please. What charger? How do you know you got to "full" ? After you brought the new batts home did you charge them up to full and get a "baselihe SG" ? ( They are not truly full 'off the shelf' ) After you answer all that, no doubt there will be more to pester you with 🙂

[MEXICOWANDERER]

24 hours 1.9 amps will 50% deplete one battery in one day.

Grab your digital voltmeter than has of course, a 10 amp setting.

Go to the DC fuse panel.

One by one.

Remove fuse, and connect the pair of meter leads to the now empty connector pins.

Replace fuse and go to the next fuse.

When you find the fuse that is passing the 1.9 amps, do not replace the fuse. Go on an Easter egg hunt and find out what appliance or what accessory does not work.

Oh, it's the refrigerator. Just kidding.

[amandasgramma]

Just in case.......this happened to us. Our DP had a switch in the bedroom, waaaaay UP by the ceiling that turned the heater for the motor on....to keep the diesel "usable"........ we had no idea it was there, nothing in the manual about it.....just happened to see it one day. Before that, we'd had it to 3 (THREE) repair shops and they couldn't figure out why we were draining batteries.

[jocat54]

Not that I can find.

[mbopp]

Is there a light left on somewhere?