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Question Dead Chassis Batteries in a Few Weeks?

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CaptainGizmo

RVF Expert
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Messages
804
Location
SoCal...relax, we're one of the good ones! ;-)
RV Year
2015
RV Make
Newell
RV Model
2020P
RV Length
45
TOW/TOAD
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor w/AF1 Braking
Fulltimer
No
I refuse to accept this as normal.

I storage, our DS4369 can’t survive more than a couple weeks without the chassis batteries being drained to the point of not being able to start our rig.

The Chassis disconnects are always OFF, but we don’t have it plugged in. There must be parasitic draw and I’m hoping we can have Newmar find it next week.

This question “could” be in the Spartan section, but I feel this may be a universal problem.

I’ve been told there are 3 sources that remain hot 24/7:

1. The step
2. The radio memory
3. The door locks

Again, I can’t accept this as normal and wondering if anyone had the same experience and fixed the culprit.

The only slight suspicion I have, is the step. Reason being, when it was new,My step went haywire when that area got wet by my pressure washing. It took disconnecting and drying before it stopped going crazy. I wonder if there’s a bad contact in the door?

The radio should be nominal.
The locks should be zero.

ready..GO!
 
Doesnt make sense that any of those things would draw down the chassis battery that quickly. I’d think you’d be able to store the coach for at least a year if those are the only things that are lives your steps shouldn’t be drawing very much of anything either since they aren’t being used in storage.
 
1. The step
2. The radio memory
3. The door locks

That's all off of house batteries, no? May have to check with your chassis vendor or go to a chassis service to see why your chassis batteries are draining. Does the glass dash stay alive even if the screen is off?
 
That's all off of house batteries, no? May have to check with your chassis vendor or go to a chassis service to see why your chassis batteries are draining. Does the glass dash stay alive even if the screen is off?

Thanks Neal,

This is the gospel from the DS mechanic at my dealer. These 3 things draw FROM THE CHASSIS batteries.

Yes, I’m going to the SPARTAN plant after the Newmar service and will have them figure it out if it hasn’t been fixed yet.

And interesting about the dash; I doubt it, but sure will ask!


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I wonder if your battery boost relay is in an always on position? You could maybe pop that switch out and disconnect it from the back and see if that changes anything.
 
With the computerization of everything these days...including engines, transmissions, etc....I'm guessing that some power is being drawn to keep them active. It will be interesting to hear what Spartan says after your visit. It would not surprise me to learn that there isn't anything to "fix." That's why we keep our coach plugged in during storage times.

TJ
 
Same here. I learned the hard way on my first non-Newmar coach. My FL tech told me plug into power in storage if you can because batteries won’t stay fully charged more than any reasonable time period. Never had a problem since. Good luck on your trip.
 
Thanks y’all! I appreciate hearing that I probably don’t have a problem.

Earlier, @Dutch Star Don also confirmed that plugging in is pretty much mandatory; especially when indoors since that small solar panel won’t maintain the chassis batteries as it would if it was outdoors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Trail and error.....process of elimination.
Not easy or simple to detect...
I would start with exterior of the rig, lights, marker lights. Looking for shorts, water intrusion into wiring.
Have you burnt any fuses lately, tell tale sign of possible problem.
Patience my friend, no said it was going to be easy.
Tackle inside methodically, looking for any loose, oxidized connectors.
I found a quarter inch hairline crack, in a tail lamp that allows water to short lamp and discharge battery.
There are methods of finding "parasitic draws", that what were looking for here, google it.^^^^^.
Hate to be the one with bad news, good luck!
 

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