78 RV battery drain (?)

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 9, 2004 | 05:18 PM

92Flare150

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 83

Likes: 0

From: Pilot

78 RV battery drain (?)

When sitting for a few days my batteries drain on my 78 E350 RV. The RV place said that even with the converter off the items still drain the batteries even with the items off. He said that an RV system still pulls power causing the drain.

He also suggested a battery disconnect switch that newer RVs have or have put in.

Mar 9, 2004 | 07:12 PM

cocot

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 340

Likes: 1

From: NY

If you have an inverter, some types have a search mode that constantly checks for a load as soon as the shore power is disconnected. This can drain the battery.

Mar 10, 2004 | 09:17 AM

Slade901

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 354

Likes: 1

From: Memphis, TN USA

I would get a voltage test light tester. Disconnect the positive cable from the battery and connect the voltage test light tester between the battery positive terminal and the positive cable.

If the test light comes on, then start removing fuses one at a time. Alternator, starter also will drain battery if they are messed up internally causing drain so you might want to disconnect the alternator wires first as well as the starter wires and then proceed with the fuses. Once the test light turns off then you found the culprit.

Mar 11, 2004 | 06:00 AM

92Flare150

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 83

Likes: 0

From: Pilot

Thanks for the info guys. It is deffinately a converter. I tried to charge the batteries but the charger kept kicking off. So something is amiss for sure. I pulled battery #2 and put it on charger in the shop and I'll see what happens today.

Battery # 1 seems to be charging from the converter while the RV is on shore power.

I will check on it tonight when I get back from work and give you all a heads up.

Thanks again.

Eric