Results for "parasitic drain"

Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 109 👍 0

RV Battery Draining Overnight? Find & Fix Parasitic Drain

The day after I installed that new solar charge controller last month, my RV batteries started mysteriously draining from fully charged to completely dead overnight. I've already confirmed that all visible lights, fans, and appliances are turned off, and I've switched off the main interior power, but something is still drawing power continuously. I understand this is likely a parasitic drain where some component or circuit is staying energized when it shouldn't be, but I'm not sure how to systematically track down which specific circuit is causing the problem. I have a basic multimeter but I'm not entirely sure about the proper methodology for testing each circuit individually to isolate where exactly the power draw is coming from. What's the step-by-step process for using a multimeter to methodically work through the electrical system, starting from the main disconnect and testing individual fuses or circuits until I can pinpoint the exact source of this parasitic drain? …more

Read answer

Electrical Easy 10 min read 100 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Guide: When to Use, What Loses Power & Staying Safe

Wondering if I can skip the $400 shop diagnosis for my electrical issues and just figure out this battery disconnect switch myself, even though I'm getting conflicting advice.

Specifically, I'm concerned about what happens to things like my LP gas detector, carbon monoxide alarm, and refrigerator when I disconnect the battery. Will I lose all my radio presets and clock settings? Are there certain situations where I absolutely shouldn't use the disconnect switch?

I want to use it for storage to prevent battery drain, but I'm also wondering about daily use scenarios. What are the best practices to avoid any problems or safety issues? I really don't want to mess anything up or put my family at risk. …more

Read answer

Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 94 👍 0

RV Chassis Battery Draining & Dead Outlets - Troubleshooting

Finally followed the manual's advice to check the converter first when my outlets died, but my RV chassis battery keeps draining even though the converter tests perfectly. here and I'm at my wit's end with my 2018 Winnebago Vista. The chassis battery keeps going completely dead every few days, even when we're plugged into shore power at the campground. I've already replaced the battery twice thinking it was just old, checked all the obvious stuff like dome lights and radio, and even had the alternator tested - everything checks out fine.

What's really driving me crazy is that this just started happening about a month ago out of nowhere. We've been full-timing for three years without any major electrical issues. I'm wondering if there's some parasitic draw I'm missing or if the battery isolator could be acting up? Has anyone else dealt with this nightmare? I'm getting tired of jump-starting this thing every other day and my wife is about ready to sell the rig and get a travel trailer instead! …more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best RV Generators

4.6 (18,900 reviews)

Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 93 👍 0

Stop RV Battery Drain During Storage - Expert Solutions

Planning to store my 2012 Winnebago Tour and there's clear signs of battery drain happening across all six house batteries and two chassis batteries. I'm religious about flipping both the chassis and house disconnect switches before putting her away for storage. Still go out monthly to fire up the generator and top off the batteries.

But here's the thing that's driving me nuts - even with those disconnect switches flipped, my batteries are still going dead! Sometimes I can't even get the engine started and have to hook up a trickle charger just to get things going again. What's the deal? I thought those disconnect switches were supposed to prevent this whole mess. Am I missing something obvious here, or is there more going on that I need to tackle? …more

Read answer

Electrical Easy 1 hour 92 👍 0

Best Group 31 AGM Cranking Batteries for Cummins ISB 6.7 Diesel RV

I opened the hood this morning and spotted my 2017 Cummins 6.7 ISB barely cranking over with those AGM batteries that were fine yesterday. I'm pretty sure I need Group 31s but wondering if I should go AGM or stick with regular flooded batteries?

I keep hearing good things about Duracell and NAPA batteries - anyone have experience with these brands on a diesel setup? Also wondering what CCA rating I should be looking for and if I really need to replace both batteries at the same time (one's still cranking okay but the other's getting weak).

Just want something reliable that can handle those cold morning starts without leaving me stranded! …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 88 👍 0

Magnum MS2012 Inverter Not Charging Battery: Complete Fix Guide

Finally got a second opinion after my RV tech insisted I need an $800 replacement for my entire Magnum MS2012 inverter just because it won't charge my 2011 Fleetwood Providence's battery. I've got dual Magnum MS2012 inverter chargers that seem to charge the batteries fine through all the stages, but once they reach float mode, the voltage just keeps dropping and the chargers won't kick back in to maintain them.

I've already replaced all the batteries (both coach and chassis), cleaned and tested every solenoid I can find, and I'm still having the same issue. The coach is plugged into shore power, so that's not the problem. I've been digging through the control panel menus looking for float settings but I'm not finding what I need.

Could this be a settings issue with the Magnum units, or am I dealing with some kind of power drain that's too much for the float charge to handle? I've been chasing this problem for months and I'm really hoping someone has run into this before and can help me figure out what I'm missing! …more

Read answer

Electrical Easy 30-60 minutes for testing 84 👍 0

RV Battery Boost System: How to Connect Chassis and House Batteries for Emergency Power

Every time I try starting my RV, my chassis battery barely cranks in 30°F weather, takes forever to turn over, AND just died completely at my last gas stop. The voltage dropped to about 11V and it failed the load test. I tried using the battery boost switch but had to hold it down for about a minute before it worked.

How exactly does the battery boost system work? Does it connect the house batteries to help start the engine? Is it normal to have to hold the switch for that long, and what should I check to prevent this from happening again? …more

Read answer

Engine Easy Informational 80 👍 0

RV Residential Fridge Battery Drain: Generator Usage in Hot Weather Explained

My 2017 Pace Arrow 38B's residential fridge is forcing me to choose between running the generator nonstop or risking food spoilage during Phoenix boondocking in 80-degree heat.

I splurged on new AGM batteries just a few months ago, so these babies are practically still in diapers. But every morning I'm waking up to dead batteries like some sort of RV Groundhog Day nightmare. I have to fire up the engine just to get the generator going again!

So here's my million-dollar question: Is my power-hungry residential fridge just being a normal drama queen in this Phoenix heat, or did I somehow get cursed with defective batteries? I'm starting to wonder if running the generator twice daily is just the price I pay for having cold beer and ice cream in the desert, or if there's actually something wrong with my setup. Help a confused RVer out! …more

Read answer

Electrical Easy Informational 79 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Problems: Why Salesman Switches Fail

Since following that popular YouTube fix for my Thor Outlaw's battery drain, the salesman switch "solution" turned my minor electrical issue into a complete nightmare. Despite being marketed as a battery disconnect, this switch fails to eliminate parasitic draw completely while simultaneously disconnecting the batteries from the charging system when on shore power.

The design creates a problematic scenario: batteries continue draining through various circuits even when 'disconnected,' but they cannot receive charge from the converter. This results in dead batteries after extended storage periods, particularly when parked indoors where solar charging is unavailable.

I'm experiencing about a 50% probability of completely dead batteries, where they're disconnected from the converter and lack sufficient power to even reconnect to the charging system. The indicator light provides no reliable signal about the switch's actual position, making it impossible to track battery connection status.

What are the most effective solutions for addressing this flawed disconnect system? Are there proven workarounds that other Thor Outlaw owners have implemented, or should I be looking at bypassing this switch entirely? …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 30-45 minutes for testing 77 👍 0

AGM Battery Deep Discharge Damage - East Penn 6V Recovery

Looked inside my battery compartment and immediately hit with that acrid sulfur smell - my East Penn 6V AGM batteries are completely dead after a deep discharge. Last July, I installed six East Penn 6V house batteries and set the Magnum remote to AGM type. Left my coach at a shop for 2.5 weeks and came back to completely dead batteries - we're talking 8V dead, folks. Nothing worked: steps, lights, even my fancy electric shades decided to take a permanent nap. Chassis batteries were still okay.

After plugging in at home, the Magnum charger went through its whole song and dance - bulk charging at 100A, then eventually settled into float at 13.2V. When I unplugged and fired up the generator briefly, voltage dropped from 13.0V to 12.7V.

So here's my million-dollar question: did my deep discharge adventure turn these batteries into expensive paperweights, or do these voltage readings suggest they might have survived my negligence? I'm cautiously optimistic but honestly have no idea what signs indicate whether AGM batteries bounced back from the dead or are just pretending to be okay! …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍 0

How to Fix Parasitic Battery Drain in 2006 Damon Challenger RV: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

I found three different "experts" telling me three different causes for my 2006 Damon Challenger's parasitic battery drain - neighbor blames the converter, dealer says bad fuse, YouTube points to inverter. I've traced it to the instrument cluster fuse, and Thor doesn't have schematics for this model due to its age.

I'm not even sure if it's actually the instrument cluster itself or something connected to it - could it be the transmission temp sensor, engine temp sensor, or other wiring? I really don't want to damage anything expensive or create a safety hazard. What's the safest way to diagnose and fix this without causing more problems? I'd feel much better with a step-by-step approach that won't leave me stranded or worse. …more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best RV Batteries

4.5 (15,400 reviews)

Solar Batteries Medium 45 min 73 👍 0

2004 Tioga 29S Phantom 15W Battery Drain on Galley Circuit

Turned to my local RV tech about a 15W battery drain on my 2004 Tioga 29S galley circuit and he wants to replace the entire electrical panel—seriously? Through systematic testing with my solar charge controller display, I've isolated the drain to the galley circuit by pulling individual fuses.

All visible galley components are confirmed off: refrigerator switch is off, microwave is unplugged, and no lights or appliances are operating. Shore power is disconnected, and I've verified that gas detectors and other small 12V devices aren't the culprit - this 15W draw is substantial enough to drain my house batteries completely.

What hidden electrical components commonly run through the galley circuit that could account for this level of continuous power consumption when the aux switch engages? I need to identify what background systems might be energizing on this circuit that aren't immediately visible or obvious. …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 72 👍 0

How to Fix Thor Daybreak RV Parasitic Battery Drain & Electrical Circuit Problems

Three days before our family reunion road trip and my 2012 Thor Daybreak's battery keeps dying overnight with these crazy electrical issues. Battery keeps going dead and I'm pulling about half an amp even when everything should be off. Here's the weird part - when I mess with the instrument panel dimmer switch, the parasitic draw actually changes! Goes from like .12 to .45 amps depending on the setting.

Plus a bunch of my lights decided to quit working all at once - tail lights, running lights, license plate light, the works. But other stuff like headlights and turn signals are fine. The whole thing seems connected somehow since it all happened around the same time.

I can stop the drain by pulling a couple specific fuses (the instrument cluster one and the body builder 12V feed), but obviously that's not a real fix. Ford dealer has had it for weeks and they're stumped. Anyone dealt with this kind of multiple circuit weirdness on a Daybreak before? …more

Read answer

Solar Batteries Easy 30 minutes 71 👍 0

How to Properly Store RV Lithium Batteries During Wisconsin Winters: Cold Weather Care Guide

After storing my RV in freezing Wisconsin temps all winter, I just realized our Florida trip starts next month and my lithium batteries got zero cold weather prep! Got my RV winterized, but completely spaced on what to do with my lithium batteries during Wisconsin's lovely sub-zero season.

I know lithium batteries are supposedly the bee's knees compared to lead-acid, but I'm pretty sure letting them freeze solid in my garage isn't part of their charm. Should I be storing them somewhere warmer? What about charge levels - do I top them off or run them down? And please tell me I don't have to babysit them all winter long!

Could use some advice specific to RV lithium battery storage, since I didn't mention the specific battery type or RV details in my original post. …more

Read answer

Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 68 👍 0

Ford Triton V10 Parasitic Draw Fix: Complete Diagnosis Guide for RV Owners

Between storage seasons and spring startup, my 2006 Southwind with Ford Triton V10 keeps developing the same parasitic draw that kills my battery. After sitting a few days, battery drops to 11.3V. Main symptom: when I turn key off and remove it, power still flows to dash gauges. Needles flicker and I hear buzzing for several seconds after key removal.

Is this a failed ignition switch or could it be stuck relays? What's the proper way to test and confirm the cause before replacing parts? …more

Read answer

Loading more Q&A...

You've seen all 16 Q&A articles!