Should I disconnect my RV battery when not in use?
Parasitic loads like gas detectors, clocks, and other small electrical devices drain power when your RV isn’t in use. If the power gets too low, it can hurt battery life. Your RV should be equipped with battery disconnect switches to prevent this, so don’t forget to engage them when the RV is off or in storage.
Should battery Disconnect be on or off?
The only time you should keep the Battery Disconnect Switch in the “batteries off” position is when you are storing and not using your RV.
Does RV engine battery charge when plugged in?
Your house batteries do indeed charge when plugged into shore power. If your rig’s chassis battery (or batteries, in larger motorhomes) aren’t charged by shore power, which is more common in smaller rigs, they’ll only be charged by the alternator when the engine is running.
What is the battery disconnect switch for?
Battery disconnect switches are designed to cut-off electrical power, help protect against electrical fires and theft when equipment is not in use. They also provide a reliable way to shut down electrical power during maintenance and protect batteries from excessive drain.
Why are my coach batteries not charging on shore power?
The coach batteries are not being charged when I’m connected to shore power. I’ve verified this by measuring the voltage at the battery terminals when on shore power. There is no change in voltage when I connect to shore power.
What is the voltage of a coach battery?
The cables labled S and I are from the rocker switches inside the RV that activate the disconnect relays. When activated, the relays connect coach and chassis power to the RV. The voltage in and out of each relay was 12.3V, the same with and without shore power.
Where do I Disconnect the coach battery in a RV?
The RV uses an Intellitec battery disconnect system. Inside the door are two switches to disconnect the chassis and coach batteries (see photo below). Also below photos of the Intellic disconnect relays inside the power distribution box that’s in the engine compartment.
Why does my RV converter not charge the batteries?
If your RV converter not charging batteries when plugged into shore power you need to take a close look at the contact posts of your RV batteries. Sometimes a buildup of greenish or white corrosion can get to a point where the batteries can’t receive a charge or receive a minimal charge.
The coach batteries are not being charged when I’m connected to shore power. I’ve verified this by measuring the voltage at the battery terminals when on shore power. There is no change in voltage when I connect to shore power.
The RV uses an Intellitec battery disconnect system. Inside the door are two switches to disconnect the chassis and coach batteries (see photo below). Also below photos of the Intellic disconnect relays inside the power distribution box that’s in the engine compartment.
The cables labled S and I are from the rocker switches inside the RV that activate the disconnect relays. When activated, the relays connect coach and chassis power to the RV. The voltage in and out of each relay was 12.3V, the same with and without shore power.
Why does my coach battery go dead when plugged in?
If you can measure an increase in DC voltage at the battery bank when the coach is plugged in, then the battery charge circuit is at least complete and probably working. If the voltage does not go up when plugged in, look for a blown fuse in the charge circuit in the converter/charger.
