Coach Batteries Deplete
Coach Batteries Deplete
Hello, I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on why my coach batteries would deplete overnight with switch in store mode. When switch is on everything is fine.
2000 V-10 Concourse Dinette
Re: Coach Batteries Deplete
Either because there is a significant current drain when in store mode, or because the coach batteries is being charged by the solar in "on" mode. I will look into first case by going around with a digital multimeter or an ammeter. If your batteries are in good shape, normal drain on it in STORE should not deplete it overnight.
2000 Concourse dinette, on 1999 6.8L Ford E350 Triton V-10 Chassis
Re: Coach Batteries Deplete
Thank you for the reply. I am sort of at a loss. Doesn't store mode shut off all power? Where would I start checking with a volt meter?
2000 V-10 Concourse Dinette
Re: Coach Batteries Deplete
With the switch in store mode, in the coach battery compartment there are multiple wires to positive. You'll need a decent DVM Multimeter that can handle DC current up to 10 amps (to be safe). Then disconnect all the positive wires, clamp the meter negative to battery positive, and touch each of the positive wires to see which still has amps on it. If you see 0 at the high amperage setting for all wires, then switch to the lower setting (usually 1 amp, or even 200-500 mAmps). Or, to not remove any wires, you could try a clamp meter that does DC current (many only do AC current) in a lower range (they tend to be for higher current with settings for 20-40 amps and another for 200 amps or something).
One possibility that comes to mind with the store switch off, is the wire going up to the engine battery (it does not go through the store switch's circuit). It usually goes through a solenoid that is mounted inside the engine, along the side (in my Concourse it is on the driver's side under the hood, about in the middle). If that solenoid is bad it could be open and allowing the cab battery to drain the coach batteries (especially if the coach are new and tend to sit at a high voltage compared to the cab battery).
If you have an after-market inverter installed, it might have a direct wire to the battery. If it were left on, that would certainly drain the coach batteries, though overnight seems fast.
The batteries being depleted only when switch in store mode seems odd, as the wire to the solenoid and engine battery doesn't go through it and I would think it would drain regardless. After market inverter on its own wire would be the same. The solar panel should be one way, charging only, and also has a wire that does not go through the store switch, so the panel should be charging the coach batteries regardless of store mode or not (i.e. not letting some parasitic drain take over more with switch in store vs not).
Anyway, start with the meter and find the wire that has current on it during store mode.
Then reconnect that wire. Now use the meter between the main coach power wire that does go through the store switch and the battery positive. (Assuming that wire is not the one draining somehow in store mode). While the meter wires are clamped in place (or you have a helper), flip the Store mode switch off store. Now see if that wire starts feeding current back into the batteries. If so, then that is why you're okay when not in store mode - somehow power is being fed back to charge the battery, while the parasitic drain is still happening on the other wire. Flip the switch back to off/store mode before disconnecting the meter (probably okay to disconnect first, but I'm paranoid after losing my original LVD, see below).
Do NOT disconnect ANY of the NEGATIVE wires! Or be very careful doing it (disconnect all positives first).
The negative wire for coach power, that goes through the LVD (Low Voltage Disconnect) box that the Store Switch is connected to, must NOT be disconnected while the LVD has power, or you can destroy your LVD (hard to replace). Safest thing is just don't disconnect the negative wires from the battery unless all positives are disconnected first. It should be safe with the store switch off (store mode, no light showing). But these days I always do all positives first. A service tech failed to do that with mine a few years ago, burned mine out, and I bought what might have been the last original LVD available (not made any longer and she said it was the last on the shelf at the manufacturer).
Bob
One possibility that comes to mind with the store switch off, is the wire going up to the engine battery (it does not go through the store switch's circuit). It usually goes through a solenoid that is mounted inside the engine, along the side (in my Concourse it is on the driver's side under the hood, about in the middle). If that solenoid is bad it could be open and allowing the cab battery to drain the coach batteries (especially if the coach are new and tend to sit at a high voltage compared to the cab battery).
If you have an after-market inverter installed, it might have a direct wire to the battery. If it were left on, that would certainly drain the coach batteries, though overnight seems fast.
The batteries being depleted only when switch in store mode seems odd, as the wire to the solenoid and engine battery doesn't go through it and I would think it would drain regardless. After market inverter on its own wire would be the same. The solar panel should be one way, charging only, and also has a wire that does not go through the store switch, so the panel should be charging the coach batteries regardless of store mode or not (i.e. not letting some parasitic drain take over more with switch in store vs not).
Anyway, start with the meter and find the wire that has current on it during store mode.
Then reconnect that wire. Now use the meter between the main coach power wire that does go through the store switch and the battery positive. (Assuming that wire is not the one draining somehow in store mode). While the meter wires are clamped in place (or you have a helper), flip the Store mode switch off store. Now see if that wire starts feeding current back into the batteries. If so, then that is why you're okay when not in store mode - somehow power is being fed back to charge the battery, while the parasitic drain is still happening on the other wire. Flip the switch back to off/store mode before disconnecting the meter (probably okay to disconnect first, but I'm paranoid after losing my original LVD, see below).
Do NOT disconnect ANY of the NEGATIVE wires! Or be very careful doing it (disconnect all positives first).
The negative wire for coach power, that goes through the LVD (Low Voltage Disconnect) box that the Store Switch is connected to, must NOT be disconnected while the LVD has power, or you can destroy your LVD (hard to replace). Safest thing is just don't disconnect the negative wires from the battery unless all positives are disconnected first. It should be safe with the store switch off (store mode, no light showing). But these days I always do all positives first. A service tech failed to do that with mine a few years ago, burned mine out, and I bought what might have been the last original LVD available (not made any longer and she said it was the last on the shelf at the manufacturer).
Bob
Last edited by BobW9 on January 17th, 2020, 1:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Coach Batteries Deplete
OOPS - First paragraph!!! The Multimeter negative goes to the Battery Positive!!! We are putting the multimeter in the circuit between each positive wire and battery positive. Do NOT touch the Battery negative.
I edited the first post to be correct, but am leaving this just in case.
Sorry about that, am writing in between program runs at my job and got distracted!
Bob
I edited the first post to be correct, but am leaving this just in case.
Sorry about that, am writing in between program runs at my job and got distracted!
Bob
Re: Coach Batteries Deplete
Thank you so much for all the guidance. I will work through what you have suggested and keep you posted.
2000 V-10 Concourse Dinette