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Old 10-07-2015, 10:45 PM   #1
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Exclamation Vehicle Battery Drain

I have a 2005/2004 Four Winds Dutchman. I can have a fully charged vehicle cranking battery but when I plug into shore power, the cranking battery drains to the point hat I have to use the emergency battery to start. I have tried to disconnect the battery on the disconnect switch just inside the walkin door but still no success. I have checked fuses but can find nothing wrong. Need some help please. Just joined the owners group to get your advice. Thanks .
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Old 10-07-2015, 11:22 PM   #2
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Sounds like a couple of issues going on. One the battery isolator isn't working. And your converter isn't putting out power to the battery. Does the house battery go bad too?

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Old 10-08-2015, 11:21 AM   #3
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The house battery stays charged. Only the vehicle battery drains.
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Old 10-08-2015, 03:38 PM   #4
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Where have I heard this symptom before I just uplug from the truck when parked, problem solved. Im sure there's a flaw somwhere in the wiring just haven't got around to tracing it down.
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Old 10-08-2015, 04:41 PM   #5
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Do you have a Four Winds trailer or motorhome?
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Old 10-08-2015, 09:56 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat View Post
Do you have a Four Winds trailer or motorhome?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper2b View Post
Where have I heard this symptom before I just uplug from the truck when parked, problem solved. Im sure there's a flaw somwhere in the wiring just haven't got around to tracing it down.
From the original description I am "assuming" Class C MoHo.

Have you had the engine starting battery tested? Along with the alternator output?

Without seeing what you have and a wiring diagram I am shooting in the dark. At the very least there should be a battery isolator to keep the house battery from discharging the engine battery. If it is bad, it might be what is happening. There are a whole series of checks with a voltmeter to determine where the power is going. Hard to explain. Here is a Youtube Video on how to test the isolator once it is out.

If it checks out then you have something else that is causing a draw.

How long does it take for the battery to go dead? After the vehicle is parked.

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Old 10-09-2015, 12:59 PM   #7
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The vehicle is a Moho.
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Old 10-09-2015, 01:11 PM   #8
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I have installed a new battery but it does the same thing.. Not sure how long it takes to drain due to not using the Moho that often. I will try and test the solenoid
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Old 10-09-2015, 11:09 PM   #9
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There may be a parasitic draw on the vehicle itself that is drawing down the battery. I don't know how your specific system is wired. I have seen some where the converter charges both batteries, and others where it does not. If you are installing the battery yourself, watch for a bit a spark when you put the battery terminal on. If you see one, something is pulling current. I know with most modern vehicles, they need to be cranked or have a battery maintainer on them if they aren't being driven at least once every two weeks. There are all kinds of things that pull power now.

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