Chassis battery drain question

[Dabobo]

Hi I have a 2018 sprinter chateau and had it parked around 5 days at the kids place. The house batteries are fine but the chassis battery died. I went to auto zone and the battery is fine. Now can the coach drain the chassis battery? Help please

[16ACE27]

It can't, especially on a Sprinter chassis. Something powered by the chassis battery was left on or has a problem.

[Dabobo]

Thanks I won't worry about it

[Bob Denman]

Do you know how the chassis' alternator will help to charge the coach batteries?
It's a one-way street with the Sprinters: no juice from the coach ever gets fed to the chassis battery.
I bought a 20 watt solar panel to help keep that battery charged, and it's done a good job.

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1600280916

[paulwadley]

I am on m y 2nd MB Sprinter Chassis Motor Home and Yes they do have a draw even when sitting. You have a few options:

1. Use the disconnect located by the fuel pedal to disconnect the chassis battery but you have to follow the manual from MB each time you park it.
2. Add a disconnect to the chassis battery and disconnect it each and every time you park it.
3. Add a trickle charger to the battery and keep it charged up.
4. Add a solar battery tender to the chassis battery and use it every time you park it in storage.

I have a solar battery tender and attach it every time I park it in storage. My MB service rep told me that there is a draw which will damage the battery while parked for long time periods without keeping a trickle charge going to the battery.

Paul

[Bob Denman]

I may add a disconnect switch to mine; before putting it in storage at the end of this Season.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by Dabobo

Hi I have a 2018 sprinter chateau and had it parked around 5 days at the kids place. The house batteries are fine but the chassis battery died. I went to auto zone and the battery is fine. Now can the coach drain the chassis battery? Help please

Take your meter set it on amps, disconnect the neg cable and touch the meter to the battery neg and the cable and watch the meter. Remove fuses until the meter drops to almost zero. Your computer always draws a little bit of power. If you have door lights the door must be closed

[Dabobo]

Well alright I will check things out when I get home thanks all

[Bill Johnson]

I finally got to try my panel on the roof after putting in the controler last weekend. when on shore power it shows 3/4 charge. when I disconnect shore power after a few hours it shows full charge. I didn't have it plugged in for a few days and the batteries were at 12.65 volts so I know they are good, but the solar is great the other day it was putting out 2.5 amps with out full sun

[Bob Denman]

UPDATE: We picked up a 40 watt suitcase battery charging kit at CW a couple of weeks ago. I finally got a chance to get it wired-up, and ready for battle!

...And Paul kindly sent me info about the Sprinter's master battery switch... https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1600692863

[kkbaker]

Am on 3rd auto battery for 15 Vegas
When bought couch new, battery was dead when trying to test drive Rv. Should have dawned on me then somewhere a problem
So after many attempts at trying to find drain( I thot Axxera radio, emer start, etc) gave up and had installed Kill switch under ignition to shut everything down on this auto side of coach
Installers felt the emergency tie in to coach batteries causing some drain, but even when auto battery dead, a faint blue light imitated from dash radio area
So really feel on this coach a Kill switch only way to protect engine for a week or over storage time
Just my take

[mzang]

I have a parasitic draw on my engine battery. If I use a solar trickle charger plugged into my cigarette lighter (yes the cigarette lighter works without the truck running) can I leave the solar charger plugged in for extended periods (ie 3- 4 weeks)?

[Bob Denman]

Yes; you can.

[mzang]

Another question, do I need a regulator with the solar trickle charger?

[Bob Denman]

Most of the decent solar chargers will have a controller as part of the package.

[mzang]

Thanks again

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by mzang

Thanks again

I had an old truck and used solar and never had a problem leaving it connected

[mzang]

Thanks.

[Gebills]

Originally Posted by paulwadley

I am on m y 2nd MB Sprinter Chassis Motor Home and Yes they do have a draw even when sitting. You have a few options:

1. Use the disconnect located by the fuel pedal to disconnect the chassis battery but you have to follow the manual from MB each time you park it.
2. Add a disconnect to the chassis battery and disconnect it each and every time you park it.
3. Add a trickle charger to the battery and keep it charged up.
4. Add a solar battery tender to the chassis battery and use it every time you park it in storage.

I have a solar battery tender and attach it every time I park it in storage. My MB service rep told me that there is a draw which will damage the battery while parked for long time periods without keeping a trickle charge going to the battery.

Paul

Paul, the “disconnect located by the fuel pedal” (your #1) that you mention; are you suggesting removing the floor covers, lifting the metal battery cover and removing a terminal from the battery post? Thx, Glenn

[paulwadley]

Hi Glenn

I just sent you a private message with my cell phone number. Just send me a text and I will send you a photo of the battery disconnect on the sprinter chassis motor home. There is a black cable connection with a red top just above the gas pedal. There are instructions on a sticker next to it that explains the process to disconnect the battery.

I just researched it a bit more and that cable listed as a battery master switch is actually the ground cable(negative) from the battery to the chassis.

Paul