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Old 08-02-2015, 09:32 AM   #1
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All 3 Batteries Dead

Hi Folks - I'm still somewhat of a newbie and I have a question concerning my batteries (2 house and 1 chassis) in my 2014 Vista 27N. Found out today that all 3 batteries had died. Must have left a light on or something. Was not plugged into shore power. (I've just moved from Dallas to Deltona and have not had my 30 amp shore plug installed yet). Anyway... I now have the coach plugged to my garage 20 amp wall plug with a pig tail on the cord. I'm pretty sure this will charge my house batteries but will it charge my chassis battery? If it doesn't, can I just jumper the chassis battery to a house battery to get her started and then let it run for a while to charge the chassis battery? Or should I just pull the chassis battery and take it to autozone to get charged? Thanks for any help!! This forum is pretty awesome!
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:38 AM   #2
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Go to WMT or similar and buy a $5.00 volt meter. Your converter most likely puts out 13.6-14.0 volts. Check both battery banks.
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:48 AM   #3
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And the answer is "we don't know". If plugging it in raises the voltage on both battery banks then they will all charge. If the chassis battery voltage does not go up put a separate charger on it then look at some kind of maintainer. Your battery will be happier than having you jump it.
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:52 AM   #4
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You can jump start your chassis battery just like a car and drive it to Autozone or other parts place and they can check it for you. How long were they dead?
Dead too long and they may not come back. Regardless, they will lose some capacity every time they get discharged completely, Don't forget to charge then once a month over the winter when you don't use the rig. They will self discharge without your help to stay alive.
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:52 AM   #5
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And the answer is "we don't know". If plugging it in raises the voltage on both battery banks then they will all charge. If the chassis battery voltage does not go up put a separate charger on it then look at some kind of maintainer. Your battery will be happier than having you jump it.
Thanks. Just thought that maybe someone would know off hand if the Vista was set up to charge both banks. I'll get out there and check battery voltage on both to see if it's charging. (I'm actually in Dallas right now and won't be home to Deltona until Tuesday)
I don't have a charger. Was thinking that if the shore power doesn't charge it, then maybe I'll buy the Trik-L-Charge.
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:55 AM   #6
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You can jump start your chassis battery just like a car and drive it to Autozone or other parts place and they can check it for you. How long were they dead?
Dead too long and they may not come back. Regardless, they will lose some capacity every time they get discharged completely, Don't forget to charge then once a month over the winter when you don't use the rig. They will self discharge without your help to stay alive.
I'm going to guess that they might have been dead a day or two. (the last time someone was in the RV). I usually have it plugged into shore power.
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:58 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nothermark View Post
And the answer is "we don't know". If plugging it in raises the voltage on both battery banks then they will all charge. If the chassis battery voltage does not go up put a separate charger on it then look at some kind of maintainer. Your battery will be happier than having you jump it.
X2, a dead chassis battery would take 6 to 8 hours of highway driving for the alternator to charge the battery.
A battery inter connect system for charging all batteries on shore power costs, so many manufacturers don't install one to save a few$$.

AND I see you were posting while I was typing. Boy I type slow.
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:03 AM   #8
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X2, a dead chassis battery would take 6 to 8 hours of highway driving for the alternator to charge the battery.
A battery inter connect system for charging all batteries on shore power costs, so many manufacturers don't install one to save a few$$.

AND I see you were posting while I was typing. Boy I type slow.
So the quickest / cheapest way to get the chassis battery charged would be to pull it out and take it to autozone. They do it for free and have a rapid charging system that they say only takes 30 minutes. And I'll leave the coach batteries to charge on the shore power. Thanks for all of the input!!
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:03 AM   #9
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While your at all this checking, be sure to check the water level (distilled water)in the batteries if they are of the flooded variety, otherwise you'll end up cooking them to death in short order.
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:04 AM   #10
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While your at all this checking, be sure to check the water level (distilled water)in the batteries if they are of the flooded variety, otherwise you'll end up cooking them to death in short order.
Yes, will do! Thank you.
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:06 AM   #11
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Your 27N should already have a Trickle-Start installed. My 2013 Itasca Sunstar 27N came from the factory with one.


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Old 08-02-2015, 10:18 AM   #12
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Your 27N should already have a Trickle-Start installed. My 2013 Itasca Sunstar 27N came from the factory with one.


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That would be awesome if it does. I looked at my specs and did not see that anywhere. Hopefully by the time I get home it'll be charged up. Thank you!
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:23 AM   #13
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In case you have one, here's what they look like .
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:31 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by TJ311 View Post
Hi Folks - I'm still somewhat of a newbie and I have a question concerning my batteries (2 house and 1 chassis) in my 2014 Vista 27N. Found out today that all 3 batteries had died. Must have left a light on or something. Was not plugged into shore power. (I've just moved from Dallas to Deltona and have not had my 30 amp shore plug installed yet). Anyway... I now have the coach plugged to my garage 20 amp wall plug with a pig tail on the cord. I'm pretty sure this will charge my house batteries but will it charge my chassis battery? If it doesn't, can I just jumper the chassis battery to a house battery to get her started and then let it run for a while to charge the chassis battery? Or should I just pull the chassis battery and take it to autozone to get charged? Thanks for any help!! This forum is pretty awesome!
TJ-you should have a MOBAC (Modular Battery Control Center) built in from the factory, at least mine does and it's a 2010. Here's the description and specs on it. It charges and takes care of all the batteries.
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File Type: pdf 5301008.000_Battery Control Center.pdf (135.6 KB, 109 views)
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Old 08-02-2015, 02:14 PM   #15
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Will it charge the chassis battery? By now you should know the answer (if the horn honks the answer is yes).

On a 201anything I would hope they use a bi-directional isolator (This is the kind that charges all batteries no matter the charging source) but of course not all companies do.

If it does not what i would do right now is jumper the solenoid

but if you run a starting battery down that far.. You may need a new battery.
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Old 08-02-2015, 03:13 PM   #16
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Will it charge the chassis battery? By now you should know the answer (if the horn honks the answer is yes).

On a 201anything I would hope they use a bi-directional isolator (This is the kind that charges all batteries no matter the charging source) but of course not all companies do.

If it does not what i would do right now is jumper the solenoid

but if you run a starting battery down that far.. You may need a new battery.
I won't be able to check on it until Tuesday when I get home. And right now there's no one at my house to do it for me.
I went through the owners manual online and in the charging section, it only mentioned the 2 house batteries being charged when connected to shoreline. It didn't say anything about the chassis battery getting charged. If it doesn't charge, then I will definitely invest in a Trik-L-Charge.
I sure hope I don't have to replace the battery. :(
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Old 08-02-2015, 03:16 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by wa8yxm View Post
Will it charge the chassis battery? By now you should know the answer (if the horn honks the answer is yes).

On a 201anything I would hope they use a bi-directional isolator (This is the kind that charges all batteries no matter the charging source) but of course not all companies do.

If it does not what i would do right now is jumper the solenoid

but if you run a starting battery down that far.. You may need a new battery.
wa8-As far as I can tell, the MOBAC charges both the house batteries and the chassis battery. Here's a wiring diagram for it from the "Complete wiring diagrams book" downloaded for my specific model from the Winnebago resources website.
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Old 08-02-2015, 03:18 PM   #18
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wa8-The MOBAC charges both the house batteries and the chassis battery. Here's a wiring diagram for it from the "Complete wiring diagrams book" downloaded for my specific model from the Winnebago resources website.
I have not seen anything like that on my Vista. I assume it would be in the same compartment as the batteries (under the steps). There's nothing like that in the battery compartment. I really don't think my vista has one.
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Old 08-02-2015, 06:50 PM   #19
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I have not seen anything like that on my Vista. I assume it would be in the same compartment as the batteries (under the steps). There's nothing like that in the battery compartment. I really don't think my vista has one.
Mine is on the driver's side the very first compartment towards the front. The propane tank is in the lower level and the chassis electronics is in the upper level. The MOBAC is behind the screw off plate that is labeled "Battery Mode Solenoid and Relays". The pics below may help you locate it. After the first cover comes off, then unscrew the two screws in the next cover plate and it is behind it.
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Old 08-02-2015, 07:28 PM   #20
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TJ311, according to the WBGO drawings for your coach you have a Battery Isolation Manager which along with other things will keep both the chassis and the coach batteries charged when connected to shore power.

http://www.winnebagoind.com/diagram/...ire_183488.pdf

Here is a link to the Battery Isolation Manager relay. Your coach uses the 225 amp unit.

http://www.precisioncircuitsinc.com/...nager-RevF.pdf
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