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Old 04-22-2014, 08:04 AM   #1
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Battery drain

2007 itaska engine battery drain, if i take off the battery cable i get a spark . The only thing i can think of is the alternator. It is a 8.1 gas . Any other ideas??
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Old 04-22-2014, 09:29 AM   #2
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Probably not the alternator. It doesn't take much current to make a spark. You may not have excessive battery drain. Has the battery ever gone dead? You can use a multimeter to measure it. Most multimeters will measure up to 10 amps of DC current.
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Old 04-22-2014, 09:59 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by PattyH View Post
2007 itaska engine battery drain, if i take off the battery cable i get a spark . The only thing i can think of is the alternator. It is a 8.1 gas . Any other ideas??
PattyH
Do you have a solar panel/charger connected to your engine/chassis battery?

Like you, I get a spark when I disconnect my chassis battery cable, (but only if/when the solar panel/charger for the chassis battery is producing electricity).

On my coach, that spark is caused by the voltage going "into" the battery, (NOT because something is "draining" the battery).

Mel
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Old 04-22-2014, 10:53 AM   #4
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It is normal to have about a 0.150 amp parasitic drain on the engine battery. Mine will discharge to 11 volts or so in about three weeks. I use a BatteryMinder Plus float charger to maintain the battery when the engine isn't going to be started for a while. Like when we are parked for the winter in AZ.
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Old 04-22-2014, 11:24 AM   #5
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The battery goes dead. It is about a 10 amp draw
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Old 04-22-2014, 11:43 AM   #6
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Leave your meter hooked up showing the approx. 10 amp draw. Make sure your doors are closed , interior lights off, radio off etc. Pull one fuse at a time until your 10 amp load dissapears. That one will be the culprit. I believe 5 mah is normal in most cases. Hope this helps.
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Old 04-22-2014, 11:43 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Clay L View Post
It is normal to have about a 0.150 amp parasitic drain on the engine battery. Mine will discharge to 11 volts or so in about three weeks. I use a BatteryMinder Plus float charger to maintain the battery when the engine isn't going to be started for a while. Like when we are parked for the winter in AZ.
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The battery goes dead. It is about a 10 amp draw
Clay L
A slight parasitic drain is common because the electronics of the engine/transmission, (and the radio memory), are kept alive by RVs batteries.
My coach has a 5 watt solar panel/charger which prevents the chassis battery from discharging, (maintains the charge of my chassis battery battery).

PattyH
IMO a constant 10 amp total draw, from either battery bank, is unusual, (and unnecessary).
That draw, (or combination of draws), should be located and eliminated.

Mel
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Old 04-22-2014, 12:00 PM   #8
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Thanks will try it this evening
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Old 04-22-2014, 12:10 PM   #9
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Thanks will try it this evening
Patty
Good luck.
It took me years to identify and eliminate all of my unnecessary battery draws, (but it can be done).
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Old 04-22-2014, 12:29 PM   #10
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I added a battery saver on my coach, It disconnects the battery automatically when there is a drain and the battery would go below the starting voltage.

similar to this......
Battery Brain Type I Bronze - $68.79
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Old 04-23-2014, 07:55 AM   #11
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Found it. The step has a amp draw of 2.4 amps when extended . When it is in the draw is 0.00
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Old 04-23-2014, 08:09 AM   #12
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Interesting?

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Found it. The step has a amp draw of 2.4 amps when extended . When it is in the draw is 0.00
Hi Patty, when your steps are extended, the motor is hit its limit switch and shut off, there should not be a draw on it....... just like when it goes in and hits its limit and shuts off......should be 0 draw........I would think
Is there a light on under the steps when it is out? If so, can you turn it off?
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Old 04-23-2014, 01:27 PM   #13
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Found it. The step has a amp draw of 2.4 amps when extended . When it is in the draw is 0.00
PattyH
I'm glad to hear that you found it.

BTW, on my coach that 2.4 amp battery draw drops to 0.00 if/when the step switch is turned OFF, (even if/when my step is extended).
That is one of the many small parasitic battery draws that is easily eliminated, (the TV antenna amp is another).

Mel
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Old 04-23-2014, 01:45 PM   #14
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....many coaches have separately fused circuits that dont go through the main fuse box[es] [eg steps, seats, fridge, etc.] So there is potential for many parasitic draws-----good hunting.
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