Brownleaf
Durham
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I drive my motorhome a few miles every 9-10 days. It occurred to me that the chassis battery is not getting charged enough. Thus the above question does plugging it in to charge house batteries affect the chassis battery? I don't have devices to check charge, I guess an auto parts store could check it. Gas was low yesterday but there was gas in there and once yesterday and once today it would not turn over and catch till the second try ( where I pumped the gas pedal to the floor before the second try where it did start. thanks Doug
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rk911
DuPage County
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In the motorhomes we've owned plugging into shore power charged only the house batteries. But, we added a device...can't recall the name...that diverted a small amount of energy directed to the coach batteries to the chassis battery keeping it charged.
Rich
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Brownleaf
Durham
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RK thanks, I will pass on such a device for now, but wonder if I take the rv out every 9-10 days how far would I need to drive it to keep a chassis battery charge up? Doug
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rk911
DuPage County
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no way to know. likely would depend on the level of discharge. But, of more concern would be running the engine for short periods before engine gets to proper operating temperature. A 30-minute drive once a month should do it. Recommemd you reconsider the Trik-L-Start device. Inexpensive ans EZ to install.
Trik-L-Start
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi,
This is a good unit.
https://www.bestconverter.com/TRIK-L-START_c_210.html
There is a higher capacity one called the Ampl-L-Start.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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Brownleaf
Durham
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RK, explain the problem with short jaunts and engine not getting to proper o perating temperature. What happens- what are the consequences? Is that just a battery issue or something else? Doug
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rk911
DuPage County
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don't take my word for it...
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car........a-car-that-isnt-driven-much-a6412749580/
https://www.firestonecompleteautocare.co........ng/how-short-distances-affect-your-car/#
https://www.tiresplus.com/blog/driving/driving-short-distances/#
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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When I owned a motorhome, I installed the Trik-L-Start like was mentioned above. It worked great. Highly recommended.
Bobbo and Lin
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Your description of how/why you think the start battery isn’t charging is a bit suspect. Because if it starts it starts. And has not sure how battery charge is related to fuel. IE it isn’t.
But is that why you drive it “a few miles every 10 days”? To charge the battery? Also an odd routine. And a few miles won’t do much ifnthe battery is already low.
Why not just throw a battery maintainer on it and not worry about it? That’s the cheapest easiest solution and requires no time nor effort for your periodic short drives you’re doing now.
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Brownleaf
Durham
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Will check it out. Doug
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