I am having some real issues with heating and electricity. I think this is first time I have had to use my lights for such a long time in the evening, and I've had the heater on more than usual. It's cold in The Palms, and I've had to use the heat from the truck/cab heater to keep us warm today.
My batteries keep going down to zero on my panel, the lights flicker, the fridge is twittering, and I'm not sure what's going on. I'm connected to the electric here, and my TV, microwave and elect. outlets are working, so the park electricity seems to be okay.
I just ran the generator for a few minutes, and the battery lights went to 3/4 full. I turned off the generator, turned on the heater and within a few minutes the fridge was alerting me with twittering, and my CCI Controls - LPG Gas Leak Detector was going from Operating to Fault-low voltage. The manual says the orange Fault light goes on if the battery voltage goes below 8.5.
When I'm in a park with electricity, shouldn't that be what the rig uses for heat, lights, fridge, etc.? Or are my coach batteries ALWAYS used for those things, the same as when I'm dry camping?
When I start my engine, in a few minutes the panel shows the batteries are full, but they quickly go back to zero if I turn on a light or the heat. Something is really draining them quickly.
This morning I checked the breakers and all the fuses in my Power Converter, and everything looked good.
My batteries are Interstate, I had them put in in August, so they are virtually brand new, and I've been in a park with electricity almost every night. I went out in the rain today for about an hour to check my generator and battery cells. (When the batteries are so low, my generator won't start, and if I have any truck engine issues, I won't be able to start the truck with the generator under the current conditions.) I added a little oil to the generator, and added a little distilled water to all the cells. I'm not sure how full they should be, but I could see water in the front cells, and added a little to each one just in case.
I can't find anything specific on the forums about this, and the books that came with the rig don't say anything specific that I understand. Can you guys help with comments? Or direct me to a website that has this information?
When I'm in a park with electricity, what should the coach batteries be doing? Do you think the batteries are just bad? Connected wrong?
As you can see from the weather gadget on the left panel, the temperature right now is 40 degrees, feels like 24 degrees. And it's 6:20. It's going to be a COLD night. (Last night I had Katie up in the bunk with me, and with my down comforter and a quilt, were were toasty, so we'll be warm once we go to bed. Which might be soon...)
If you are able to help, thank you!!
Another thing, I was thinking of going into town tomorrow to get an electric heater. One of the forums said Vornado at Target is a good one. If I get one, then I can plug it in and use it with my electricity, right? Then I won't have to use the coach heater?
PS - In reading my manuals and more forum reading, I found my refrigerator Climate Control Switch was ON, and I turned it OFF. If it is ON, it is a constant drain on the battery, and is mostly for warm humid weather. So, that was one thing...
From Me and Katie, have a great Thursday evening, everyone! :)
Full-timing in our 24-foot 2006 Forest River Sunseeker 2200 as of June 1, 2011, I've added solar panels and a catalytic heater so that we can camp off-grid comfortably. My dog, Katie, is great company. We traveled a bit in the Western States our first year, and visited the deserts of Arizona and most of the New Mexico State Parks the next four. This year - 2016 - I'm hoping to find a park model to buy so we will have a home base, but we'll continue to travel, too. What a life! :)
