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06-11-2019, 09:57 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Corona del Mar, CA
Posts: 60
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Basic DC System Question
Basic new owner question here. When the DC system is off and the van is parked, is there anything that would create a draw on the house battery? I drive the van for a short time Sunday, parked it that day, and Tuesday morning the house voltage was 12.1. Looking for reasons it might be low, or something I'm doing wrong. When I've owned boats, the house batteries would go for months without issue. Thanks
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06-11-2019, 10:02 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,106
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CO detector is a usual suspect......they are sometimes hard wired to be on all the time for safety.....but they draw a mouse-fart's worth of current..way less than an amp.
Is it possible that your house battery is just old? Since one test is worth a thousand expert opinions ........use a multimeter in current mode to check the draw on the battery when parked.
If you need clarification on how to do this just ask........
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2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
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06-11-2019, 12:08 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,410
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Don't leave the radio switch on if you have one.
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2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
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06-11-2019, 12:16 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Corona del Mar, CA
Posts: 60
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Thanks, what's the best way to do this? Appreciate the help.
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06-11-2019, 12:40 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Vacaville, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 1,068
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Sprinter, correct? Suggest you look through this thread also:
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/for...n-23581-2.html
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“Flint” - 2016 SMB Sprinter 4x4 144" RB 150S w/ PH
KN6BJX
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06-11-2019, 02:29 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Corona del Mar, CA
Posts: 60
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Thanks Fitz. My issue, which might just be an anomaly, is with the house battery. No problems for the first 3 weeks of ownership. The last day or so, though, it was down to marginal levels (12.1) despite all power off (presumably no draw except smoke alarm)?
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06-11-2019, 02:43 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: San Clemente, CA
Posts: 1,381
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Did you switch off the breakers to the house batteries when you parked? I do this on all my vans because there is always something small that drains the house battery. I'm not an expert nor am I saying you don't have a bigger concern, but if youre just trying to stop the drain, try that.
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06-11-2019, 03:16 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,509
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When was the last time you fully charged the battery?
-greg
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-greg
__________________________________________________ ______________
"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
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06-11-2019, 08:03 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 325
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I also have a nominal draw on the house bank if I’m not hooked up to 110 power when parked for long periods. Usually I’ll lose 10-15 amps/day. With the house bank being 600Ah though I’ve never been concerned or researched it. I just assume small draw from meters, etc. And it isn’t something I do much. If I know I’ll be away from the van for more than 7 days I have it hooked up to shore power.
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2017 4X4 2500 144" Stone Grey High Top
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06-12-2019, 07:42 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,106
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barrel47
Thanks, what's the best way to do this? Appreciate the help.
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With a multimeter set to 10A (10 amps) current mode (and meter leads moved to current mode position on the meter).......
....disconnect either the positive or negative battery cable from the house battery and complete the circuit by placing the meter inline between the battery terminal and the cable, so one lead on the battery cable and the other on the battery terminal. When the meter is set to current mode it's just like a piece of wire...it's lets the current flow and gives you a reading
Note the current reading....if the reading is less than an amp you can switch the meter to ma (milli-amp range) for a little more accuracy, although likely not required.
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2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
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