Batteries dead after CW installed TV Digital Converters

[brabono]

This story starts out with getting Camping World to install "black boxes" for TV antenna changes in June 09. Put RV back in srorage; disconnect switch in OFF; four weeks later batteries were dead; used jumper cable to start up RV. Took Rv back to CW; changed house batteries (bad,3yrs old); CW checked black box and said it's not the problem (this was May 12th); on June 25th went to check on RV and start up; All 3 batteries were dead 6.7 amps. Tried to jump off using a portable generator with the main electrical wiring that goes to the RV. No luck; battery amps got up to 8.7. Took out chasis battery and brought home to charge ; on my way to try and start RV and take it back to Camping World.

Any comments or suggestions??

[wolfe10]

Welcome to the FMCA Forum.

Start by fully charging the batteries and then have them load tested. Most places that sell batteries will load test them for free. If you do need batteries, be sure to use deep cycle batteries for the house batteries, NOT marine or dual purpose batteries. If you need advice on choosing batteries, let us know.

After making sure that the batteries are OK or replacing them, verify that your battery charging system is working properly. If a modern 4 stage converter, charger or inverter/charger, charge voltage should start around 14.2 VDC in BULK mode (batteries deeply discharged) and end up when batteries fully charged at around 13.2-13.5 VDC.

You do not say whether you store with it plugged in (so converter or charger keeps up the batteries) or not. If not, you need to either disconnect the batteries while in storage or add solar panels to keep the batteries charged.

You can also have the parasitic load evaluated. With all 12 VDC draws OFF, check for amp draw. Things like propane detectors, radio memories, etc all draw power and WILL discharge a battery, even a good battery with time.

And storing a battery in a deeply discharged state REALLY speeds its demise.

Brett Wolfe

[tbutler]

Here is an interesting web site that addresses your question with a series of analysis you can do to determine where the electric is going! If you go through the processes described here, you can find out if you have something drawing down your battery. One question, were you storing your motor home before taking it to CW for the adapter boxes? If so, I would assume the batteries were holding with no problem. This would make the adapter boxes and their installation suspect and you can start with a close look at them. If you just started storing the coach, then it could be anything.

There are a number of electrical resources on this site. For the rest of them go to the bottom of the page and hit the HOME button!

http://www.dasplace.net/BatteryPower/Battery.html

[bobndorine2]

Most DTV converters operate on 110 vac and will be turned off when the inverter is turned off. There is a brand that can be connected to 12 vdc, which you should use. When the converter box is turned off it goes into standby which continues to drain power, therefore put a switch in the power line so that it can be completely turned off. Make sure the converter is installed between your switch box and the TV as if it is between the switch box and the antenna the power for the antenna amplifier will damage the converter.