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Prepare for storage

Yahoo Message Number: 115035
We are storing our '03 Allure for a month or so and have it plugged into 20V for battery maintenance. I've turned off the 12V switch at the entry door, switched off the chassi battery disconnect, turned off the inverter, turned off the Hurricane, tripped the GFCI (more on that in a sec) and still have these issues:

1. Can't get the entry steps to stay "retracted" or "stored" when I close the door;
2. The panel above the entry door still has lights on...even with the inverter turned off. I would think that I could completely turn everything "off" for storage (if 20V were not available). THougths?
3. I've had to "trip" the GFCI in the bedroom if I plug in at home on 20V as (after hours of searching) I learned that GFCI in the coach fights with 20V shore-power.
4. How do you leave the fresh water tank for storage? Drain completely?

Sorry for the length of this post - and thanks for any "shut down" list you can offer!

John

2003 Allure #30914

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115037
With the salesman switch on you have to push the button on the door sill to retract the steps and then turn the step switch off. Then you turn off the Salesman switch, 12 volt to the house.

Thats hard wired direct to the batteries.

That doesn't make since. .

NO. Unless you are in hot weather. But make sure the tanks are completely full

I would just lift the three Grounds on the three batteries and for get about the headaches your going thru. The batteries ought to stay up for a least 4 months. Mine do. and have on both my coaches for close to 20 years.

TWInsall 2004 Intrigue 11731.

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115041
John

When we store ours I think the DW used the step switch to get them in and the killed the salesman switch. Ours stay in.

The light on the panel is because it is charging the batteries. When you are plugged in to shore power the battery charger starts working.

We have never done anything with the GFI.

We add some bleach to the fresh water tank and the drain it. We have stored our for 3 months and every thing is fine. Oh we also flush and drain the black and grey tanks.

BVL
2003 Country Coach
Allure First Ave 30900

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115043
Could you put one of the "Blade Type" battery disconnects on and solve the taking off and putting back on after storage?

Dave

07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495
12 Jeep GC Toad
Mountains of So Cal and
Henderson, Nev

Dave & Jodi
2007 CC Allure 40’ Tag #31495
2012 Jeep GC
Big Bear Lake, Ca & Henderson, Nev

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115045
First, I suspect you mean you have the coach plugged into a 20amp receptacle, not 20V. Make sure you set the charger max setting on your inverter/charger to 15 amps or less which should be sufficient to maintain your batteries. If you have a BIRD or some other system (like an Echo Charger) that keeps your chassis batteries maintained while connected to shore power, you could leave your chassis battery disconnect switch on.

Your entry steps are controlled by the chassis batteries. If they were out (maybe your entry door was open?) and you switched your chassis battery disconnect to 'off,' the steps may have just stayed deployed since the motor had no power.

I have 50 amp shore power at my storage location so I leave my battery disconnects 'on' and the inverter/charger and my Trickle Charge keeps both chassis and house batteries charged. I could do it with 20 amp service but I am lucky to have 50 amp available.

I drain my fresh water tank when my coach is stored unless I know I am going to be using it sooner rather than later.

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115047
Agree if you are plugging in don't turn anything off. I also assumed you meant 20 amp.
2 things about the water what source was it filled from? City if so it is cloronated and should be good just like when using it.
How long are you planning on storing it, along with expected temps? Higher temps will encourage growth and cause the closing to evaporate faster.
Ray O.

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115085
Thank you all for your helpful replies. Sorry, yes, 20A circuit is what I'm plugged into.

I get the step sequence you've explained. Open door from outside, trip the door switch, shut off the door step switch, kill the salesman switch. Perfect.

Now, for the panel above the entry door. Not sure why I can't get it to go completely dark. If it is wired to the chassi battery, won't it drain the battery over time? I understand that this is moot if we are plugged in, but I'm trying to understand how things work.

About the GFCI comment. When I've plugged in here at the house on a 20A GFCI, it trips the house GFCI. I've learned that the two GFCI's (the coach and the house) fight and one of them trips (usually it is the one on our house). SO, I've been using a 12ga drop cord to pug into a garage circuit that is 15A with no GFCI. THat circuit usually trips UNLESS I trip the coach house GFCI. Can't explain how weird that is.

I'm now storing the coach at a covered storage facility with 20A service. I'm concerned that their GFCI on the pole of the barn will "fight" with our GFCI in the coach.

Suggestions?

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115087
When you first plug the coach in, the inverter/charger will draw too many amps (bulk charging) and blow your garage or storage circuit breaker. Set the max current draw on your inverter control pad (called Power Share on my inverters) to 20A, and it will be fine in a 20A circuit. Currently, your inverter is probably set for 30A or 50A. After some time, the current draw may drop to 3A or so once the charger goes to float charging, but that initial hit is what will blow your garage circuit breaker.

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115099
Greg beat me to the explanation. I have the same problem at a location in Oregon where I spend a month every summer. The power is supposed to be 50 amp but I'm basically sharing it with a neighbor. I have to set the inverter/charger draw way down, or I trip the breakers in my coach. I usually set it at about 8 amps since the batteries are usually pretty well charged when I get there. Of course, I can't run the air and have to be careful about too many electrical appliances at the same time, but it seems to work out OK.

Dave Glen
'06 Magna 6591

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115103
I had the same problem with a Bluebird and it turned out to be a bad ground wire to the batteries at the frame. Replace the whole ground wire and all was good to go

Craig
2005 Allure 470 37'

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115109
Continued problems. Just got back from storage where I could not get the coach to not trip the GFCI at the pole. I've made sure the RF-7 panel is set to 5 amps, I've turned off the GFCI in the coach and still could not keep the GFCI from tripping.

Could it be the surge protector? I'll include a picture. Not sure how to check it. I think the transfer switch is working just fine.

Thanks for any help!

Re: Prepare for storage [3 Attachments]

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115110
Do you have a residential refrigerator?  Mine sometimes trips my GFCI.  Try turning all breakers off to see what happens. If it stays on start turning breakers on until it trips.

Buddy Bordes 08 Allure

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115112
I don't have a residential refer....and I've tested the "dog bone" as per RV Electric's book. Excellent source of information....ecept what I'm dealing with!

I'll try turning off all breakers and seeing if that does it. THanks!
 

Re: Prepare for storage

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 115113
Many different manufacturers and models have been an issue for gfi plugs. Solution not using a gfi circuit.
Ray O.