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Section 6: Electrical System
Auxiliary Battery (customer supplied)
Do not store anything inside the battery compartment(s) or near the
batteries that could touch the battery or battery cable terminals. Contact
with the battery or battery cable terminals could cause an electrical short
circuit, discharge the batteries, or start an electrical fire.
Keep sparks, cigarettes and flames away from the batteries as the hy-
drogen gas they create may explode. Do not connect a booster battery
or other power source that outputs more than 14.2-volts DC to the RV
batteries. Use adequate ventilation when charging or using batteries in an
enclosed space. Remove metal jewelry and always wear eye protection
when working around batteries.
Do not allow battery electrolyte (acid) to come into contact with skin,
eyes, fabric or painted surfaces. Electrolyte is a sulfuric acid solution
that could cause serious personal injury or property damage. If your
hands, eyes, clothes or the painted surface of your RV are exposed to
electrolyte, flush the exposed area thoroughly with water. If electrolyte
gets in your eyes, immediately flush them thoroughly with water and get
prompt medical attention.
The combined 12-volt DC loads in your recreation vehicle become more than the converter
can produce. This demand can be met by using an auxiliary battery for a limited period of
time. The 12-volt system is designed for usage with a Group 27, deep cycle battery.
Dry Camping
The auxiliary battery should be fully charged prior to dry camping. If the auxiliary battery is
not being recharged and power is being drawn from it, it will eventually discharge. A battery
will discharge at a faster rate as its energy level becomes depleted. Plan your electrical us-
age accordingly. You can test the auxiliary battery voltage using a volt-ohm meter (customer
supplied).
A fully charged auxiliary battery will read 12.7 volts DC and 1.265 specific gravity at 80°F
(32°C). The auxiliary battery is considered discharged at 11.89 volts, and dead at 11.65
volts. If the voltage drops below those levels, irreversible damage can occur. Typically, a
deep cycle battery has an amp-hour rating of 75-100 amps.
If you run the furnace and refrigerator simultaneously, you will be using approximately
(12.0 + 3.0) 15.0 amps per hour. This does not include any 12-volt lights, or any other 12-
volt component. If the furnace and refrigerator in this example operated constantly, a 75
amp-hour battery would become fully discharged in 5 hours.
The auxiliary battery should be installed in parallel with the battery in your tow vehicle.
When the 7-way trailer plug is connected, both batteries power the RV. Do not allow it to
discharge your tow vehicle battery below the level required to start the engine. To prevent
this from occurring, disconnect the 7-way trailer plug or install a battery isolator. When the
tow vehicle engine is operating with the RV connected, the tow vehicle charging system will
charge both batteries.
Replacement and Maintenance
Some equipment in your RV will draw small amounts of current even when turned OFF. To
prevent the auxiliary battery from being discharged when your RV is not connected to shore
line power, disconnect the auxiliary battery negative cable at the battery. During storage, it is
important to check the voltage monthly and recharge the auxiliary battery as needed. If you
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Maintenance Record
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