Battery Information; Chassis (Starting) Battery; House Batteries; Battery Storage And Maintenance - Winnebago Journey Owner's Manual

following regular battery inspection and
maintenance, especially in cold weather.
See "Battery Maintenance" on page 6-10 this
section.

BATTERY INFORMATION

CHASSIS (Starting) BATTERY

The chassis batteries are used solely to operate
the engine starter and all automotive accessories
and controls found on the instrument panel. This
includes the horn, speed control, all exterior
lights, radio, windshield wipers, rear auto heater
fan, etc.
Chassis Battery Storage: The chassis (starting)
batteries are located in a slide-out tray in the bat-
tery compartment on the right side of the coach.
(See Exterior Features Identification on page 0-4
of the Introduction section.)
Lift the retainer catches that hold the battery
tray and slide it outward for service.
Lift Battery Tray Retainer Latches
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

HOUSE BATTERIES

The house batteries supply current to all 12-
volt equipment located in the living area of the
coach. This includes interior lights, range ex-
haust fan, furnace fan, water pump, water level
and holding tank gauges, 110-volt generator
starting, refrigerator and bath roof vent fan. The
house battery may also be used to start the engine
if the automotive battery is dead. Refer to "Aux.
Start Switch."
The house batteries are automatically charged
by the engine alternator while the engine is run-
ning.
House Battery Storage
The batteries are also located in the battery
compartment on the left side of the coach. See
"Chassis Battery Storage" for access instruc-
tions.
BATTERY STORAGE AND
MAINTENANCE
Lead -acid type batteries are electro-chemical
devices for storing and releasing electrical
charge. As such, they are simply an electrical res-
ervoir, not an electrical source. As soon as energy
is removed from the battery, it should be replaced
by the engine alternator or the RV converter sys-
tem.
If a battery sits unused for 30 days or more, es-
pecially during warm weather, it can develop a
deposit of sulfate crystals on the metal plates in-
side the battery. This condition is called sulfation
or sulfating, and prevents the battery from either
releasing or accepting a charge. If this condition
occurs, the battery must be replaced.
If a battery does not contain at least 80%
charge during freezing temperatures, the electro-
lyte can freeze and crack the battery case.
The two best defenses against either sulfating
or insufficient charge are:
1. To disconnect the battery cables to avoid any
"parasitic" discharge, and
2. to check the battery and recharge as neces-
sary at least once a month during long
periods of storage.
SECTION 6
6-9