Battery Inspection And Care - Tiffin Motorhomes WAYFARER 2017 Owner's Manual

ELECTRICAL FEATURES
Please note that the 12 VDC fuses and breakers are located in a separate compartment adjoining the
120 VAC breakers. Fusing is provided for the following 12 VDC CIRCUITS: Refrigerator power, Radio
power, HD Antenna & Satellite Booster Power, and Thermostat Power. When the ignition is on, the
chassis batteries and house batteries will automatically merge to charge batteries when vehicle is in
operation. NO SWITCH.

BATTERY INSPECTION AND CARE

The motorhome batteries which constitute the 12
VDC system are contained inside the motorhome
entrance step well.
To access these batteries, open the access panel
on the steps. When access to the batteries is no
longer needed, close and securely fasten the
access cover to place these steps back in service. Figure 9-2: House Batteries
When batteries are not used for extended periods of time, they will gradually lose their electrical
charge. Therefore, it is necessary periodically to recharge the batteries to increase the operational lives
of the batteries. It is also necessary to check the external condition of the batteries on a regular basis.
Look for cracks in the battery case and cover. Check the vent plugs and replace them if they are cracked
or broken. Keep the battery clean. Since accumulations of dirt and acid residue around the battery
terminals may provide an electrical path for discharging the battery, the area around the terminals
should be cleaned periodically. One can use an old toothbrush and a sparse amount of a diluted
solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water (distilled or de-ionized, preferred; tap water,
acceptable) to clean and neutralize any acidic build-up around the battery terminals. If there is any
foaming on the top of the battery, this indicates that acidic residues are being neutralized. Rinse the
cleaned areas thoroughly with distilled or de-ionized water (tap water is okay, too).
Avoid getting the baking-soda solution into the battery fill plugs to each battery cell; this would
drastically reduce the effectiveness of the battery (by neutralizing the sulfuric acid in the battery cells)
or, worse, "kill" the battery. Dry the battery cables and terminals to prevent corrosion; to protect those
terminals further, use a plastic ignition spray on the terminals. Do not use grease on the terminals,
especially on the metal-to-metal connections, as grease may act as an insulator and keep the battery
electrical power from entering the cables.
If the batteries are not going to be used for an extended period of time, they should be removed from
the Wayfarer and stored in a warm, dry place. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that this service be
performed by a qualified service technician,
as this process may be too cumbersome for owner to perform.
For those who may wish to perform this service themselves, the following procedure is described:
Mark the battery cables ("+" sign or "red" for the positive cable; "- " sign or "black" for the
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