Topic: Chassis Battery Low Voltage? (Read 1291 times) previous topic - next topic

We have a brand new Unity, 2023 on a 2022 chassis. We have twice found the chassis battery indicates it is at very low voltage while sitting. We have not been able to figure out what could be causing the battery draw while it appears that nothing is running. The master panel showed it at 0.1V even though we started it earlier today. We were able to start even though the main panel indicated the 0.1V. But that doesn't seem like it should be happening. Not sure if we are doing something wrong that we aren't aware of or what could be causing this. Anyone have any ideas?

The reading on the panel cannot possibly be correct.  If it even showed 11 volts, the engine might not start.  There are some parasitic draws on the battery.  My 2018 TB has a disconnect just above the gas pedal.  That will isolate the start battery.  What does the panel read when the engine is running.  It should be as high as 14 volts.

You are right. When the engine is running it reads 14.2 volts. When we turned it off yesterday it read 12.9. This morning is read 12.4 without starting it. I'm thinking something is goofy with the panel. Meanwhile, there is a sound like a fan running after we shut it off coming from the dash area/engine compartment. This morning I don't notice that so much but a quiet hum, like electronics in the background. But the voltage is not dropped like it was. This is the 2nd time we have had this happen in the course of the month. It isn't like we haven't started it at all because we have used it.

The sounds of a fan or electronics give me pause.  I cannot think of anything that would cause that.  Does the 2023 model have the battery disconnect above the gas pedal? 

The panel on my model actually shows the voltage on the house batteries.  There was a battery combiner under my passenger seat.  It combines house and start batteries if either one is being charged.  Mine was electromechanical and clicked when it connected the batteries.  I had some doubts so I replaced it with a marine unit from Blue Sea.  I can only know the voltage on the engine battery when the batteries are combined and all have the same voltage.

If you have flood batteries for the house bank, they may be suspect.  The industry is moving away from flood batteries and I think quality is suffering.  My 2018 was used but the dealer had replaced the house batteries with new flood batteries.  I replaced them with AGM right away.

Tim

We do have a battery disconnect. We were finally able to reach someone in service that told us that we should keep any eye on the monitor for incorrect readings.  The engine battery should not read that low on that panel (as we both know). If there isn't any indication in the instrument gage then there should not be a problem with low battery.  We will keep a watchful eye on it as it is under warranty. Thanks for responding.