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05-24-2019, 12:23 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 17
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Batteries Draining
First post! Sadly it's because we are currently having some issues with our 2006 International CE bus not starting. This has happened only once before and the batteries must be completely drained bc it won't even crack or light up the dash. I've come to two possible agents of our issue. The first being that our entrance door, like most IC buses, is air powered. Now that the conversion process has started, we go in and out of the bus manually opening the door all the time. I can hear the air being released every time we open and close it. I've read that there is a manual and automatic switch for the door and that if you keep it on automatic it could potentially drain your battery. The second possible cause is the VCR component. We have three cameras all wired to a control box and the box seemed to continue running (the fan in the control box) after I turned the bus off. Therefore, I completely unplugged the unit. Idk if either of those could be a plausible potential to our battery drain problem, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
yippie!
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05-24-2019, 12:42 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,413
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: CAT 3126
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Simplest fix is a battery disconnect. Get a good trickle charger and get the juice going again. Install disconnect that you flip when away from bus for a while.
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05-24-2019, 01:45 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Are you intermittently using the battery? If you are, how are you recharging it? Have you tested the battery to make sure it’s good? If you’re pretty sure something is draining the battery, you can try this:
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05-24-2019, 02:20 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Parasitic loads are pretty common on buses with electronic engines.
If I leave my bus parked several weeks, without disconnecting the batteries, it will not start without charging first.
A battery disconnect switch is a great solution.
Of course, if your batteries are bad it is moot. Wouldn't hurt to have them tested.
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05-24-2019, 03:13 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo
Are you intermittently using the battery? If you are, how are you recharging it? Have you tested the battery to make sure it’s good? If you’re pretty sure something is draining the battery, you can try this:
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very helpful and saved to my files
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05-24-2019, 03:27 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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FWIW, I am currently chasing a 2A drain using that method. I’ve been able to identify that it’s happening, but pulling fuses hasn’t turned it up yet. I have been able to narrow it down that way though by doing it from the positive side. Ive separated the positive leads that feed he various fuse blocks and narrowed it down to the engine compartment.
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07-08-2019, 06:42 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 17
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What disconnect product do you suggest? Also, thanks for the feedback!
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07-08-2019, 06:43 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07
Simplest fix is a battery disconnect. Get a good trickle charger and get the juice going again. Install disconnect that you flip when away from bus for a while.
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What disconnect product do you suggest?
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10-14-2019, 02:44 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 26
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Battery disconnect
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve
Parasitic loads are pretty common on buses with electronic engines.
If I leave my bus parked several weeks, without disconnecting the batteries, it will not start without charging first.
A battery disconnect switch is a great solution.
Of course, if your batteries are bad it is moot. Wouldn't hurt to have them tested.
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Would I need a battery disconnect on each battery?
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10-14-2019, 02:50 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ol'DirtyHobo
Would I need a battery disconnect on each battery?
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Put the disconnect after the batteries go to a single + or - cable.
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02-04-2022, 01:14 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: East TN
Posts: 299
Year: 1999
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E
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Great info folks, and video! I'm gonna track this down on my bus and '03 Miata which has a big drain. How long are your batteries lasting? Mine are just over a year old and seem like they are getting weaker...
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