The camera swoops down from above the tree line. The tall evergreens loom ominously, blocking much of the moon’s dim light. A man and a woman, muddy and bruised, frantically sprint headlong towards their RV. With a slam and a click, they throw the door closed and lock it behind them. Somewhere out in the murky wilderness, the maniac in the hockey mask is still following them. The couple breathes a tentative sigh of relief, though, in the comparative safety of their motor home. They have a CB radio hooked up to their auxiliary battery. They can call for help. The young man sits in front of the desk, flicks up the “on” switch, and…
Nothing.
It’s going to be a long night.
Don’t let this horrible fate befall you and those you love! Armed with a few easy tips, you too can prevent the battery drains that inevitably lead to a ghastly dismemberment at the hands of some ghoulish slasher film villain. Simply get yourself a copy of the manufacturer’s wiring guide for your vehicle (you can call them and request one if you don’t already have it) and a voltage meter. They’re super cheap, and you’ll be glad you invested in one when the bogeymen come a-scratchin’.
- Unplug your system from any external power source.
- Disconnect the negative cable from the battery’s negative terminal.
- Attach the negative cable to the voltage meter’s red wire.
- Attach the voltage meter’s black wire to the battery’s negative lead.
- Turn off every lava lamp, cartoon character shaped clock-radio, and 12 volt appliance on the rig.
- If there’s still a drain, go to the fuse panel.
- Remove each fuse, one by one, until the drain disappears. That’s the circuit with the fault.
- Note what the label states that circuit is protecting (right side, left side, front, etc).
- Go to that section of the RV.
- From front to back, check each individual item.
Following that simple guide, you should easily find whatever device you left on, or whatever item is malfunctioning, causing power to slowly trickle out of your battery. Either turn it off or fix/replace it, and you’re all set! Now the only thing that can cause you to end up in the clutches of a bloodthirsty monster is if you fall for absolutely no reason while you’re running. If horror movies are any indication, this happens to normal people all the time, so make sure you wear some good running shoes, and lace ‘em up tight!
