Fleetwood 2010 Icon, Owner'S Manual

Page: 63 / 94

Electrical Systems
equipped with relay operated disconnect circuits.
These circuits isolate selected electrical systems
from either the chassis or the house batteries.
Deactivating the relay(s) will prevent battery
discharge which may occur over extended stor-
age periods. During normal use of your motor
home the relays must always be in the “on”
position.
If you plan to store the motor home for an
extended period, press the disconnect switch/es
to OFF. Remember to press the switch/es to ON
when you take the motor home out of storage.
Battery Inspection and Care
Check the external condition of the battery peri-
odically. Look for cracks in the cover and case.
Check the vent plugs and replace any that are
cracked or broken. Keep the battery clean. Acid
film and dirt on the battery top may permit cur-
rent to flow between the terminals and discharge
the battery.
To clean the battery:
1. Be sure the vent caps are installed and tight.
2. Wash the battery with a diluted solution of
baking soda and water to neutralize any
acid present.
3. Flush with clean water. Foaming around
terminals or on top of the battery is normal
acid neutralization. Avoid getting the soda
solution in the battery.
4. Dry the cables and terminals.
5. Do not use grease on the bare metal inside
the cable terminals to prevent corrosion.
Grease is an insulator. Electricity will not
flow through it. A plastic battery terminal
spray will protect the terminals after you
have cleaned and reinstalled them.
6. Check the battery, including water level, at
least once a week. Keep the carrier and
hold down hardware clean and free of cor-
rosion and chemical accumulation.
Battery Charging
Both sets of batteries will be kept charged by the
chassis engine alternator and charging system
while you are driving. The DC power converter
will charge the chassis and house batteries when
plugged into 120-volt AC service or by the gener-
ator (if equipped). If the battery needs to be
charged from a different charging source, please
follow these safety guidelines:
• Leaving a charger connected to a battery for
an extended period of time can shorten bat-
tery life.
• Do not smoke near batteries being charged
or which have been recently charged. Please
note that batteries are being charged while
you drive, and while you are connected to
120-volt AC power through the converter/
charger circuit.
• Do not break live circuits at the terminals
of the battery. Use care when connecting or
disconnecting booster leads or cables.
NOTE
A trouble shooting guide and function manual that
explains this system is included with your motor home
Owner’s Information Package.
NOTE
When charging the batteries, the battery disconnect
switches must be ON.
08-2
WARNING
Do not use the motor home when the chassis bat-
tery is disconnected. The power step will not operate
as designed if the chassis battery is disconnected. If
the step is not in the correct extended position, you
may be injured if you step out of the motor home.
!
WARNING
Disconnect the 120-volt shore cord and the nega-
tive terminal from the battery/ies before working on
either electrical system. If you work on the electrical
systems with the power cord connected, you may be
shocked, electrocuted, or severely burned.
!