Battery Issue
I have a 2011 Monaco Diplomat. When I turn off the house battery switches, the gauges on my dash blink on and off. Obviously, the batteries run down fairly quickly. I replaced all of the batteries two years ago, so they are fairly new. Also, I have a solar panel, but I’m not sure it’s working. Any idea what’s happening?
Chuck Levy, F448443
Haslett, Michigan
I suggest you do two things: First, if you feel comfortable testing the solar panel’s output, call Monaco customer service, (877) 466-6226, and someone should be able to walk you through the sequence. Second, you should have the batteries tested even though they are only 2 years old. If one of them has failed, it’ll pull down all of them. You can test the batteries yourself: If you can disconnect the battery bank and they still discharge, then it’s a battery problem. If they don’t discharge while disconnected, there is a parasitic draw somewhere in the coach causing the drawdown.
Faulty Propane Gauge
I own a 2011 Roadtrek 210 Versatile. Ever since I bought the motorhome in 2013, the sensor on the propane tank has not worked. The tank’s round gauge does not move even when I’m using propane; the gauge inside the motorhome does not move either.
I pulled the gauge off the tank and moved a small magnet around the gauge’s back surface, which caused the needle to move. I reattached the gauge to the tank, but nothing registers, and the gauge stays on empty.
What is inside the tank that makes the gauge work? Is there anything I can do to correct the problem? The local dealer removed the tank but only checked for leaks.
William Burd, F430947
Columbus, Indiana
I contacted Erwin Hymer Group North America (which recently acquired Roadtrek) on your behalf. A service and warranty specialist provided this answer, which we’ve edited for clarity:
A magnet in the plastic gauge and a magnet in the mechanism inside the tank attract each other. Internally, a rod is turned by gears (plastic or brass) attached to a float. As this float moves up, it rotates the rod and the magnet, turning the magnet on the plastic gauge. You can see this by visiting http://roadtreking.com/innards-rv-propane-tank.
This configuration is not exclusive to Roadtrek vehicles; it has been the same on most motorhomes with ASME propane tanks for many years.
If the magnet in the plastic gauge and the magnet in the tank mechanism are more than 180 degrees out of phase with each other, the magnet in the tank will pull the magnet in the gauge to the “empty” position, even if the tank is full.
One option is to pull off the plastic gauge, move the gauge to halfway up, and then reinstall it. This may synchronize the magnets more accurately.
If the inner workings of the gauge mechanism are not moving, give the tank a whack with a rubber mallet or “dead blow” hammer (usually a plastic hammer with lead shot inside). If the float is stuck, that may knock it loose.
If the internal mechanism is broken, it may have to be replaced or repaired. That would require burning off all of the propane in the tank.
Fuel Fill Tip
In the April 2016 “Tech Talk” column, two letters dealt with a problem when fueling a motorhome: The fuel nozzle shuts off before the tank is very full (“Funky Fuel Fill,” page 21). Using the air levelers on our 2004 Monaco Diplomat, I “tilt” the coach whenever I want to fill up. I get an additional 15 or so gallons this way. This presents no problems, although I do get a strange look from truck drivers every once in a while.
Bill Hohmann, F221258
Tucson, Arizona
Thank you for sharing your experience. Be aware, though, that tilting the motorhome too far could block the vent, and cold fuel entering the tank will expand, possibly causing an overflow.