Jayco Alante 2023 12-volt DC System User Manual

12-volt DC System

Your motor home lighting is powered by 12-volt electricity. The 12-volt DC system is composed of components that will operate when the following conditions are met:

• The house batteries power all interior 12-volt components including the lighting fixtures, water pump, 12-volt motors, 12-volt appliances, etc. when the motor home is not connected to a 120-volt power source.
• 12-volt DC power is supplied when the shore power cord is plugged into a 120-volt external power source. House batteries will be charged also in most situations.
• Power is supplied by the chassis alternator when the chassis engine is running.

• Jayco 2023 Top Accessories

  [amalinkspro_table id=”32452″ new-window=”on” nofollow=”on” addtocart=”off” /]

12-Volt Fuse Panel

Warning
Replacement fuses must be of the same voltage, amperage rating, and type. Never use a higher-rated replacement fuse; doing so may cause a fire by overheating the RV wiring.

The 12-volt fuse panel is labeled to indicate fuse sizes, positions, and the components powered. Fuses are located in the load center.

Replacing a Fuse
Before replacing a fuse, always turn off the electrical components protected by it.

1. Disconnect the shore power cord.
2. Inverter should be OFF.
3. Remove the fuse panel cover to check the fuses.
4. Pull the fuse straight out of the fuse block.
5. Insert a new fuse of the same specified voltage, and amperage rating and type in the original location.

The fuse panel label should be kept permanently affixed to your recreation vehicle. Fuses will not offer complete protection of the electrical system in the event of a power surge or spike.

12-Volt DC Outlet
There may be one or more 12-volt DC power outlets in your recreation vehicle. When the 12-volt DC outlet is used as a power source for an electric appliance, make sure the appliance operates on 12-volt DC power and that it consumes less than 60 watts (5 amps) of power.

Warning
Keep the protective dust cap on the 12-volt DC outlet when not in use to prevent ingestion of foreign material and potentially short-circuit conditions.

Warning

• Do not store anything inside the battery compartment(s) or near the batteries that could touch the battery or battery cable terminals. Contact with the battery or battery cable terminals could cause an electrical short circuit, discharge the batteries, or start an electrical fire.
• Keep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away from the batteries as the hydrogen gas they create may explode. Do not connect a booster battery or other power source that outputs more than 14.2-volts DC to the motor home batteries. Use adequate ventilation when charging or using batteries in an enclosed space.
• Remove metal jewelry and always wear eye protection when working around batteries.
• Do not allow battery electrolyte (acid) to come into contact with skin, eyes, fabric, or painted surfaces. The electrolyte is a sulfuric acid solution that could cause serious personal injury or property damage. If your hands, eyes, clothes, or the painted surface of your motor home are exposed to electrolytes, flush the exposed area thoroughly with water. If electrolyte gets in your eyes, immediately flush them thoroughly with water and get prompt medical attention.
• Make sure the inverter/charger is turned “off” before disconnecting the negative battery cable from the battery bank. Keep the batteries out of the reach of children.

House Batteries
Unless a battery has been fully discharged, house auxiliary batteries are normally charged in one of two ways:

• When the power cord is plugged into 120-volt shore power, or when the generator is operational, the inverter/charger functions as a battery charger and will automatically charge the house batteries when required.
• The chassis alternator charging system supplies power to the house auxiliary batteries when the engine is running and the chassis batteries are sufficiently charged.

A fully charged battery will read 12.65 volts DC with a specific gravity of 1.265 at 80°F (32°C). A battery is considered discharged at 11.89 DC volts or when it has a specific gravity of 1.120 or less. When the voltage drops to 11.89 volts, irreversible battery damage can occur.

Dry Camping
House auxiliary and chassis batteries should be fully charged prior to dry camping. When disconnected from 120-volt shore or generator power (i.e., while dry camping or tailgating) all electrically operated appliances and accessories must be used sparingly. Typically, a deep cycle battery has an amp-hour rating of 75-100 amps. During this period these appliances and accessories are being powered by the house auxiliary batteries directly, and/or indirectly through the inverter/charger. If excessive amounts of power are drawn from the house auxiliary batteries, they will become deeply discharged. Permanent battery damage will occur after repeated deep discharge cycles.

Battery Inspection and Care
Check the level of electrolytes in each battery cell once a year. Add distilled water as needed to reach the split-level marker on each battery. Keep batteries and battery terminals clean and tight. Check the external condition of the batteries periodically. Look for cracks in the cover and case. Make sure battery vent caps are tight and replace them if they are cracked or broken.

Battery Storage Instructions
To prevent house auxiliary battery discharge when your motor home will not be connected to shore power for extended periods of time, it is recommended you turn “off” the 12-volt battery disconnect switch, or “main power switch,” and disconnect each battery bank at the negative battery cable running to the chassis frame.
During storage, it is important to check battery voltage at least every two weeks and to recharge them as needed. If you remove the batteries from your motor home protect them from accidental shorting and keep them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.

Battery Replacement
If house auxiliary batteries need to be replaced, only deep cycle batteries of the same size and type should be installed. Do not reverse the positive and negative battery cables. Doing so will blow the reverse polarity fuses that protect the power converter.

For more information
Contact the battery manufacturer for more information on the house auxiliary batteries. Refer to your Chassis Guide for information pertaining to the chassis batteries.

[amalinkspro_table id=”32446″ new-window=”on” nofollow=”on” addtocart=”off” /]

Reference Links

View Full User Guide: Jayco Alante 2023 User Manual

Download Manuals: https://www.jayco.com/manuals

Jayco 2023 Top Accessories

[amalinkspro_table id=”32452″ new-window=”on” nofollow=”on” addtocart=”off” /]