ARP Control v5.x Troubleshooting Guide 0 © 2013-2020 ARPC L.L.C. All rights reserved. 20
04/20/202
RV STORAGE & STARTUP TIPS
Storing your RV properly is very important. Taking your RV out of storage is equally important.
This section focus on your RV living space electrical system, which should be disconnected
(isolated) from your RV engine electrical system during storage. We only address the RV
fridge in this section, consult the manufactures information for all recommended procedures for
your RV. Each RV is made different and has unique features for storage. This is just a short list
of items that pertain to your fridge.
12.1 Storage – RV Batteries; LP Gas; Fridge
For both of the aforesaid battery systems, the batteries should have a trickle charger that
maintains a small amount of charge on the batteries. If the batteries are not charged during
storage the batteries life is shortened. We would like to note that often weak batteries will fail
while the RV is in storage, thus it is a good idea to be able to measure your battery voltage so
that if things are not working it is fast and easy to see if voltage is an issue. Always start your
storage procedure by turning off the LP Gas at the tank valve in addition to all appliances such
as hot water heater, stove, and refrigerator. If your RV has a transfer-switch to isolate the RV
living space batteries from the engine batteries, turn off the transfer-switch. Some RVs have an
automatic isolator to separate the two batteries systems, if your RV does not have a method of
isolation just take the positive battery terminal off of the battery to isolate the battery. Finally, it
is critical that you defrost the fridge and leave the doors open on the fridge. A day before we
store our fridge we turn the fridge off and allow all ice to thaw out. Use a towel at the bottom of
the fridge compartments to soak up any water. Make sure that all water is out of fridge before
storage, water is your refrigerator’s enemy. Water will cause corrosion that can result in
cooling unit failure. This is why the fridge should always be stored with the doors open.
12.2 Get Ready to Go – Dry Run
The ARP Control can measure your RV living space battery voltage, but we only recommend
doing this after getting the RV engine and drive train are ready for safe operation. We suggest
starting the RV engine before addressing the RV living space electrical system. Here is a
suggestion list for a dry run before leaving on your trip:
1. If the batteries are disconnected upon storage, reconnect the batteries. Do not turn on
the transfer-switch until after the engines has started if your RV has this feature.
2. Get the engine and drive train ready for travel; start the RV engine so that the engine
charging sy
stem is on.
3. After the engine has run for 3-5 minutes the engine c
harging system should be
supplying power to the RV. Flip the transfer-switch on at this time. All appliances should
be off from your storage procedure, but check to make sure.
4. Once you have done a walk around to make a check, turn on your LP Gas that was
turned off at the tank valve. Some RVs also have an elec
trical switch to turn on/off the
LP, turn on the LP with this switch and then check at your stove top to make sure you
can light a burner. This will confirm you have LP pressure.
12.3 RV Battery Voltage & Fridge
Because most RV refrigerators require at least 10.5 volts to work, and 10.5 volts means that
your batteries are in trouble, it is important to only turn on your fridge when you know that the
RV living space batteries are healthy and being charged. The RV living space battery voltage
can be checked with the ARP Control. See User Guide, View Boiler Temperature section to
start the process of measuring the RV living space battery voltage. If the voltage is low, or the
battery does not have enough energy to start of the fridge, issues can occur. Always check the
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