• Check on small items that use battery power, such as the porch
light, bay lights, under step light, generator compartment lights,
engine compartment lights, etc. If the television is not being used,
turn off the 12 Volt booster. One light left on, such as under the
front cap near the wipers, can reduce the battery considerably. Do
not forget to check the engine block heater in the event it has been
plugged into the outlet and is operating a 1,400-watt element when
the inverter is on. In a case like that, the batteries will not stay up
for even 12 hours.
• Some battery draw has to be left on. Leave the battery kill switch
on at the entry door because the eyebrow in the refrigerator (some
models) requires 12 Volts to operate. In most motorhomes, even
though it is switched to gas, the furnace requires 12 Volts to operate
the fan.
• Keep flashlights handy. If some nighttime hours are to be spent
outdoors, build a campfire. Illuminate the vicinity around the out-
side of the motorhome and extinguish the flames before retiring
for the night. Many campgrounds place wood or cement barriers
between the site space and fire pit. Be sure to illuminate any barri-
ers or obstacles in the pathway to the motorhome.
• A large size flashlight positioned at the front door is perfect for
navigating through the coach during the dark of night without having
to use the interior lights. If interior lights are needed, remove
excess bulbs in the fixtures to conserve on battery usage. Just one
bulb in a central location, such as the vanity, will be sufficient.
• During the day it is still important to conserve on energy. Turn on
the water pump only when using water; get in the habit of turning
the pump off when not in use. While the water pump does not
draw an abundance of power, the battery amp hours while dry
camping are important and should be conserved.
• If it is too early or too late in the day to run the generator, use
the inverter. Remember to turn off the inverter when not in use.
When the rest of the campground is up and about, turn on the gen-
erator and run it for a couple of hours. The generator may seem
loud and intrusive, however, the noise is minimal just a short dis-
tance away from the coach. Run the generator during clean up and
preparation for the day.
• Check the monitor panel frequently and keep track of the water
usage and battery consumption. Routinely check the LP-Gas and
remember that more gas is used in cold weather.
• Careful management of water is critical when dry camping. Know
the motorhome tank capacities. Picture the amount of liquid it takes
Driving & Safety
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DIPLOMAT
2•38
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