Allegro Bay Owner's Manual - Tiffin Motorhomes

ELECTRICAL FEATURESCautionDisconnect the 120 VAC electrical power cord and the negative terminal from the coachbatteries BEFORE working on the Allegro Bay electrical system.CautionIf the Allegro Bay ever requires any welding operations on the frame, first disconnectthe chassis batteries. Failure to do so will destroy all of the chassis computer system.When batteries are not used for extended periods of time, they will gradually lose their electrical charge.Therefore, it is necessary periodically to recharge the batteries to increase the operational lives of the batteries.It is also necessary to check the external condition of the batteries on a regular basis. Look for cracks in thebattery case and cover. Check the vent plugs and replace them if they are cracked or broken. Keep the batteryclean.Since accumulations of dirt and acid residue around the battery terminals may provide an electrical path fordischarging the battery, the area around the terminals should be cleaned periodically. One can use an oldtoothbrush and a sparse amount of a diluted solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water (distilledor de-ionized, preferred; tap water, acceptable) to clean and neutralize any acidic build-up around the batteryterminals.If there is any foaming on the top of the battery, this indicates that acidic residues are being neutralized. Rinsethe cleaned areas thoroughly with distilled or de-ionized water (tap water is okay, too). Avoid getting thebaking-soda solution into the battery fill plugs to each battery cell; this would drastically reduce the effectivenessof the battery (by neutralizing the sulfuric acid in the battery cells) or, worse, “kill” the battery. Dry the batterycables and terminals to prevent corrosion; to protect those terminals further, use a plastic ignition spray on theterminals.Do not use grease on the terminals, especially on the metal-to-metal connections, as grease may act as aninsulator and keep the battery electrical power from entering the cables.If the batteries are not going to be used for an extended period of time, they should be removed from theAllegro Bay and stored in a warm, dry place. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that this service beperformed by a qualified service technician, as the process is usually too complicated for the average owner toperform. For those who may wish to perform this service themselves, the following procedure is described:Mark the battery cables (“+” sign or “red” for the positive cable; “-” sign or “black” for the negative cable) sothat they can be properly reconnected again later. Then disconnect the negative terminal(s) from the batteries.Afterwards, disconnect the positive terminals. Now the batteries can be removed for storage. When the7-4