H3-45 batteries dead. Help?

[bandsaw]

Hello, I have a 1998 H3-41 that I am in the process of converting.  2 days after I got the bus, I left the door open, the key switch was off and the master switch was off.  Leaving the door open drained the batteries down over night.  With the key off and the master switch off there are still circuits that are powered up.

The door latch system, the radio clock supply, the engine and transmission computers and the fire alarm all stay powered even with the master switch and key off.  I figured out which breaker feeds the door and I turn the breaker off when the bus is in my shop.  I also pull the wire off of the radio and pull the plug on the fire alarm.  When I do this, the batteries hold a charge for a couple of months even though the engine and trans computers are powered. 

I was about to put in an additional disconnect but the list above is enough. The only issue I have is sometimes the fire alarm controller plug does not reconnect.

I traced most of this by following the yellow wires in the battery compartment.  I pulled the powered wires off of the breakers and put in an in line amp gauge.  With the door open a solenoid valve stays energized and it draws a fair amount of current.   The wiring diagrams on the prevost web site are very helpful. 

I am envious of the main manual disconnect that MCI puts in the battery compartment.

Take Care, Milo

[kemo3ce]

ok got the bus up and running... just wanted to thank you guys for the help, i am going to look for a clamp meter to figure out how much is being drawn.. luckily i do have a battery charger/maintainer so i will be using that now.. next step is to go thru the wiring and figure it out wish me luck.

[luvrbus]

The main disconnect on a later MCI does not kill all the power either fwiw they will drain too,the door closer with the 4 Norgren valves and solenoids with the circuit board are battery draining suckers on the Prevost 
Good luck chasing the problem Prevost is about the only bus made that uses a relay to make a relay work   

[chessie4905]

   Spend the time to check and test each battery individually before you go to the extra work first to rule out bad or worn out batteries. Check each cell with a hydrometer after a full charge and taking off the surface charge. Did you check the date codes?