09-01-2016, 01:03 PM
Welcome Paul. Glad you joined the group and congratulations on discovering Newell. Having started RV'ing in three Airstream trailers I understand the attraction to a Newell. It is a logical step into a motorcoach from an Airstream trailer with quality interior, solid construction and an all aluminum body and roof (only the front and rear caps on the Newell are a composite material).
The coaches that are all-electric (a few 1993's and almost all Newells 1994 and newer) have more batteries (typically 2 chassis and 6 house 8D batteries) to meet the extra load of the residential refrigerator. Prior to that, most Newells had 2 chassis and 2 house 8D batteries. In either case, those large expensive batteries can drain down fairly quickly without being on a battery charger of some type. It doesn't have to be 50 amp or even 30 amp. A 15 amp NON GFCI circuit is enough to keep the batteries charged. If you are very close to your RV, it is not necessary to keep it on power all the time BUT if you don't, be aware that the batteries will have to be charged fairly frequently as there are a number of parasitic drains on the batteries that are not easy to work around including the engine computer (DDEC). There are battery cutoff switches in the engine compartment but even with those in the OFF position the batteries will drain down so you will need to start the generator and let it recharge the batteries or find some other way of charging the batteries (solar, 15 amp power circuit). I would be hesitant to leave mine with the battery cut off switches in the off position for more than a few weeks without checking on them and charging them up. If the inverter is turned on, that large bank of batteries can be drained VERY quickly. Unlike many Airstreams and other RV batteries, the 8D batteries are very large and very heavy (over 150 pounds each) so taking them out to recharge them is not something you even want to consider. It takes a lot of power to turn over a 500 HP diesel engine and the inverter loads can really pull down a bank of even 6 8D's. You certainly don't want to let them discharge to the point that it damages the batteries as the replacement cost is high. Even the cheapest wet cell 8D's are typically $200 each and AGM's which Newells come with are closer to $700 each delivered.
The coaches that are all-electric (a few 1993's and almost all Newells 1994 and newer) have more batteries (typically 2 chassis and 6 house 8D batteries) to meet the extra load of the residential refrigerator. Prior to that, most Newells had 2 chassis and 2 house 8D batteries. In either case, those large expensive batteries can drain down fairly quickly without being on a battery charger of some type. It doesn't have to be 50 amp or even 30 amp. A 15 amp NON GFCI circuit is enough to keep the batteries charged. If you are very close to your RV, it is not necessary to keep it on power all the time BUT if you don't, be aware that the batteries will have to be charged fairly frequently as there are a number of parasitic drains on the batteries that are not easy to work around including the engine computer (DDEC). There are battery cutoff switches in the engine compartment but even with those in the OFF position the batteries will drain down so you will need to start the generator and let it recharge the batteries or find some other way of charging the batteries (solar, 15 amp power circuit). I would be hesitant to leave mine with the battery cut off switches in the off position for more than a few weeks without checking on them and charging them up. If the inverter is turned on, that large bank of batteries can be drained VERY quickly. Unlike many Airstreams and other RV batteries, the 8D batteries are very large and very heavy (over 150 pounds each) so taking them out to recharge them is not something you even want to consider. It takes a lot of power to turn over a 500 HP diesel engine and the inverter loads can really pull down a bank of even 6 8D's. You certainly don't want to let them discharge to the point that it damages the batteries as the replacement cost is high. Even the cheapest wet cell 8D's are typically $200 each and AGM's which Newells come with are closer to $700 each delivered.