| charging system questions [message #139065] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 12:17  |
chasingsummer
Messages: 434
Registered: May 2011
Location: asheboro, nc
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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i had to jump off engine battery yesterday, i assumed if i ran 110 to coach over night it would charge up both batteries, it seems house battery charged but motor battery did not. i do have 12v coming from rear of coach at diode on that big cable that used to have insulation issues where the insulation was falling off . that has be corrected.
am i wrong that plugged in should charge both batteries/
would that imply my diode thing is bad?
motor battery is 4 years old, cleaning terminals now, all input is appreciated
bgk
brian
asheboro, nc
75 eleganza, 74 build
119k miles and counting,
DOG HOUSE
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| Re: charging system questions [message #139067 is a reply to message #139065] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 12:22  |
C Boyd
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
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| chasingsummer wrote on Sun, 14 August 2011 13:17 |
i had to jump off engine battery yesterday, i assumed if i ran 110 to coach over night it would charge up both batteries, it seems house battery charged but motor battery did not. i do have 12v coming from rear of coach at diode on that big cable that used to have insulation issues where the insulation was falling off . that has be corrected.
am i wrong that plugged in should charge both batteries/
would that imply my diode thing is bad?
motor battery is 4 years old, cleaning terminals now, all input is appreciated
bgk
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Sir: if original the 110 converter/chatger only charges the house battery. You should have been able to flip the boost switch on the dash to start the coach if the house battery is charged. While cleaning the coach battery terminals slightly touch the removed cable to the battery and check for any sparks. This would indicate a drain.
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
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| Re: charging system questions [message #139069 is a reply to message #139065] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 12:36 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
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The isolator up front only allows charging from the alternator to both battery banks. Charging the house batteries will not charge the engine battery (unless an aftermarket combiner or other switch has been installed).
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] charging system questions [message #139073 is a reply to message #139065] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 12:46 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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On Aug 14, 2011, at 11:17 AM, brian wrote:
>
>
> i had to jump off engine battery yesterday, i assumed if i ran 110 to coach over night it would charge up both batteries, it seems house battery charged but motor battery did not. i do have 12v coming from rear of coach at diode on that big cable that used to have insulation issues where the insulation was falling off . that has be corrected.
> am i wrong that plugged in should charge both batteries/
> would that imply my diode thing is bad?
> motor battery is 4 years old, cleaning terminals now, all input is appreciated
> bgk
> --
> brian
> asheboro, nc
>
What you are calling a diode in the rear is probably the 50 amp circuit breaker. You will notice that there is a solenoid connected across both sides of the circuit breaker.
When you push your dash boost switch it does two things. 1. it closes the front solenoid so as to connect the two batteries together. 2. it closes the rear solenoid so as to short across the circuit breaker. This allows more than 50 amps to flow from the rear battery to the starter motor on your engine.
As you have found, your battery charger when you plug in to 120 v. only charges the house battery. If you want it to also charge the house battery you can put a temporary jumper from the + battery stud in the front to the side of the front solenoid which then turns it on and connects the two batteries together. This would be the same as pushing in your boost switch and holding it in. Don't forget to remove the jumper after charging the front battery.
An alternate would be to temporaily put a jumper across the two outside terminals of the battery isolator up front. This would connect the two sets of batteries (front and rear) and allow both to charge from your battery charger.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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| Re: charging system questions [message #139076 is a reply to message #139065] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 13:12 |
chasingsummer
Messages: 434
Registered: May 2011
Location: asheboro, nc
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my boost switch does work , i did not use it because since coach is in driveway no neeed to run engine without having more info for troubleshooting, i may have nothing but poor positive battery connection, my connections are the ones using the wing nut on the bolt type connection, the positive one needed attention to the bottom side,
if i jump to start, then remove battery positive to read alternator output would this hurt anything assuming i dont touch this wire to frame
thanks
brian
asheboro, nc
75 eleganza, 74 build
119k miles and counting,
DOG HOUSE
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| Re: [GMCnet] charging system questions [message #139080 is a reply to message #139073] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 13:15 |
chasingsummer
Messages: 434
Registered: May 2011
Location: asheboro, nc
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the diode thing, it is not in the rear, it is up front just above the battery jump connection. 12 there as measured on wire that feeds to rear. all this with 11o ac plugged in. maybe i need to remove the 110 to make sure rear battery is charging,
brian
asheboro, nc
75 eleganza, 74 build
119k miles and counting,
DOG HOUSE
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| Re: [GMCnet] charging system questions [message #139085 is a reply to message #139076] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 13:19 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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On Aug 14, 2011, at 12:12 PM, brian wrote:
>
>
> my boost switch does work , i did not use it because since coach is in driveway no neeed to run engine without having more info for troubleshooting, i may have nothing but poor positive battery connection, my connections are the ones using the wing nut on the bolt type connection, the positive one needed attention to the bottom side,
> if i jump to start, then remove battery positive to read alternator output would this hurt anything assuming i dont touch this wire to frame
> thanks
> --
> brian
>
Do not remove a battery cable with the alternator running.
If you want to check the alternator output just check the voltage at the center terminal of your battery isolator.
This might be what you are referring to as a "diode thing" in your earlier email.
The isolator is a box with cooling fins that has two diodes internal. The alternator output goes to the center terminal. The two side terminals go to each of the battery banks. The diodes prevent current from flowing from one battery bank to the other.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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| Re: [GMCnet] charging system questions [message #139087 is a reply to message #139080] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 13:25 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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On Aug 14, 2011, at 12:15 PM, brian wrote:
>
>
> the diode thing, it is not in the rear, it is up front just above the battery jump connection. 12 there as measured on wire that feeds to rear. all this with 11o ac plugged in. maybe i need to remove the 110 to make sure rear battery is charging,
> --
> brian
> asheboro, nc
You might want to start referring to the "diode thing" as the "battery isolator" so the rest of us can understand what you are talking about.
When your engine alternator is running it will charge both the front (engine) battery as well as the rear (house) battery by providing charge through the diodes in the battery isolator.
When you are plugged into 120 v. (what you are calling 110 and which hasn't been called 110 v. for many, many years now) the battery charger only charges the house batteries unless you use a jumper on the front solenoid or on the battery isolator as I detailed in my previous email.
Please understand that I am not criticizing you but just trying to help.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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