Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery
| [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174068] |
Wed, 20 June 2012 14:13  |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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I'm curious - how does the genset battery get it's charge? Is it only from the Onan's "alternator" in the flywheel?
The coach and house batteries are charged when the engine is running, but for those who also have a genset starter battery is it an island unto itself? If it dies, there is probably no way (from the factory) to "boost" it. It sounds like a silly design.
Perhaps that's why they eliminated that battery in later models.
Larry Davick
Fremont, California
The Mystery Machine
'76 (ish) Palm Beach
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174069 is a reply to message #174068] |
Wed, 20 June 2012 14:20  |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
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Larry,
On my 73, the Onan starting battery is charged by the voltage regulator on the Onan. It is a seperate battery from the house and engine starting batteries. Rick D has an article on the GMCES site tech section on how to use a combiner to charge the battery.
Dennis
| ljdavick wrote on Wed, 20 June 2012 14:13 |
I'm curious - how does the genset battery get it's charge? Is it only from the Onan's "alternator" in the flywheel?
The coach and house batteries are charged when the engine is running, but for those who also have a genset starter battery is it an island unto itself? If it dies, there is probably no way (from the factory) to "boost" it. It sounds like a silly design.
Perhaps that's why they eliminated that battery in later models.
Larry Davick
Fremont, California
The Mystery Machine
'76 (ish) Palm Beach
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174073 is a reply to message #174069] |
Wed, 20 June 2012 14:53 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
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On my 77 royale the only charging that the Onan does is via the marine battery charger which has up to three banks it will maintain. I have the engine battery as one bank and the Onan/ house battery as another coming from the charger. It seems to work well.
Sully
77 royale
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 20, 2012, at 12:20 PM, Dennis Sexton <dennisfsexton@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> Larry,
>
> On my 73, the Onan starting battery is charged by the voltage regulator on the Onan. It is a seperate battery from the house and engine starting batteries. Rick D has an article on the GMCES site tech section on how to use a combiner to charge the battery.
>
> Dennis
>
> ljdavick wrote on Wed, 20 June 2012 14:13
>> I'm curious - how does the genset battery get it's charge? Is it only from the Onan's "alternator" in the flywheel?
>>
>> The coach and house batteries are charged when the engine is running, but for those who also have a genset starter battery is it an island unto itself? If it dies, there is probably no way (from the factory) to "boost" it. It sounds like a silly design.
>>
>> Perhaps that's why they eliminated that battery in later models.
>>
>>
>> Larry Davick
>> Fremont, California
>> The Mystery Machine
>> '76 (ish) Palm Beach
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
> --
> Dennis S
> 73 Painted Desert 230
> Germantown, TN
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174074 is a reply to message #174073] |
Wed, 20 June 2012 15:20 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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If you have a coach whose Onan has a separate starting battery
you can use a Battery Minder (preferred) or a Battery Tender to
keep that battery up to snuff. Use a GOOD motorcyle battery for
the Onan starting chores. These two chargers will NOT boil your
battery dry and the Battery Minder has a pulse function which
helps to reduce battery plate sulfation.
Battery Tender makes a waterproof version of their trickle
charger that is designed for marine use. It's maybe 5 to 10
(at most) dollars above their regular unit which runs between
30 and 40 dollars.
I belive it has been said that only earlier coaches use the
limited 12V DC charging capability of the Onan itself and
later coaches use either the "house" battery of maybe in
some cases engine battery.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*
> From: sgltrac@gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:53:55 -0700
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery
>
> On my 77 royale the only charging that the Onan does is via the marine battery charger which has up to three banks it will maintain. I have the engine battery as one bank and the Onan/ house battery as another coming from the charger. It seems to work well.
>
> Sully
> 77 royale
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 20, 2012, at 12:20 PM, Dennis Sexton <dennisfsexton@aol.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Larry,
> >
> > On my 73, the Onan starting battery is charged by the voltage regulator on the Onan. It is a seperate battery from the house and engine starting batteries. Rick D has an article on the GMCES site tech section on how to use a combiner to charge the battery.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > ljdavick wrote on Wed, 20 June 2012 14:13
> >> I'm curious - how does the genset battery get it's charge? Is it only from the Onan's "alternator" in the flywheel?
> >>
> >> The coach and house batteries are charged when the engine is running, but for those who also have a genset starter battery is it an island unto itself? If it dies, there is probably no way (from the factory) to "boost" it. It sounds like a silly design.
> >>
> >> Perhaps that's why they eliminated that battery in later models.
> >>
> >>
> >> Larry Davick
> >> Fremont, California
> >> The Mystery Machine
> >> '76 (ish) Palm Beach
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
> >
> > --
> > Dennis S
> > 73 Painted Desert 230
> > Germantown, TN
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174077 is a reply to message #174068] |
Wed, 20 June 2012 15:58 |
skip2
Messages: 544
Registered: September 2011
Location: Winter Haven,FL (center o...
Karma: 3
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Had the same issue because the PO had removed the stator under the flywheel and I ended up putting a 120 to 24vac transformer on the output of the generator to let the board know that generator was running and to let it stay running after the start button was released. After all that I didn't have safe charging, there was a piece of 8 gauge from the battery maintainer-charger to the gen battery in the back along with the length to the cabin battery in the front. After hearing all the stories of burning to the waterline I put 50 amp resettable circuit breakers on each end of each charging line, I also had an isolator that one output side open so I used the good side and put the isolator between the battery charger and the gen battery so the cabin stuff can't drain off of it and I always have a fully charged battery I could do whatever I need to with if the need arises. Just what I did in my situation, hope this will help some.
Skip Hartline
74 Canyon Lands, FiTech,
3.7 FD LSD, Manny Tranny,
Springfield Distributor,
2001 Chevy Tracker Ragtop Towd
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174119 is a reply to message #174068] |
Wed, 20 June 2012 19:31 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| ljdavick wrote on Wed, 20 June 2012 12:13 |
I'm curious - how does the genset battery get it's charge? Is it only from the Onan's "alternator" in the flywheel?
The coach and house batteries are charged when the engine is running, but for those who also have a genset starter battery is it an island unto itself? If it dies, there is probably no way (from the factory) to "boost" it. It sounds like a silly design.
Perhaps that's why they eliminated that battery in later models.
|
Correct on all counts. Especially the "silly design."
Keep in mind that the only coaches wired like this were the 1973/74 coaches. All upfitted by GM.
On my '73 I ran a wire from the fusebox to a combiner in the generator compartment.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174157 is a reply to message #174119] |
Thu, 21 June 2012 00:46 |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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Senior Member |
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Mike,
Wouldn’t it be a simple (or as Ken H says - trivially simple) to move the connections from the starter battery to the house battery(ies)? Then the ’73 would be just like all the older coaches. Or is this a function of geography - house batteries in front, not rear?
(I love the way Ken H. says that!)
Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, CA
On Jun 20, 2012, at 5:31 PM, Mike Miller wrote:
>
> Correct on all counts. Especially the "silly design."
>
> Keep in mind that the only coaches wired like this were the 1973/74 coaches. All upfitted by GM.
>
> On my '73 I ran a wire from the fusebox to a combiner in the generator compartment.
> --
> Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
> http://m000035.blogspot.com
> _______________________________________________
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174161 is a reply to message #174157] |
Thu, 21 June 2012 01:54 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Yes, it is function of geography. House and chassis are up front, the small gen set starting is in the rear. The biggest cost to move them is the long large gauge cable to the rear. Even so, I think the best solution on a 26 foot coach, is to install two 6 volt golf cart batteries in the rear and wire it like the 75 to 78 GM upfitted coaches. It wouldn't work on a 23... There isn't room for much batteries in the rear of a 23 foot coach.
| ljdavick wrote on Wed, 20 June 2012 22:46 |
Wouldn’t it be a simple (or as Ken H says - trivially simple) to move the connections from the starter battery to the house battery(ies)? Then the ’73 would be just like all the older coaches. Or is this a function of geography - house batteries in front, not rear?
On Jun 20, 2012, at 5:31 PM, Mike Miller wrote:
>
> Correct on all counts. Especially the "silly design."
|
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174281 is a reply to message #174161] |
Fri, 22 June 2012 09:16 |
Bob Raef
Messages: 165
Registered: July 2009
Location: Lubbock, TX
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Mike
Does your rear bath Birchaven have a battery under the floor of the closet close to the Onan? My 76 Birchaven rear bath has one in that location. The plastic battery box is vent to the Onan compartment above the Onan. I am thinking of moving that battery to the front drivers side.
Bob Raef, KF5TYA
(575) 973-2273
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174288 is a reply to message #174281] |
Fri, 22 June 2012 10:29 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Bob Raef wrote on Fri, 22 June 2012 07:16 |
Mike
Does your rear bath Birchaven have a battery under the floor of the closet close to the Onan? My 76 Birchaven rear bath has one in that location. The plastic battery box is vent to the Onan compartment above the Onan. I am thinking of moving that battery to the front drivers side.
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No.
Both my Birches (78 Rear Bath an 77 Side Bath) do NOT have a dedicated generator starting battery. Both start the Onan with the house battery, mounted up front next to the chassis battery. Coachman provided a large gauge cable from a circuit breaker (next to the boost switch) to the Onan. This same cable seems to power the house fuse block through a self reseting circuit breaker "hanging" under the Onan.
I _HAD_ thought all Birches were wired this way. The one older Birch I had really looked at had a generator starting battery in the rear. But it also had a non-original generator. I thought it was part of the generator swap.
Does your Birch have a sliding pocket door for the bathroom or the goofy folding door?
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174291 is a reply to message #174288] |
Fri, 22 June 2012 10:38 |
Bob Raef
Messages: 165
Registered: July 2009
Location: Lubbock, TX
Karma: 0
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Mike
I think mine has the folding door but I will have to check for sure next week when I get home.
I am currently in Lubbock while my wife is recovering from a near heart attack. She had a stint put in on Tuesday and we have to stay while they monitor her blood counts.
Bob Raef, KF5TYA
(575) 973-2273
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174327 is a reply to message #174068] |
Fri, 22 June 2012 16:30 |
Luvn737s
Messages: 1106
Registered: June 2007
Karma: 2
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I have a Kohler with no battery charger, so I ran a line off the PD unit in the electrical compartment through the combiner to the genset starting battery in the generator compartment. I'll report back how that works.
Randy
1973 26' Painted Desert
Ahwatukee (Phoenix) AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Genset Battery [message #174331 is a reply to message #174291] |
Fri, 22 June 2012 16:54 |
Don A
Messages: 895
Registered: October 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
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<<< Bob Raef, Ruidoso, NM >>>
Best wishes for swift and complete recovery for your wife.
What do you hear about the wild fires? Wasn't there one very near Ruidosa? And what about the large one toward AZ?
I am hoping to go see the Catwalk in the Gila National Forest on my way to AZ for the Fourth.
Don Adams Dallas, TX
'76 26' Glenbrook, '90 Sidekick
rebuilt by R Archer, powered by J Bounds, Koba
[IMG]http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6109/G2.jpg[/IMG]
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