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Connector under coach [message #185920] Sat, 29 September 2012 16:06 Go to next message
Bill Backouris is currently offline  Bill Backouris   United States
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Hi everyone, I was under my Birchaven, there is a wire that appears to originate from the generator compartment goes under the coach to a (in my case very corroded 2 pole connector)then proceeds to just after the fuel tank and goes up into the coach. Does anyone have any idea what this connectors purpose is, and can it be eliminated, can I just direct wire. I sure would appreciate any ideas. I do have a picture that I could forward, thank you all very much

Bill Backouris
77 Birchaven 455
Garden Grove Ca
Re: Connector under coach [message #185965 is a reply to message #185920] Sun, 30 September 2012 01:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Bill Backouris wrote on Sat, 29 September 2012 16:06

Hi everyone, I was under my Birchaven, there is a wire that appears to originate from the generator compartment goes under the coach to a (in my case very corroded 2 pole connector)then proceeds to just after the fuel tank and goes up into the coach. Does anyone have any idea what this connectors purpose is, and can it be eliminated, can I just direct wire. I sure would appreciate any ideas. I do have a picture that I could forward, thank you all very much

Bill Backouris
77 Birchaven 455
Garden Grove Ca


Size and color of the wire?



Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Connector under coach [message #185976 is a reply to message #185965] Sun, 30 September 2012 10:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Backouris is currently offline  Bill Backouris   United States
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Ken, looks like 16 gauge red

Bill Backouris
Re: Connector under coach [message #185985 is a reply to message #185920] Sun, 30 September 2012 11:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Bill Backouris wrote on Sat, 29 September 2012 16:06

Hi everyone, I was under my Birchaven, there is a wire that appears to originate from the generator compartment goes under the coach to a (in my case very corroded 2 pole connector)then proceeds to just after the fuel tank and goes up into the coach. Does anyone have any idea what this connectors purpose is, and can it be eliminated, can I just direct wire. I sure would appreciate any ideas. I do have a picture that I could forward, thank you all very much

Bill Backouris
77 Birchaven 455
Garden Grove Ca

I have no ideas at this point. Hopefully someone else will.

Ken B.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Connector under coach [message #185998 is a reply to message #185985] Sun, 30 September 2012 14:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Backouris is currently offline  Bill Backouris   United States
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Ken, did a little investigating, the red wire originates from a post in the generator compartment, and terminates on a 50a fuse in the fuse box in the back of the coach, by the buzz box. Ken, if I were to put another wire from the 50amp fuse back to the post in the generator compartment, eliminating that broken connector, in theory that 50a fuse would protect the system in the event that connector had a purpose.

Bill Backouris
77 Birchaven
Re: Connector under coach [message #185999 is a reply to message #185920] Sun, 30 September 2012 14:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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I wonder if that wire is the one that activates the rear solenoid that activates when you use the battery boost switch on the dash? I seem to remember that the solenoid manages to bypass the fuse when you are using the boost switch so it doesn't cause the breaker to open. As far as a connector, I don't see where it would cause any harm to simply connect the wire ends with a splice.



George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
Re: Connector under coach [message #186003 is a reply to message #185998] Sun, 30 September 2012 15:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Keep in mind that I do not own a Birchaven and have never had to work on the house wiring on one. Those were outfitted by Coachman.


I think Birchavens have their battery(s) up front so I do not know how they get power to the Onan starter. A 50 amp fuse or breaker on a 16 gauge wire is a bit much.

Do you have a rear Onan starting battery? If you do, that wire may be used for charging the rear Onan battery



Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Connector under coach [message #186006 is a reply to message #186003] Sun, 30 September 2012 15:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Backouris is currently offline  Bill Backouris   United States
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Onan battery is up front drivers side. this morning when I went to hook up the batteries, had some serious spark on the neg terminals, went back and disconnected the wire in question with the broken connector and no more spark she started right up, but now no power to generator after disconnect, Had to stop work today but I think my next move will be to keep wire disconnected, and see what works and what doesnt and go from there

Bill Backouris
77 Birchaven
Garden Grove Ca
Re: [GMCnet] Connector under coach [message #186014 is a reply to message #186006] Sun, 30 September 2012 19:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Byron Songer is currently offline  Byron Songer   United States
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Registered: August 2007
Location: Louisville, KY
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I had a Royale with house/Onan battery up front. Two, cables went back to
the Onan somehow. I seem to recall things seemed wired bass ackards. It
was OK because everything seemed odd in that coach. The connector in
question probably served some purpose Coachman had in mind. It seems each
crew that up fitted a TZE did "their own thing" based on what was in stock
at the time or whatever whim hit the supervisor. The only thing standard
was the good looks and fabric that could take a beating like no other.
Standardized assembly method, however, wasn't their hallmark.

Byron Songer
Louisville, KY
News and Web Editor, GMC Eastern States
http://www.gmceast.com



ATTENTION: This reply is in reference to what is provided belowŠ

>
>
>Onan battery is up front drivers side. this morning when I went to hook
>up the batteries, had some serious spark on the neg terminals, went back
>and disconnected the wire in question with the broken connector and no
>more spark she started right up, but now no power to generator after
>disconnect, Had to stop work today but I think my next move will be to
>keep wire disconnected, and see what works and what doesnt and go from
>there
>
>Bill Backouris
>77 Birchaven
>Garden Grove Ca
>_______________________________________________
>GMCnet mailing list
>Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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-- Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
Re: [GMCnet] Connector under coach [message #186040 is a reply to message #186014] Mon, 01 October 2012 04:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mike miller   United States
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Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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Senior Member
Bill,

Your plan seems to be a good one. I have several wires, some look original, disconnected. I do not know what they where meant to do. Between Coachman's "Standardized assembly" (NOT) and PO's efforts, there are always things that could be better with Coachman wiring. What Byron says is true, maybe even understated, ... even more as they neared the end of production. On my '78 rear bath, a lot of the house circuits are powered through a 30 amp circuit breaker hanging from the wires under the Onan. Not mounted to anything.

From looking at the diagrams found on BDub's site (26 foot Royale), I THINK the wires going to the propane tank for the level sensor should be a red wire (16 gauge or smaller)... I am not sure of the route and it would be different with the side vs rear bath... what do you have?

Note for others: Late Birch's did not have any batteries in the rear. Early ones (and most Royales) had a generator starting battery BUT none of the Coachman products came with "boost" solenoids in the rear. That feature, while a good set-up, was only in GM upfitted coaches.

Byron Songer wrote on Sun, 30 September 2012 17:08

I had a Royale with house/Onan battery up front. Two, cables went back to
the Onan somehow. I seem to recall things seemed wired bass ackards. It
was OK because everything seemed odd in that coach. The connector in
question probably served some purpose Coachman had in mind. It seems each
crew that up fitted a TZE did "their own thing" based on what was in stock
at the time or whatever whim hit the supervisor. The only thing standard
was the good looks and fabric that could take a beating like no other.
Standardized assembly method, however, wasn't their hallmark.

>
> Onan battery is up front drivers side. this morning when I went
> to hook up the batteries, had some serious spark on the neg
> terminals, went back and disconnected the wire in question
> with the broken connector and no more spark she started right
> up, but now no power to generator after disconnect, Had to
> stop work today but I think my next move will be to keep wire > disconnected, and see what works and what doesnt and go from
> there




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
Re: [GMCnet] Connector under coach [message #186043 is a reply to message #186040] Mon, 01 October 2012 06:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Byron Songer is currently offline  Byron Songer   United States
Messages: 1912
Registered: August 2007
Location: Louisville, KY
Karma: -2
Senior Member

Starting the generator with the battery boost on was possible in my
Royale. The same went for my 97 Holiday Rambler DP.

I still smile when I recall Ken Burton's response when first looking under
the hood of the Royale and seeing three batteries with l-o-n-g leads to
the Onan.

Byron

ATTENTION: This reply is in reference to what is provided belowŠ

>Bill,
>
>Your plan seems to be a good one. I have several wires, some look
>original, disconnected. I do not know what they where meant to do.
>Between Coachman's "Standardized assembly" (NOT) and PO's efforts, there
>are always things that could be better with Coachman wiring. What Byron
>says is true, maybe even understated, ... even more as they neared the
>end of production. On my '78 rear bath, a lot of the house circuits are
>powered through a 30 amp circuit breaker hanging from the wires under the
>Onan. Not mounted to anything.
>
>From looking at the diagrams found on BDub's site (26 foot Royale), I
>THINK the wires going to the propane tank for the level sensor should be
>a red wire (16 gauge or smaller)... I am not sure of the route and it
>would be different with the side vs rear bath... what do you have?
>
>Note for others: Late Birch's did not have any batteries in the rear.
>Early ones (and most Royales) had a generator starting battery BUT none
>of the Coachman products came with "boost" solenoids in the rear. That
>feature, while a good set-up, was only in GM upfitted coaches.


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-- Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
Re: [GMCnet] Connector under coach [message #186077 is a reply to message #186043] Mon, 01 October 2012 12:54 Go to previous message
mike miller   United States
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Yes, you can "boost" from the FRONT house battery. But not from any REAR mounted batteries you happen to have.... unless something has changed from stock.

My point was that when trying to figure out issues with coaches, you need to consider what type of coach you are talking about and what differences might apply. For example: The possibility of a "problem" with the "rear solenoid" on a Coachman upfitted coach, would be extremely rare.... as they never had one from the factory!

The long cables to the rear do not seem to be much of an issue. When starting, the Onan doesn't draw anywhere near the current as the main engine. In fact there isn't any bypass to the circuit breaker in the line for starting. Imagine starting a 455 through a circuit breaker!

Byron Songer wrote on Mon, 01 October 2012 04:48

Starting the generator with the battery boost on was possible in my Royale. The same went for my 97 Holiday Rambler DP.

I still smile when I recall Ken Burton's response when first looking under
the hood of the Royale and seeing three batteries with l-o-n-g leads to
the Onan.

Byron

ATTENTION: This reply is in reference to what is provided belowŠ

>....
>
>Note for others: Late Birch's did not have any batteries in the rear.
>Early ones (and most Royales) had a generator starting battery BUT none
>of the Coachman products came with "boost" solenoids in the rear. That
>feature, while a good set-up, was only in GM upfitted coaches.







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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