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House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208809] Sun, 26 May 2013 08:44 Go to next message
lw8000 is currently offline  lw8000   United States
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Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Senior Member
Hello:

Got a question about installing a Generac PrimePact 50G, in our 77 Kingsley. We are at the point of figuring out the wiring to the house batteries and the generator. We took careful pictures of the setup before we cleaned up the compartment. But we are not quite sure what the two components are that are mounted on the wall in the battery compartment in the back. I believe (from reading other posts here) that the canister shaped device is the solenoid for the Boost switch. But, what is the circular shaped device just to the left of the solenoid and what is its purpose? See the pic below. I'm guessing it's something to do with the charging system (we still have the buzz box for now).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6381/batterycompartment.jpg

Thank you very much in advance!

--
Chris
Re: House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208812 is a reply to message #208809] Sun, 26 May 2013 09:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
lw8000 wrote on Sun, 26 May 2013 09:44

Hello:

Got a question about installing a Generac PrimePact 50G, in our 77 Kingsley. We are at the point of figuring out the wiring to the house batteries and the generator. We took careful pictures of the setup before we cleaned up the compartment. But we are not quite sure what the two components are that are mounted on the wall in the battery compartment in the back. I believe (from reading other posts here) that the canister shaped device is the solenoid for the Boost switch. But, what is the circular shaped device just to the left of the solenoid and what is its purpose? See the pic below. I'm guessing it's something to do with the charging system (we still have the buzz box for now).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6381/batterycompartment.jpg

Thank you very much in advance!

--
Chris

Chris,

The solenoid is part of your boost circuit and the round thing is an old self-resetting circuit breaker. It is bypassed by the boost solenoid.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208816 is a reply to message #208809] Sun, 26 May 2013 09:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Emery Stora is currently offline  Emery Stora   United States
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Registered: January 2011
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Senior Member
Chris
The round black thing is a circuit breaker that limits the current to the "house" circuits to 50 amps. It automatically resets if tripped.

The other item is a solenoid When you use the boost switch to connect the house battery to the engine starting battery it actuates the front solenoid to connect the two sets of batteries and also actuates the rear solenoid which shorts across the 50 amp circuit breaker therefore allowing more than 50 amps to be drawn from the house battery if needed for the engine starter motor.

Emery

On May 26, 2013, at 7:44 AM, LW <tux@apex-internet.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hello:
>
> Got a question about installing a Generac PrimePact 50G, in our 77 Kingsley. We are at the point of figuring out the wiring to the house batteries and the generator. We took careful pictures of the setup before we cleaned up the compartment. But we are not quite sure what the two components are that are mounted on the wall in the battery compartment in the back. I believe (from reading other posts here) that the canister shaped device is the solenoid for the Boost switch. But, what is the circular shaped device just to the left of the solenoid and what is its purpose? See the pic below. I'm guessing it's something to do with the charging system (we still have the buzz box for now).
>
>
>
> Thank you very much in advance!
>
> --
> Chris
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Re: House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208831 is a reply to message #208812] Sun, 26 May 2013 11:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lw8000 is currently offline  lw8000   United States
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Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Senior Member
Quote:



The solenoid is part of your boost circuit and the round thing is an old self-resetting circuit breaker. It is bypassed by the boost solenoid.

Matt


Got it, thanks for the information! I guess I do have another question, about how the house battery is charged. If I understand correctly, the house battery is charged from the engine alternator, 110 shore power, and also the generator directly (via the battery cables that run to the generator from the battery). The question I have is, is there a good way to prevent these from interfering with each other? I've read up on this, but I'm not exactly sure how all 3 charging systems work with each other. For example, if I understand it correctly, when the generator is running and providing 110 power to the buzz box, the buzz box is trying to charge the battery but at the same time the generator is also trying to charge it. If there's an easy explanation for all of this, I'm all ears. Thanks again!!

--
Chris


Chris S. - 77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM - S.E. Michigan
Re: House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208876 is a reply to message #208831] Sun, 26 May 2013 17:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Senior Member
lw8000 wrote on Sun, 26 May 2013 12:22

Quote:



The solenoid is part of your boost circuit and the round thing is an old self-resetting circuit breaker. It is bypassed by the boost solenoid.

Matt


Got it, thanks for the information! I guess I do have another question, about how the house battery is charged. If I understand correctly, the house battery is charged from the engine alternator, 110 shore power, and also the generator directly (via the battery cables that run to the generator from the battery). The question I have is, is there a good way to prevent these from interfering with each other? I've read up on this, but I'm not exactly sure how all 3 charging systems work with each other. For example, if I understand it correctly, when the generator is running and providing 110 power to the buzz box, the buzz box is trying to charge the battery but at the same time the generator is also trying to charge it. If there's an easy explanation for all of this, I'm all ears. Thanks again!!

--
Chris

Chris,

That is simple, the source with the highest output voltage wins.
The only problem is that if it is the buzz-box, you lose.
The generator's battery charging output is so low that it will never win.
It really is that simple.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208878 is a reply to message #208876] Sun, 26 May 2013 17:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
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Registered: January 2004
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Senior Member
Chris
Another problem with the small charger on the Onan is that some of the smart chargers (not the original buzz box) will not put out a charge if they detect another charge going to the batteries. That is the case with my Xantrex Statpower charger.

So, most of us just remove the small charger on the Onan and tape off the wires going to it.

It doesn't put out enough amps to really charge the battery anyway.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

On May 26, 2013, at 4:09 PM, Matt Colie wrote:

>
>
> lw8000 wrote on Sun, 26 May 2013 12:22
>> Quote:
>>> The solenoid is part of your boost circuit and the round thing is an old self-resetting circuit breaker. It is bypassed by the boost solenoid.
>>>
>>> Matt
>>
>>
>> Got it, thanks for the information! I guess I do have another question, about how the house battery is charged. If I understand correctly, the house battery is charged from the engine alternator, 110 shore power, and also the generator directly (via the battery cables that run to the generator from the battery). The question I have is, is there a good way to prevent these from interfering with each other? I've read up on this, but I'm not exactly sure how all 3 charging systems work with each other. For example, if I understand it correctly, when the generator is running and providing 110 power to the buzz box, the buzz box is trying to charge the battery but at the same time the generator is also trying to charge it. If there's an easy explanation for all of this, I'm all ears. Thanks again!!
>>
>> --
>> Chris
>
> Chris,
>
> That is simple, the source with the highest output voltage wins.
> The only problem is that if it is the buzz-box, you lose.
> The generator's battery charging output is so low that it will never win.
> It really is that simple.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie
> '73 Glacier 23 Chaumière (say show-me-air)
> Now with 4 working Rear Brakes
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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Re: House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208884 is a reply to message #208809] Sun, 26 May 2013 18:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Location: Woodstock, IL
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No Onan. Generac install. I'd say if there is an engine alternator on the Generac to disable that and use the 120 to 12 (14)DC converter to charge house side that should be already existing .

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208900 is a reply to message #208884] Sun, 26 May 2013 22:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lw8000 is currently offline  lw8000   United States
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Senior Member
JohnL455 wrote on Sun, 26 May 2013 18:33

No Onan. Generac install. I'd say if there is an engine alternator on the Generac to disable that and use the 120 to 12 (14)DC converter to charge house side that should be already existing .


Yes that is correct, I will look in to this and see if this is possible on the Generac model. This makes perfect sense, thank you everybody for your help! I will follow up if we are able to disable the Generac's built-in charging system (I have and will read the manual).

--
Chris
Re: [GMCnet] House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208918 is a reply to message #208900] Mon, 27 May 2013 05:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
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Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member
I would not mess with the gererac alternator
(If it ain't broke don't fix it :>)

the one on the onan is removed for other reasons
http://gmcmotorhome.info/generator.html#ALTERNATOR

just isolate the charging sources with combiner/s
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/how-to-check-out-your-own-electrics-gnc/p49207-isolate-charging-sourc.html

JWID
gene



On Sun, May 26, 2013 at 8:25 PM, LW <tux@apex-internet.com> wrote:

>
>
> JohnL455 wrote on Sun, 26 May 2013 18:33
> > No Onan. Generac install. I'd say if there is an engine alternator on
> the Generac to disable that and use the 120 to 12 (14)DC converter to
> charge house side that should be already existing .
>
>
> Yes that is correct, I will look in to this and see if this is possible on
> the Generac model. This makes perfect sense, thank you everybody for your
> help! I will follow up if we are able to disable the Generac's built-in
> charging system (I have and will read the manual).
>
> --
> Chris
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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Re: [GMCnet] House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208928 is a reply to message #208918] Mon, 27 May 2013 08:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Mr ERFisher wrote on Mon, 27 May 2013 06:15

I would not mess with the gererac alternator
(If it ain't broke don't fix it :>)

the one on the onan is removed for other reasons
http://gmcmotorhome.info/generator.html#ALTERNATOR

just isolate the charging sources with combiner/s
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/how-to-check-out-your-own-electrics-gnc/p49207-isolate-charging-sourc.html

JWID
gene

Gene,

A Yandina combiner will Absolutely Not isolate charging sources.

I know this because I have had to chase this problem several times, and it usually is not a lot of work but takes quite a while to sort out.

Emery is correct. Converter/chargers and many smart chargers are very sensitive to the spikes that are common on small engine alternators. With the zero drop that a hard contact combiner has, it couples those spikes right through.

The nice picture does not include an output from the APU's alternator. Good thing.

Matt



Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #208941 is a reply to message #208918] Mon, 27 May 2013 11:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
hnielsen2 is currently offline  hnielsen2   United States
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Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I agree.
Don't mess with the Gererac alternator
Saw what the warranty shop had to do in replacing the starter on ours
Howard

All is well with my Lord

On May 27, 2013, at 3:15 AM, gene Fisher <mr.erfisher@gmail.com> wrote:

> I would not mess with the gererac alternator
> (If it ain't broke don't fix it :>)
>
> the one on the onan is removed for other reasons
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/generator.html#ALTERNATOR
>
> just isolate the charging sources with combiner/s
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/how-to-check-out-your-own-electrics-gnc/p49207-isolate-charging-sourc.html
>
> JWID
> gene
>
>
>
> On Sun, May 26, 2013 at 8:25 PM, LW <tux@apex-internet.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> JohnL455 wrote on Sun, 26 May 2013 18:33
>>> No Onan. Generac install. I'd say if there is an engine alternator on
>> the Generac to disable that and use the 120 to 12 (14)DC converter to
>> charge house side that should be already existing .
>>
>>
>> Yes that is correct, I will look in to this and see if this is possible on
>> the Generac model. This makes perfect sense, thank you everybody for your
>> help! I will follow up if we are able to disable the Generac's built-in
>> charging system (I have and will read the manual).
>>
>> --
>> Chris
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
>
> --
> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
> “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
> -------
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/
> Alternator Protection Cable
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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All is well with my Lord
Re: House battery wiring, solenoid and unknown component [message #213351 is a reply to message #208809] Fri, 05 July 2013 12:10 Go to previous message
lw8000 is currently offline  lw8000   United States
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Thanks everybody for the great information on this. We have gone ahead and left the Generac's charging system in place for now, and everything is working great so far with no issues. We have not tried running the generator while travelling however (where the 403 engine's alternator and Generac are both charging at the same time). If we do encounter any issues we will post them back.

--
Chris


Chris S. - 77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM - S.E. Michigan
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