Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Battery Configuaration
| Battery Configuaration [message #240372] |
Tue, 18 February 2014 13:06  |
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Richard Andis
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2013
Location: HELL Paso, TX
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When I purchased my 78 Royale it had 2 12V deep cycle Marine style batteries (Excide) located in the front bay with a smallish 12V automotive (Eveready 58R) located by the Onan.
After 5 years, the Everyday battery no longer wants to hold a charge and I need to replace it.
Coach still has the original buzzbox. We rarely use the Onan but still like the option to do so.
Ideally, I'd like to put 2 6V Golf cart batteries back by the Onan, a hefty 12V Truck battery in the forward compartment, and replace the bussbox with something more battery friendly. Don't know if this pencils out financially.
Question is whether to keep my current setup, i.e. 12V Automotive or should I take this opportunity to change things up?
Valhalla - 1978 GMC Royale rear twin [SOLD]
Walküre - 1974 VW Thing (Toad)
[Updated on: Tue, 18 February 2014 13:11] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Battery Configuaration [message #240373 is a reply to message #240372] |
Tue, 18 February 2014 14:08  |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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A normal automotive battery up front is adequate for starting the motor, just as it would in a Toronado. With the boost switch and being able to bring the second battery pack to bear, most starting problems will not be battery power.
Are the 2 12v deep cycle wired in parallel or ??. Are they separated by the isolater? Is the battery near the Onan connected to the rest of the battery system by the boost switch? Always interesting to see what P.O.s have done.
Get ride of the buzzz box. It makes a good bench 12v supply, but it is not so good battery charger. Progressive Dynamic, Iota, and Xantex make modern three stage battery chargers, that will bring your batteries up to snuff, and keep them there. Because they have a Maintain stage, they do not tend to boil batteries dry. Progressive Dynamics, on their web site, has re-furbished battery chargers. You do not need much more than a 45 amp charger. Replacement is very easy, just remove the buzz box and mount the new one in it's place. Just watch for polarity.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Configuaration [message #240376 is a reply to message #240373] |
Tue, 18 February 2014 14:33 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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The late Royale coaches had an engine battery as well as a boost battery in
the front of the coach. This allowed them to run a smaller charge conductor
to the Onan compartment to maintain it. A common upgrade is two golf cart
batteries in place of the small Onan one. The smaller charge conductor is
usually replaced at the same time with a larger one, the two golf cart
batteries then become the boost batteries, and the extra boost battery up
front is discontinued. Replace the original buzz box with a progressive
dynamics PD9100 series converter with the charge wizard smart box, and
leave the coach plugged in. No more boiled batteries from overcharging.
This is only one way to upgrade. There are several more.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC Royale 403
On Feb 18, 2014 12:08 PM, "Thomas Phipps" <tph1pp5@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> A normal automotive battery up front is adequate for starting the motor,
> just as it would in a Toronado. With the boost switch and being able to
> bring the second battery pack to bear, most starting problems will not be
> battery power.
> Are the 2 12v deep cycle wired in parallel or ??. Are they separated by
> the isolater? Is the battery near the Onan connected to the rest of the
> battery system by the boost switch? Always interesting to see what P.O.s
> have done.
> Get ride of the buzzz box. It makes a good bench 12v supply, but it is
> not so good battery charger. Progressive Dynamic, Iota, and Xantex make
> modern three stage battery chargers, that will bring your batteries up to
> snuff, and keep them there. Because they have a Maintain stage, they do
> not tend to boil batteries dry. Progressive Dynamics, on their web site,
> has re-furbished battery chargers. You do not need much more than a 45 amp
> charger. Replacement is very easy, just remove the buzz box and mount the
> new one in it's place. Just watch for polarity.
> Tom, MS II
> --
> 1975 GMC Avion
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: Battery Configuaration [message #240383 is a reply to message #240380] |
Tue, 18 February 2014 15:40 |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
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| Richard Andis wrote on Tue, 18 February 2014 13:24 |
| tphipps wrote on Tue, 18 February 2014 14:08 |
Are the 2 12v deep cycle wired in parallel or ??. Are they separated by the isolater? Is the battery near the Onan connected to the rest of the battery system by the boost switch?
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As best as I can tell, everything is still hooked up as it came from the factory.
As I am looking at the schematics for a 78 Royale, I see a reference to a "Compartment Area Pickup Junction". Is this the reference to the Onan compartment battery?
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I believe this refers to the terminal where the front battery cable, rear battery cable, and 12v house cable connect. On my 1976 Royale this is on the floor of Onan compartment, behind the Onan towards the rear.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: Battery Configuaration [message #240444 is a reply to message #240372] |
Tue, 18 February 2014 23:49 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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I found myself explaining Royale batteries quite often. here it is FROM the last time:
<http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=tree&goto=183147>
| Quote: |
...
I agree with the others here about a pair of 6v golf cart batteries for the house 12v bank. But it might not be as easy as it could be... I notice that you have a Royale.
IIRC: Most Royales came with three 12v batteries. One Engine starting battery with a "house" battery next to it up front. They also had a full sized 12v battery in the rear next to the Onan. This is alright for battery longevity so far, but some bright person at Coachman figured why not use the extra capacity of the rear battery and paralleled it through a long cable with the house battery in the front. (Look and see if your system is still this way.)
This system "works" but sets up a situation where the house batteries draw down each other. This is very hard on batteries making them only last a few years. Even "matched" batteries with a long cable between then will "eat" each other and not allow the capacity of both batteries to be full utilized.
I recommend removing the 12 volt house batteries and replacing them with a pair of 6v golf cart batteries... but mounting them next to each other. Either up front or in the back, where is up to you and your use for the coach.
Up front gives you more storage in back, more weight on the front axles. In the rear puts the weight in the back, keeps the front area less cluttered, but will cost a bit more to keep the "boost" system usable.
If you put them in the rear, I would use the wiring diagram for the later GM upfitted coaches, as a guide. If you mount them up front, the last Birchavens have a good set up to copy. (With either you put the two 6v batteries in series in place of the single 12v house battery shown on the diagram.)
Both methods will, most likely, require a new battery tray. Plus, if you do not already have them, I would also add a modern converter (with smart charge capability) and a combiner. Someone else has mentioned a solar panel to maintain the batteries while in storage. (I keep mine plugged in.)
Due to the increased longevity of the batteries, the swap should pay for itself in a few years. The increased house battery capacity is a bonus.
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If you have questions, and no one else can give you good answers, PM or email me as I haven't been able to keep up the the forum as much as I used to.
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
[Updated on: Wed, 19 February 2014 08:37] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Battery Configuaration [message #240451 is a reply to message #240376] |
Wed, 19 February 2014 06:24 |
mikethebike
Messages: 331
Registered: January 2014
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Odyssey batteries are by far the best I've ever seen. NOT inexpensive but MILSPEC, AGM, 99.9% pure virgin lead plates, no off-gassing, all brass fittings, no amperage charge limit. Google them. You won't regret using them.
Whatever you do, make sure the previous owner or his mechanic didn't wire the relay with the start battery supplying the voltage for the relay. I found out the hard way that the PO's service center wired it backwards so when the start battery went dead you couldn't activate the relay to parallel the batteries.
[Updated on: Wed, 19 February 2014 07:23] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Battery Configuaration [message #240465 is a reply to message #240372] |
Wed, 19 February 2014 09:16 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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My '78 Royale had one automotive and two deep cycle batteries up front (still does, actually). 
It had a #4 cable running to a power distribution panel in the back, which seemed to be adequate. I installed a 1,000 watt inverter in the back, and ran 1/0 and 2/0 copper to the rear to keep from having an unacceptable voltage drop (inverters are VERY fussy about that).
I also put in a Progressive Dynamics four-stage smart charger / supply. When I went back over the receipts from the PO, I could see he was replacing his house batteries every year or two, which is typical when you have a buzzbox (over)charging them. Now I leave the coach plugged in all the time in storage, knowing that the batteries are being lovingly caressed day and night.  You'll save money in the long run spending the money for a PD (or similar) charger.
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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