Battery issue
Question for you vets. I have an old Beaver Contessa (1990). I've had it for many years and never a (major) issue. I just installed (2) new battery's and I recently took a 250 mile trip with zero prob...
Forum Discussion
Modern coaches come in two flavors. Older only one, for this post
My Coach has something called a Bi-Directional Isolator Relay.
That means that as I sit here plugged into 50 amps the chassis battery is charged by the HOUSE.. When I unplug in a bit the two systems are independent, but when I crank up the engine the Engine (Chassis system) will charge the house.
OLDER (And still some today) do not have this they have a uni-directional isolator.. Engine charges house. but not the other way around.
Multiple solutions.
Short term .. Turn off ENGINE (Chassis/main) Disconnect, leave AUX connected, when camping.
Better;;;; Trick-L-Start. Easy 3 wire hook up.. adds the "Reverse" to the isolator.
NOTE: Starting batteries really do not like being discharged more than 10-20 percent.. they can need replacement when they get too low just one time.
House batteries, if MARINE/deep cycle.. may survive one "DEEP!!!" discharge (Below 50%) but don't make book on it.
DEEP CYCLE (IE: GC-2) have no problem with 50% state of charge and often recover from even deeper discharges though overall age will be lost
I did OH S!!! discharges about 4 or 5 times on my original batteries. they lasted 9 years Only done it once with the current set, when the converter died.
My Coach has something called a Bi-Directional Isolator Relay.
That means that as I sit here plugged into 50 amps the chassis battery is charged by the HOUSE.. When I unplug in a bit the two systems are independent, but when I crank up the engine the Engine (Chassis system) will charge the house.
OLDER (And still some today) do not have this they have a uni-directional isolator.. Engine charges house. but not the other way around.
Multiple solutions.
Short term .. Turn off ENGINE (Chassis/main) Disconnect, leave AUX connected, when camping.
Better;;;; Trick-L-Start. Easy 3 wire hook up.. adds the "Reverse" to the isolator.
NOTE: Starting batteries really do not like being discharged more than 10-20 percent.. they can need replacement when they get too low just one time.
House batteries, if MARINE/deep cycle.. may survive one "DEEP!!!" discharge (Below 50%) but don't make book on it.
DEEP CYCLE (IE: GC-2) have no problem with 50% state of charge and often recover from even deeper discharges though overall age will be lost
I did OH S!!! discharges about 4 or 5 times on my original batteries. they lasted 9 years Only done it once with the current set, when the converter died.
