Engine charging of coach batteries
I have a general question about how the (Class A) coach batteries are charged from the engine alternator while the engine is running. I am not at all sure that they even are so charged, as I cannot...
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Our first MH was a 2012 ACE and the engine did NOT charge the house batts.
Well Sir,
Not to doubt your statement and, I'm by far not any form of an expert on RV electrical but, about 99.99999999999999% of all coaches, class C, B and A have had the house batteries charged from the engines alternator for decades and decades. I'm assuming you did all the checks to see if and or what, could have been malfunctioning with the electrical system (engine alternator/charging)and, maybe even contacted the Thor company to verify that it did not and was not supposed to charge your house batteries with the engine.
I mean, it sure seems odd that a 2012 Motor home, no matter what brand/make/model/chassis/engine would not charge the house batteries while driving. That's like RV wiring 101. It could not have cost Thor more than $10.00 per coach to set them up for charging with the engines alternator. Sure seems odd to me.
Scott
Paul,
Well, there are, sort of, "typical" class A coaches. There are in reality, two kinds of class A coaches. One is a diesel and, one is a gas. Then there are different chassis's available for each type of A. Then there are different engines for those type As.
Mostly in a gas class A, you'll see a Ford engine and Ford related components. In a Diesel class A, mostly it will be a Cummins, and, it primarily will be a Freightliner chassis but, there are a few coach builders out there that utilize other chassis makers.
Now, as for charging of the house and or, "Coach" batteries as they are also known, well, as I stated above, there's almost no coach builder that puts out a coach, that its ENGINE, does NOT CHARGE the house batteries. Where it gets a tad complicated is, just how this charging of the house batteries is done.
There are a few systems out there that can handle this duty. As has been stated, there are mechanical systems and, solid state ones. Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT, and a Freightliner chassis, utilizes the Mechanical style solenoid system to handle charging the house batteries when the engine is running.
But, there are plenty of coaches out there that use some form of digital or, solid state systems that tap into the alternators output and send it to the house batteries.
The very first thing I'd do if I were you, I'd dive into any owners manual, chassis manual, Engine manual etc. that you may have that pertains to your coach. If you don't have any manuals, I'd scrounge around on line to see if you can find any. Then, I'd try and find any wiring diagrams of your particular make/model/year/chassis coach to see just what's in your wiring.
It's nice to ask on here about issues. But, so many will answer with either incomplete or wrong answers due to the fact that there are so many differences in the manufacturing of coaches, year to year, model to model and a lot more. It would be nice if some one chimed in with your EXACT same model/year/engine/chassis so that you could get a very close idea if yours is wired the same and, is or is not, malfunctioning or, working correctly, based on another identical coach.
And, also as has been stated, a very simple test can be performed to see if any charging system is working on your house/coach batteries with the engine running. If you know how to use a volt-ohm meter, you set it to 12VDC and, put the leads on the house batteries negative and positive and, take note of the reading, WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING.
Then do the same exact test WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING and note the difference, if any. There should be a fair difference. Obviously a higher reading should take place when the engine is running, IF, your charging system from the engines alternator is connected, working properly and has no blown fuses or relays to prohibit it from charging the house batteries. Good luck.
Scott
Well Sir,
Not to doubt your statement and, I'm by far not any form of an expert on RV electrical but, about 99.99999999999999% of all coaches, class C, B and A have had the house batteries charged from the engines alternator for decades and decades. I'm assuming you did all the checks to see if and or what, could have been malfunctioning with the electrical system (engine alternator/charging)and, maybe even contacted the Thor company to verify that it did not and was not supposed to charge your house batteries with the engine.
I mean, it sure seems odd that a 2012 Motor home, no matter what brand/make/model/chassis/engine would not charge the house batteries while driving. That's like RV wiring 101. It could not have cost Thor more than $10.00 per coach to set them up for charging with the engines alternator. Sure seems odd to me.
Scott
CanadianEmbassy wrote:
I have a general question about how the (Class A) coach batteries are charged from the engine alternator while the engine is running.
I am not at all sure that they even are so charged, as I cannot see a linkage to either my batteries or at the converter, but if there is such a link where would it be and how is it electrically configured?
If such charging does take place, how fast is it and how quickly would a discharged (e.g. half discharged) battery take to become fully charged again?
My motorhome is a Triple E Embassy, but this question also relates to what is typical in class A motorhomes - if there is a 'typical'.
Thanks.
Paul.
Paul,
Well, there are, sort of, "typical" class A coaches. There are in reality, two kinds of class A coaches. One is a diesel and, one is a gas. Then there are different chassis's available for each type of A. Then there are different engines for those type As.
Mostly in a gas class A, you'll see a Ford engine and Ford related components. In a Diesel class A, mostly it will be a Cummins, and, it primarily will be a Freightliner chassis but, there are a few coach builders out there that utilize other chassis makers.
Now, as for charging of the house and or, "Coach" batteries as they are also known, well, as I stated above, there's almost no coach builder that puts out a coach, that its ENGINE, does NOT CHARGE the house batteries. Where it gets a tad complicated is, just how this charging of the house batteries is done.
There are a few systems out there that can handle this duty. As has been stated, there are mechanical systems and, solid state ones. Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT, and a Freightliner chassis, utilizes the Mechanical style solenoid system to handle charging the house batteries when the engine is running.
But, there are plenty of coaches out there that use some form of digital or, solid state systems that tap into the alternators output and send it to the house batteries.
The very first thing I'd do if I were you, I'd dive into any owners manual, chassis manual, Engine manual etc. that you may have that pertains to your coach. If you don't have any manuals, I'd scrounge around on line to see if you can find any. Then, I'd try and find any wiring diagrams of your particular make/model/year/chassis coach to see just what's in your wiring.
It's nice to ask on here about issues. But, so many will answer with either incomplete or wrong answers due to the fact that there are so many differences in the manufacturing of coaches, year to year, model to model and a lot more. It would be nice if some one chimed in with your EXACT same model/year/engine/chassis so that you could get a very close idea if yours is wired the same and, is or is not, malfunctioning or, working correctly, based on another identical coach.
And, also as has been stated, a very simple test can be performed to see if any charging system is working on your house/coach batteries with the engine running. If you know how to use a volt-ohm meter, you set it to 12VDC and, put the leads on the house batteries negative and positive and, take note of the reading, WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING.
Then do the same exact test WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING and note the difference, if any. There should be a fair difference. Obviously a higher reading should take place when the engine is running, IF, your charging system from the engines alternator is connected, working properly and has no blown fuses or relays to prohibit it from charging the house batteries. Good luck.
Scott
