Palazzo Not Charging from Engine Alternator

rgatijnet1 wrote:

JamesWillard wrote:
Thanks very much. I went through the BIRD and Trombetta troubleshooting. I found that the Trombetta Solenoid is ALWAYS energized. Disconnected the "Relay" wire at the BIRD and it de-energizes. With it energized, the Coach Batteries are still not charging. That's not even possible since the Chassis batteries are charging normally. However, the Coach batteries charge normally on GEN or Shore Power. I've been checking wiring and found nothing loose. Have not really gotten started checking fuses . . .

Have you tried jumper wires around the solenoid to see if it is functioning as designed? Just because it is energizing does not mean that all of the contacts are operating properly.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!
There's many, many documented cases on here and IRV2 concerning that Trombetta engaging but, NOT CONDUCTING anything. Mine was like that TWICE. The contacts get arc'd up and, have a sort of carbon on them and, even though the mechanics of the solenoid are working as designed, the ability to conduct electricity is hampered by that carbon buildup. You'd need to check it with a volt ohm meter when the engine is running, to see what kind of voltage is at one side, then do the other side to see if it compares.
Scott

JamesWillard wrote:
Thanks very much. I went through the BIRD and Trombetta troubleshooting. I found that the Trombetta Solenoid is ALWAYS energized. Disconnected the "Relay" wire at the BIRD and it de-energizes. With it energized, the Coach Batteries are still not charging. That's not even possible since the Chassis batteries are charging normally. However, the Coach batteries charge normally on GEN or Shore Power. I've been checking wiring and found nothing loose. Have not really gotten started checking fuses . . .

Have you tried jumper wires around the solenoid to see if it is functioning as designed? Just because it is energizing does not mean that all of the contacts are operating properly.

Thanks very much. I went through the BIRD and Trombetta troubleshooting. I found that the Trombetta Solenoid is ALWAYS energized. Disconnected the "Relay" wire at the BIRD and it de-energizes. With it energized, the Coach Batteries are still not charging. That's not even possible since the Chassis batteries are charging normally. However, the Coach batteries charge normally on GEN or Shore Power. I've been checking wiring and found nothing loose. Have not really gotten started checking fuses . . .

JamesWillard wrote:
The control panel inside the Thor Palazzo has a CHG function that indicates Charging Status, whether Shore Power or Generator or while Driving (engine alternator). It normally indicates (while driving) "Bulk Charging xx.x Volts" or Absorb Charging, etc). Now, however, the CHG feature will not operate with the Engine Alternator . . . and the battery voltage just keeps dropping.

James,
Those terms "bulk" and "absorb" in charging, refer to 120V Inverter/charger steps in charging, not charging from the engines alternator, as has been previously brought up. I'm not saying you don't have any issues, it's quite possibly you do but, it's imperative that you make sure you know what's in play, when your engines alternator is doing its job and, when your Inverter/Charger is doing its job.

Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT and, does have a Trombetta solenoid that controls both battery boost function and, charging of the house batteries when driving down the road. We have NO BIRD system to augment that Trombetta. So, just for grins, if you have a trusty volt ohm meter, I'd break it out and, do some preliminary checks at your batteries, both house and chassis, with and without the engine running and, with and without being hooked up to shore power. Note all the results and, compare after each set of readings.

That will tell you EXACTLY what's getting to the batteries with and without the engine running and, with and without shore power. Then you can determine if you've got an issue with any one particular part or component.
Scott

On my charging system, there is an isolator circuit that switches where the charge goes from the engine alternator. It is sent to either the house or chassis batteries, or both.
It sort of sounds like your alternator output is all directed to the "control panel". If that is the case, perhaps you need to look for a fuse or circuit breaker that has tripped within the control panel.

JamesWillard wrote:
Now, however, the CHG feature will not operate with the Engine Alternator . . . and the battery voltage just keeps dropping.

To repeat, worded a bit differently:

The two battery strings are NOT normally connected together so charging (or discharging) one will not affect the other.

When the engine is running, something triggers a relay (solenoid) to close and make a connection so both will charge.

Unless there is a loose connection, something has failed in the circuitry that makes that connection when the engine is running. The most common thing to fail is the solenoid relay itself.

(Note: Oddly enough, my Damon Outlaw seems to charge the chassis battery too any time that AC power is present.)

The control panel inside the Thor Palazzo has a CHG function that indicates Charging Status, whether Shore Power or Generator or while Driving (engine alternator). It normally indicates (while driving) "Bulk Charging xx.x Volts" or Absorb Charging, etc). Now, however, the CHG feature will not operate with the Engine Alternator . . . and the battery voltage just keeps dropping.

sch911 wrote:
When you say Control Panel CHARGER are you talking about your Inverter/Charger unit? That will only operate when the generator or shore power is present. This does not mean that the house batteries are not being charged by the engine alternator though. Check the house battery voltage with and without the engine running to tell.

X2 and if not, check to see if your coach even has this capability of charging the house batteries, with the alternator. Some don't or didn't use to, even though ours does as did our old one.

sch911 wrote:
Check the house battery voltage with and without the engine running to tell.

This.

And try to get OUT of the habit of changing out parts based only on a wild guess. There is some kind of a test for almost everything.

House batteries not charging with the engine running is most often a sign of a failed battery solenoid (relay) or loose connections.

When you say Control Panel CHARGER are you talking about your Inverter/Charger unit? That will only operate when the generator or shore power is present. This does not mean that the house batteries are not being charged by the engine alternator though. Check the house battery voltage with and without the engine running to tell.