Shore Power Question

Jim@HiTek wrote:
My '94 DP Bounder did NOT have that feature. I had to add a $20 Schumacher charger. So my Bounder did not come with the BIRD. It was optional in '94 Bounders.

You 94 Bounder was designed to charge chassis battery when plugged in. The RV Custom BCC was NOT an option. You had a failure that was patched instead of repaired to factory standards.

Richard

dougrainer wrote:

Blaster Man wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Yes, your Fleetwood coach is designed to charge all batteries when on shore power or generator. That has been a Fleetwood feature since the early 90s.


Richard
95 Bounder

Not always so. On my coach, shore power charges the coach batteries, but has to be putting out at least 13.3 volts for the coach batteries to let the charge go through to the chassis batteries. I found this out the hard way when the chassis batteries were dead and the coach would not start.

Yes, this is true of ALL motorhomes that have the Intellitec BIRD system. In theory, the system should keep the chassis up, but will fail to keep the Chassis if the voltage drops to float charge. Newmar uses the BIRD system but installed a small solar charger just for the chassis batteries to keep the chassis charged when the BIRD went to float. A way to fool this system if leaving plugged in for weeks at a time, is every 7 days or so, to disconnect Shore Power for a few seconds and reconnect. That will make the Coach charging system go to bulk charge and go over the 13.3 volt threshold. Doug

All the rhetoric about various brands of coaches. A quick look at the OPs profile will reveal that he has "34' 1999 Fleetwood Discovery".
Which has a RV Custom Products Battery Control center, that is designed to charge all batteries under all conditions.

Richard

Blaster Man wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Yes, your Fleetwood coach is designed to charge all batteries when on shore power or generator. That has been a Fleetwood feature since the early 90s.


Richard
95 Bounder

Not always so. On my coach, shore power charges the coach batteries, but has to be putting out at least 13.3 volts for the coach batteries to let the charge go through to the chassis batteries. I found this out the hard way when the chassis batteries were dead and the coach would not start.

Please note, I said "Fleetwood coach is designed to charge all batteries". So I stand by my statement. You had a failure that defeated the design.

Richard

Tom/Barb wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

You are confusing charge RATE with continued charging after the Magnum has fully charged the coach batteries. Regardless of the charge RATE, it will go to Float charge eventually and THAT voltage is below the BIRD 13.3 threshold to keep the solenoid that combines BOTH battery banks closed to charge the Chassis battery bank. Both Magnum and Xantrex you can modify the charge rate to your liking. Doug

Call the manufacturer's 1-800 number they will talk you thru the procedure to set the float charge above 13.4, my Magnum will keep my chassis battery charged. and my batteries will not boil like they did on the old Heart inverter/charger.

I read the remote operators manual again for the Magnum and while you may be able to change the FLOAT rate, it is NOT advisable as you WILL boil lead acid non maintenance free deep cycle batteries at that higher CONTINOUS rate of above 13.4 volts. There is a REASON the Engineers at Magnum set that normal float rate. I would not risk boiling batteries at a higher float rate just to "fool" the BIRD type relay. Much better to just install a simple Trickle charger/maintainer on the chassis batteries. While YOU may have success doing that, I doubt the majority of RV'ers would. Doug

kidkasha wrote:
When hooked up to Shore Power at a campsite or anywhere else. Am I charging both house and engine batteries hen connected.

It depends.. On many RV's. Mine included, if everything is working, yes

On many others, if everything is working, Only the house

As others have said you can add a trick-l-start to handle the chassis

And on a few.. Everything is not working.

HOW TO TELL if your RV charges house, or both from shore power

Resting voltage on a Lead Acid "12 volt" battery is (fully charged) 12.6, Float voltage is 13.6 So grab ye old voltmeter after you have been plugged in for a day

If chassis and House are same voltage and it's over 13 volts then yes

if chassis is 12.6 or less, and house is 13
6 (Basically if chassis is BELOW 13 and house is above) then no

If both are below. you have a problem.

kidkasha wrote:
When hooked up to Shore Power at a campsite or anywhere else. Am I charging both house and engine batteries hen connected.

Put your voltmeter right on the battery terminals after plugged in and parked 24 hours.
12.8 or less.... not charging.
13.2+ ...... this is charging.

dougrainer wrote:

You are confusing charge RATE with continued charging after the Magnum has fully charged the coach batteries. Regardless of the charge RATE, it will go to Float charge eventually and THAT voltage is below the BIRD 13.3 threshold to keep the solenoid that combines BOTH battery banks closed to charge the Chassis battery bank. Both Magnum and Xantrex you can modify the charge rate to your liking. Doug

Call the manufacturer's 1-800 number they will talk you thru the procedure to set the float charge above 13.4, my Magnum will keep my chassis battery charged. and my batteries will not boil like they did on the old Heart inverter/charger.

Blaster Man wrote:


I have a Magnum controller for my charging system, so another option is to increase the charge rate.

yep, that's an easy do.

Blaster Man wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

Blaster Man wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Yes, your Fleetwood coach is designed to charge all batteries when on shore power or generator. That has been a Fleetwood feature since the early 90s.


Richard
95 Bounder

Not always so. On my coach, shore power charges the coach batteries, but has to be putting out at least 13.3 volts for the coach batteries to let the charge go through to the chassis batteries. I found this out the hard way when the chassis batteries were dead and the coach would not start.

Yes, this is true of ALL motorhomes that have the Intellitec BIRD system. In theory, the system should keep the chassis up, but will fail to keep the Chassis if the voltage drops to float charge. Newmar uses the BIRD system but installed a small solar charger just for the chassis batteries to keep the chassis charged when the BIRD went to float. A way to fool this system if leaving plugged in for weeks at a time, is every 7 days or so, to disconnect Shore Power for a few seconds and reconnect. That will make the Coach charging system go to bulk charge and go over the 13.3 volt threshold. Doug

I have a Magnum controller for my charging system, so another option is to increase the charge rate.

You are confusing charge RATE with continued charging after the Magnum has fully charged the coach batteries. Regardless of the charge RATE, it will go to Float charge eventually and THAT voltage is below the BIRD 13.3 threshold to keep the solenoid that combines BOTH battery banks closed to charge the Chassis battery bank. Both Magnum and Xantrex you can modify the charge rate to your liking. Doug

dougrainer wrote:

Blaster Man wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Yes, your Fleetwood coach is designed to charge all batteries when on shore power or generator. That has been a Fleetwood feature since the early 90s.


Richard
95 Bounder

Not always so. On my coach, shore power charges the coach batteries, but has to be putting out at least 13.3 volts for the coach batteries to let the charge go through to the chassis batteries. I found this out the hard way when the chassis batteries were dead and the coach would not start.

Yes, this is true of ALL motorhomes that have the Intellitec BIRD system. In theory, the system should keep the chassis up, but will fail to keep the Chassis if the voltage drops to float charge. Newmar uses the BIRD system but installed a small solar charger just for the chassis batteries to keep the chassis charged when the BIRD went to float. A way to fool this system if leaving plugged in for weeks at a time, is every 7 days or so, to disconnect Shore Power for a few seconds and reconnect. That will make the Coach charging system go to bulk charge and go over the 13.3 volt threshold. Doug

I have a Magnum controller for my charging system, so another option is to increase the charge rate.