1976 Dodge Mobile Traveler - living space electric
The living space lighting only works if ignition key is on. It has a 2nd battery for the living space. Is there a switch somewhere to put the living space on 2nd battery?
Forum Discussion
House and chassis electrical systems are usually separated. There is often a solenoid controlled by a switch on the dash area, marked as emergency start or something like that. It is supposed to keep the two systems separate under normal circumstances and allow you to connect both as a means of jumping the engine should your chassis battery be too weak. See if you can locate that switch, or has someone disabeled it.
There is also an isolator which is a unit that allows some electrical power to be fed into the house battery when the engine is running. Those systems in the 70's were not the most reliable, you may have some tracking to do to find that box.
The way to start is to check voltage across the house battery. Then start the engine and check at the house battery again. If it has not changed upward, your system is not charging and could be the isolator or an open citcuit.
Other than that your best off breaking out a voltmeter and manually checking for electrical drains.
Grounds are the most common open connection. and must be very clean.
You will likely have plenty of oppurtunities to get familar with those systems so look at it right now as basic familarization, and yes you will use what you learn later.
There is also an isolator which is a unit that allows some electrical power to be fed into the house battery when the engine is running. Those systems in the 70's were not the most reliable, you may have some tracking to do to find that box.
The way to start is to check voltage across the house battery. Then start the engine and check at the house battery again. If it has not changed upward, your system is not charging and could be the isolator or an open citcuit.
Other than that your best off breaking out a voltmeter and manually checking for electrical drains.
Grounds are the most common open connection. and must be very clean.
You will likely have plenty of oppurtunities to get familar with those systems so look at it right now as basic familarization, and yes you will use what you learn later.
