Forum Discussion

DebDav's avatar
DebDav
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013

Beaver Solitaire Battery Isolator location??

We haven't been on the forum for years, primarily because we have not owned a coach. We have just purchased a 2000 Beaver Solitaire from a close friend, and are very pleased with the coach so far. The problem we need help with is...the batteries are not charging, while plugged into 50 amp shore power. We purchased new batteries thinking this was the problem, but they still are not getting charged. We have 2 inverters: a 3000 watt and an 1800 watt; both appear to be working fine. We are in search of the Battery Isolator. The coach manual says "power from the engine alternator is channeled through an isolator. This device allows the alternator to simultaneously charge the chassis and house systems, while keeping the 2 systems separate. With the isolator, draining the house batteries will not affect the chassis batteries, and vice versa." We have torn the coach apart looking for the isolator. Help! Does anyone know where this device might be?
  • jferre9570's avatar
    jferre9570
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2013
    On my '96 Beaver, the isolator is under the bed, bolted to the electrical panel under the foot of the bed. This isolator does not allow the inverter/charger to charge the chassis batteries however; it only allows the alternator to do so. The inverter charger should charge the house batteries but in order to charge the chassis batteries from shore power you will need a different method. Some models came with a BIRD-style controller, some with a Xantrex Echo-Charger, and some (like mine) came with no EOM way to charge the chassis batteries from shore power. Do you have your wiring diagrams?
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Oct 28, 2013
    Call Monaco as they can help you. On my 98 Beaver it was above the tranny and could get to it from under the bed... no slide.
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2013
    Easiest to start at the alternator. Trace the large gauge (usually red)wire from the alternator B+ and it will lead you right to it.

    Alternately, you can trace from the batteries, but there are lots of other wires from that end.

    To test (assuming this is a diode-based isolator-- will have fins to keep it cool):

    With engine off, check voltage at each of the large lugs. Each outer lug will reflect the voltage at that battery bank. The lug that goes to the alternator will have zero.

    Start the engine, put to high idle (like around 1000 RPM) and recheck voltage. Should be around 14 at the outer lugs and around 14.7 at the B+ lug.
  • Dusty_R's avatar
    Dusty_R
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2013
    Follow the battery cable.
    The isolator on our Itasca is very hard to get to. You open a storage compartment, remove everything, remove the back panel of the compartment. Behind that panel are some fuses, you remove the panel that the fuses are mounted on, and behind in is the isolator.
    I had to replace ours once when we were on the road a long ways from home.

    Good Luck,
    Dusty

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