for those with motorhomes that have B.I.R.D.s, do you find that you get inaccurate or misleading voltage readings from your house battery and your chassis battery. for instance, readings that differ and fluctuate at odd rates depending on house battery disconnect toggle (STORE/USE}.i have attempted to express some weird things i seem to encounter when doing so on this thread from the C forum. as confused as i seem here, a few years ago i went through similar issues before i'd ever hears of BIRD. to my great relief, another trail lite owner discovered we both had one in our rigs.at this point, i am resigned to just try to ignore voltage readings and simply try to make it a point to give batteries ample shore power charge time from the parallax 7300 between RV outings.but it would be somewhat of a relief to hear from others that a) i am not imagining things, b) i need to expect unique voltage sharing/interaction w/ the BIRD relay/delay and chassis isolator solenoid, and/or c) my system has a problem that can be tested by doing X. i thank you for any insights and clarity.

i've found over the years that the BIRD device is not discussed much on these or other rv forums, but as far as i understand, it is used in many motorhomes.to those who understand the innards of electronic gadgets, can i just assume the BIRD device seldom fails to do its gatekeeping duties and just forget about it, much as we take for granted something like spark plugs?

Mine is rock solid. Unlikely that BIRD and your solenoid are the problem, perhaps your charger but I'm not going to read your other thread which quickly suggested your charger might be marginal.Why don't you simply bypass the solenoid and post the results?

CA Traveler wrote:Why don't you simply bypass the solenoid and post the results?not clear on what you mean.

Keep in mind the BIRD and the disconnect are 2 separate systems, not interconnected (other than battery wise) The voltages indicated on the disconnect could be flaky simply due to a dirty switch on the panel. The BIRD simply measures the battery voltage of either battery, and connects them when the voltage indicates charging on either, with a delay built in to let the alternator get a bit ahead of the curve.

burlmart wrote:CA Traveler wrote:Why don't you simply bypass the solenoid and post the results?not clear on what you mean.Remove the large lug from one post on the BIRD and add it to the large lug on the other. The batteries will now be directly connected. Electrically it should be the same as with the BIRD contacts closed.

bidirectional isolator relay delay and voltages

burlmart
Explorer
May 22, 2015
i've found over the years that the BIRD device is not discussed much on these or other rv forums, but as far as i understand, it is used in many motorhomes.

to those who understand the innards of electronic gadgets, can i just assume the BIRD device seldom fails to do its gatekeeping duties and just forget about it, much as we take for granted something like spark plugs?
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 22, 2015
Mine is rock solid. Unlikely that BIRD and your solenoid are the problem, perhaps your charger but I'm not going to read your other thread which quickly suggested your charger might be marginal.

Why don't you simply bypass the solenoid and post the results?
burlmart
Explorer
May 22, 2015
CA Traveler wrote:

Why don't you simply bypass the solenoid and post the results?

not clear on what you mean.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
May 22, 2015
Keep in mind the BIRD and the disconnect are 2 separate systems, not interconnected (other than battery wise) The voltages indicated on the disconnect could be flaky simply due to a dirty switch on the panel. The BIRD simply measures the battery voltage of either battery, and connects them when the voltage indicates charging on either, with a delay built in to let the alternator get a bit ahead of the curve.
wolfe10
Explorer
May 22, 2015
burlmart wrote:
CA Traveler wrote:

Why don't you simply bypass the solenoid and post the results?

not clear on what you mean.

Remove the large lug from one post on the BIRD and add it to the large lug on the other. The batteries will now be directly connected.

Electrically it should be the same as with the BIRD contacts closed.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Other than a goodly amount of hysterisis to preclude chatter, there should be zero intermittant partial reconnection. What is the brand name of your product?
burlmart
Explorer
May 22, 2015
i hope there are clues in this morning's troubleshoot results - i think they will tell someone here right off what is up...

* i disconnected house batt cables
* measure NO voltage between positive and megative cables
* try to toggle house disconnect to USE, and nothing
* crank engine and disconnected house batt cables read 14+ volts
* house batt is still disconnected
* engine still running
* toggle house batt disconnect to USE, and red lite comes on
--- and house lights work
--- genset primer works (audible click)
--- house LED battery meter reads 4/4

so in this condition, there is no need for a house battery

* turn house disconnect to STORE and red lite goes out
" turn off engine
* walk dogs 30 min
* engine off and house batt still uncabled
* toggle house disconnect to USE and red lite comes on
* turn 3 hall lights on and they work about 5 sec then go off (along w/ red lite, i think}
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 22, 2015
Generally a MH will have a BIRD connected to a continuous duty solenoid which connects the 2 battery banks together for charging. The store/use switch also known as the salesman switch is connected to a latching solenoid on the house battery and is used to turn off any lights etc when leaving the rig.

Bypassing the solenoids will help to isolate the problem.
burlmart
Explorer
May 22, 2015
my ES and house disconnect solenoids. i have no idea where BIRD is nested.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 22, 2015
THIS is what replaces the "Salesman Switch"

And THIS is the bi-directional relay that will save your hair from falling out.