Battery Separator Problem
Hi All: Here is my configuration: Lance 2003 1161 on my 2002 Ford f-350 dually, crew cab, long bed, diesel. The truck has two new batteries (less than 6 months old) and the camper has a new (2 months ...
Forum Discussion
If all works well, the separator will switch on when it senses a specific voltage (for instance 13.4V), and off when the voltage it senses falls below a certain value (for instance, 12.5V - note these values are arbitary examples and the documentation of the separator should tell the actual values). That way, the camper is connected to the truck when the truck batteries are being charged, and disconnected when they are not. Which is a good idea because it prevents your camper from draining the truck batteries.
Can you measure the voltage at the entry (truck) side of the separator with the truck running? You should see it going up and down as the separator turns off and on.
One guess is that there is a bad connection along the way which lets the voltage break down as soon as a significant current goes through it. I'd check the wiring from the truck to the camper; especially at all connectors along the way. And do not forget to check the ground, too - which may be the primary culprit. Did you encounter a lot of rain in Newfoundland? Something may have corroded there.
Another guess is that the truck's charging system (alternator / regulator) is going out and doesn't handle the load properly any more.
ETA: and there may be some huge load which is alway present on the camper side of the separator (e.g. a short). In that case, the voltage delivered from the truck side would go down due to the load, separator switches off; w/o load the voltage goes up again and so on). You migth try to disconnect everything on the camper side from the separator and see if it switches correctly then.
Can you measure the voltage at the entry (truck) side of the separator with the truck running? You should see it going up and down as the separator turns off and on.
One guess is that there is a bad connection along the way which lets the voltage break down as soon as a significant current goes through it. I'd check the wiring from the truck to the camper; especially at all connectors along the way. And do not forget to check the ground, too - which may be the primary culprit. Did you encounter a lot of rain in Newfoundland? Something may have corroded there.
Another guess is that the truck's charging system (alternator / regulator) is going out and doesn't handle the load properly any more.
ETA: and there may be some huge load which is alway present on the camper side of the separator (e.g. a short). In that case, the voltage delivered from the truck side would go down due to the load, separator switches off; w/o load the voltage goes up again and so on). You migth try to disconnect everything on the camper side from the separator and see if it switches correctly then.
