Starting Generator with dead batteries

RamblinAnne wrote:

bigfootford wrote:
First, use absolute caution using jumper cables or even installing new batteries!
Even if someone helps you jump it... Watch like a HAWK! Know that + goes to + and - goes to -!!!!

Why?

There have been many disasters posted here on RV.net of folks hooking their batteries backwards and blowing all of the voltage sensitive appliances etc electronics... BIG $$$!

ABSOLUTE attention to polarity is necessary.

That said... There are many issues you will need to learn about.....A crawl before you walk thing.

Your camper can not sit over 1-2 months without shore power on it or have solar to maintain your batteries.. Other wise you will be replacing batteries yearly.

If you could disclose an approximate where you live there should be some RV.net TC'er nearby that could help and teach you....

Do not go out and purchase batteries without first determining what type of Converter/charger you have.

The box that sits under the step is where the converter is on the BF.
Open the little door and check the make and model...

If it a Magnetek you will need to upgrade that. I am not sure what year they upgraded.
I can not even imagine AGM batteries being maintained by a magnetek so maybe the previous owner upgraded or the factory did.

Hope there is someone nearby that can help you get started!

Congratulations on your combo truck and camper... We love our BF... had it 17 years now... nearly 200,000 miles on it... hahahaaaa 2 trucks.

Jim

This is super helpful, Jim.. Thank you! I am on the very East End of Long Island, NY (The North Fork). I don't see many fellow campers out here so I doubt there are any around. But it's a big boating area and I have a marine electrician friend who is going to help me with my solar/battery setup when that time comes. I've just been focusing on the remodel right now and want to wait on the electrical side of things until I'm ready to start moving in.

I just checked and I have a Parallax 32amp Power Converter. Series 6300. I just googled and I guess this technically is a Magnetek? So it's no good huh? There's also this little Intellipower 9200 Remote Pendant thing that is hooked up to it. Not sure if that makes any difference to the overall setup.

So do I need to buy a new converter charger? Any recommendations? I'll be upgrading my battery bank to two 6V (haven't yet decided if I'm going with T105s or Lifeline AGMs.. but definitely two 6V).

Haw, New Yorkkkkkk well that would be a long drive! I thought you were here in Cali.
We do have some folks that are around the New York area so a raised flag might help!

So here we go!

When storing you need to turn the cutoff switch to off....
Some folks will add on other things direct to the battery. Some investigation of the battery connections should reveal if that has been done. Usually there are only 2 leads from the battery (s)... Red and Black or white that go through the battery enclosure box to the cutoff switch and to the negative buss. So I would check that... Sometimes there are 2 wires on the Negative that go through the enclosure box... so do not be alarmed if you see that. The Positive lead is the important one...

I am not familiar with the way the BF folks wired up the ONAN so there might be leads going to it from the batteries. Discuss that later.

As for the Parallax..... You are in luck it seems :B... Someone has performed the modification to bypass the actual charge portion of the Parallax with a Progressive Dynamics converter. That little pendant says the mod has been performed, or should.. The capacity of that converter from you post is 60 amps... That is great for 2 batteries!

Here is a link to one of the very best vendors that provide converters for the rv industry. The link will be to show you the pendant and the chargers of different types.

http://www.bestconverter.com/9200-Series-Deck-Mount_c_84.html



Here is the write-ups that various folks have done to do the upgrade from Parallax to Progressive Dynamics....

http://www.bestconverter.com/MagnetekParallax-to-PDI-or-PM_ep_13-1.html

So now you have some reading to do and it seems to me you are on the right path!

Solar later and maybe a Trimetric meter to monitor your batter usage because full timing and battery status is a thing to behold!

Jim