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fleetwoodjambo's avatar
fleetwoodjambo
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018

1989 fleetwood jamboree E-350 Solenoid electrical issue

Does anyone know if a 1989 Fleetwood Jamboree 26J has a power converter switch. There is a fuse panel with four flip switches in the bathroom but since I purchased used, the previous owner nor myself are too familiar with electrical of the coach. The reason I ask is, I don't have DC power in the coach (meaning my interior lights, bathroom fan etc.) dont work unless plugged into full hookups or engine on. I should be able to get my coach battery to run these lights without engine being on or AC power. I have a solenoid in the engine compartment where my coach battery is connected on the left side terminal and engine battery is connected to terminal on the right side. When I connect both the engine battery wire and coach battery wire to the same terminal the lights work, but I'm afraid if I keep them connected to same terminal my engine battery will eventually die while using lights and dry camping without hookups. I bought a new 80 AMP continuous duty solenoid from Napa auto parts and connected each battery wire to their respective terminal on the solenoid and the lights inside coach worked and I was also able to fire up generator with the inside switch near my microwave. However, after turning everything off, the lights nor generator will turn back on. I then connected both the engine battery and coach battery to the same terminal on the solenoid as I did with the old solenoid and all lights worked again including generator switch. I thought 80 amps perhaps was not enough so I bought a 200 amp continuous duty solenoid from Amazon and that one did not work even once when I connected the engine battery wire and engine battery wire to each side of solenoid. Again, with the new 200 amp solenoid from Amazon, I placed both battery wires on the same solenoid terminal and everything works, but shouldnt my coach lights and generator be able to work without having to connect both battery wires to the same side of the solenoid? Perhaps there is a power converter switch somewhere that I'm missing??? Again 1989 Fleetwood Jamboree 26J. I checked owners manual but it doesnt mention anything. Thanks for any response!
Class C
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Jul 18, 2018
    You may have toggled the battery disconnect switch - often located by Fleetwood next to drivers left knee. Also - you likely have two solenoids in the engine compartment - one is a battery isolator (you should hear click when the engine key turned) and one an Intellitec battery disconnect. Another possibility - you likely have an auto reset circuit breaker near the battery bank - when that goes toes up it essentially disconnects the batteries from the rig - use Google for pic as it doesn't look like std circuit breaker.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Jul 17, 2018
    Many Fleetwoods have a battery control center. In it is a circuit board that energizes the ignition relay. This relay, same relay as emergency start, this also sends power to charge the chassis battery and provides power to Fleetwood installed options. Check fuses on circuit board.
  • fleetwoodjambo's avatar
    fleetwoodjambo
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2018
    Thanks. I ensured both batteries are good sorry did not mention, they are also new. I do have the emergency start under the dash on driver side. Is there a switch that needs to be switched inside the RV before using DC power? This was my concern as I have never owned one before, but all fuses at the 4 breaker panel under bathroom sink appear good (I pulled each one out and inspected). I found it interesting that when both battery cables are attached to the same solenoid terminal everything works. Am I getting double AMPS this way, or should one 12 volt battery be able to start the generator on its own. Everything did work one time (all lights and generator turned on) when I bought the first solenoid from Napa but only once, almost like something was tripped. I'll check all cables. There is also alot of breakers (little plastic boxes with what appears to be ground wires attached) on the fire wall under the hood, I replaced a few of them but wasnt sure if these play into the coach not having DC power.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2018
    House (coach) battery is dead, as Mandalay Parr, suggested, or the cables connecting it to the rest of the world are not making a proper connection, or there's a main DC fuse near the battery that's blown. Go over all the battery connections carefully, especially including the ground connections. I suggest tugging on the cables rather than just staring at them, as I've once or twice seen battery cables that are internally corroded clear through but look OK from the outside, at least at first glance, as the insulating jacket is A-OK.

    The solenoid between the batteries is to enable the house battery to be charged from the engine alternator when underway, and possibly to enable the "emergency start" feature if you have that in case the chassis battery gets discharged.
  • Mandalay_Parr's avatar
    Mandalay_Parr
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2018
    Sounds like your coach battery is discharged. One battery will not last long without shore power or generator.
  • BillHoughton's avatar
    BillHoughton
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2018
    Does Fleetwood still have electrical schematics available for something that old? We have a 2007 Itasca, and they've got schematics - they even have a physical schematic, which was helpful recently when I had to drill holes to install a larger fire extinguisher; I was able to confirm that the holes would be below the routing of some wiring.

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