Auxillary power switch

[darbyjudy]

I have a 2004 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager 37 ft. Went out this morning and the chassis battery dead. Thought I could start it off the M H Batteries so I pushed the switch and nothing, no click or anything. I checked all the fuses and all OK. I thought I found the solenoid but I don't think it is correct one. It is energized when you turn on the key. Hope someone can help. I have looked everywhere and also checked all fuses in all three fuse panels.

[Dutch_12078]

MrWizard wrote:
FYI

in some case the aux switch is wired to the engine batteries
so IF the batteries are dead, the emg jump solenoid does NOT come on
pushing the switch does nothing

i have never understood the logic behind wiring it that way

I rewired my current and previous coach so the solenoid control switch is fed from both battery sources isolated by diodes. As long as either source has power the solenoid works.

[darbyjudy]

Wizard I think you are on the right track. The engine battery was so dead that it would not light the dash lights. So the solenoid must get power from engine battery to energize it. The solenoid is powered when you turn on the key. Seems a crazy way to have it hooked up for if the engine battery is completely dead you could not energize the solenoid. Now I believe if you just had a low engine battery it might work. I guess it is wired that way so you are charging coach batteries from engine. All the time I was thinking all the batteries was being charged from the converter.

[MrWizard]

FYI

in some case the aux switch is wired to the engine batteries
so IF the batteries are dead, the emg jump solenoid does NOT come on
pushing the switch does nothing

i have never understood the logic behind wiring it that way

[Ivylog]

No way are your house batteries going to start dead engine batteries by just holding the switch down briefly. Even if you hold the switch down for five minutes probably will not be enough charge into the engine batteries to start. I would start the generator and hold the switch down for 10 minutes and then try to start it. This assumes that you have a momentary switch that has to be held down... Not on or off.

[Gjac]

Were your house batteries fully charged? What was the resting voltage of the house batteries?

[Dale_Traveling]

Some convertors will charge both batteries by automatically closing the AUX Start solenoid if its functional. That could be the reason for both problems.

[kdk]

You may want to install a "Tric-L-Start or a Amp-L-Start (which is more robust)". Either one will keep your chassis battery fully charged when on shore power. Just my 2 cents; kdk

[darbyjudy]

Tried holding switch in and then turning key to start and nothing. The reason the motor battery was dead is that one of the compartment light was left on. I have a switch by the steps that controls power to all the compartment lights but I had forgot to turn it off. I put charger on battery all day and it appears to be OK now. I had just put a new battery in December. I keep the motor home plugged it but I guess the converter does not charge the chassis battery.

[SeaDog_BRR]

Try hold the aux battery switch in while turning the ignition to start. My winnebago works that way.

[enblethen]

Did you turn on the battery disconnects?

[wolfe10]

Yes, some boost/combine switches are momentary (turn off when released), but some are "regular" on/off. The latter would have constant duty solenoids vs intermittent duty solenoids.

[wolfe10]

Sounds like the solenoid you found is the IGNITION SOLENOID. Unrelated to battery boost/combine solenoid, which us usually located near the batteries.

[Marine_By_Choic]

Did you hold the aux switch in while turning the key? Many think just pushing the switch will "connect" it.