Charging Issue

Follow the large gauge wire from the alternator B+ terminal. It will very likely lead to a battery isolator.

It could be a good-sized relay/solenoid, or could be a diode-based isolator.

Let us know which you have and we can give you troubleshooting advice.

There are also some easy work arounds if you need to get home before addressing the issue.

I was close to home when issue came up. I will trace wire tomorrow and see what's up. Thanks for the quick reply. You guys are great

The battery isolator, a solenoid as described above, died on mine several years ago. Replaced it and no further problems.

Before you replace it, check that it is getting 12v on the solenoid coil, the small terminal, when the ignition is on. If that's ok check for voltage on the Chassis battery terminal. It could be a problem with the solenoid to coach battery wiring.

Hi,

My RV loved to blow the 60 amp fuse on the "house" battery charging circuit. I replaced it with a 50 amp self resetting breaker.

The OEM solenoid lasted less than one year. I replaced it with something that is better rated.

On a motorhome a 200-amp bi-directional smart solenoid does not need any stinking control wires. When one battery charges they all charge then disconnect automatically. Battery separators that need switches and long runs of vulnerable wire are perfect for people who wear wind-up wrist watches.

Hi,

You will be best off by charging the coach batteries at home from shore power. Then you will not be putting a 100+ amp load on the alternator that might damage it.

You might have a separate and unrelated problem with the factory installed battery charger/converter. On my motorhome, I have a meter that measures the amperage going in and out of the batteries. I figured out that my solenoid was bad when I went to a Air Show in San Diego. On my way home at night, the battery should have charged, but was -50 AH all of the trip. It would have charged by solar had it been daylight.

I never did find the factory solenoid, but instead ran some #4 wire from the engine battery to the solenoid that I installed, then to the coach battery. I used the 'radio' power to turn on the solenoid only while the engine was on.

Later I installed a switch, so that I could dis-able the solenoid that I installed, and save some fuel if I was running in the daytime to avoid using the alternator to recharge the battery.

The solenoid that I used was Grainger #6C017 and rated at 125 amps in forklift duty, for 100,000 cycles. It has silver alloy contacts.

If there is a 50 - 60 amp circuit breaker in line, it might be bad, or tripping because the house batteries are at such low voltage. You can buy automatic reset CB from any auto parts store.

Good luck,

Fred.

I also had a charging issue recently.......

So I took the credit card away from her. :B

Whoa! A High-Maintenance Charging Issue!

From the vault of personal treasures...

"What do you mean overdrawn? Why I still have checks left"