House batteries not charging when coach running

[luckydog3550]

I have a 97 Allegro Bus. The converter outlet has 120V when the generator is running and when I am plugged into shore, but nothing when the coach is running. Problem started when (i believe) coach batteries went bad couple weeks ago. The circuit breaker that the converter powers started tripping and resetting intermittently while running the generator. When driving home about half way they stopped charging completely. I put new batteries in and am where I am. Converter outlet gets 120V when generator is running and connected to shore power, nothing when the coach is running. Thanks for the help!

[luckydog3550]

Will any 3 post solenoid work?

[luckydog3550]

dougrainer wrote:
1997, the odds are in the drivers side rear between the frame rail and the Chassis battery box. Is the chassis battery box in the drivers side rear compsrtment? Tiffin just used a standard 3 post solenoid. 2 large posts and 1 small post from the Ignition side 12 volt power. The solenoid was grounded to the chassis frame. Until you fix it, just run the genset in transit to keep the coach batteries up. Doug

Thank you, I believe I found it. Chassis battery box is located on the passenger side. The solenoid is located on the side of the battery box. It is getting 14V to the top lug with the coach running but the bottom only has 12.5V (same as coach batteries are putting out). Is this my problem? Thanks again

[accsys]

Not sure about your '97 but on our coach the charge solenoid is in the rear PS compartment. You might want to go over to the Tiffin RV Network and join the "forum" there. Lots of very knowledgeable people to help you there.

[wolfe10]

Actually, the splitter is either a DIODE-BASED BATTERY ISOLATOR or SOLENOID-BASED BATTERY ISOLATOR.

Tiffin can tell you which you have and were it is located, or you can follow the large-gauge wire from the alternator B+ terminal and it will go to the isolator.

[dougrainer]

1997, the odds are in the drivers side rear between the frame rail and the Chassis battery box. Is the chassis battery box in the drivers side rear compsrtment? Tiffin just used a standard 3 post solenoid. 2 large posts and 1 small post from the Ignition side 12 volt power. The solenoid was grounded to the chassis frame. Until you fix it, just run the genset in transit to keep the coach batteries up. Doug

[luckydog3550]

Thanks. I any idea on how to find the splitter?

[luckydog3550]

hmmm.....the chassis batteries ARE being charged when the coach is running, but not the house batteries. If the alternator is supposed to charge both, why would it charge one and not the other? Is there a fuse somewhere I'm not finding?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

THE ALTERNATOR

ON THE ENGINE

Every rig has some sort of a device that SPLITS the power generated by the alternator. One side goes to the engine START battery, the other side goes to the HOUSE POWER batteries. How and why this SPLIT is accomplished, can vary with the type of coach and the brand of splitter used. You need to determine exactly what kind of a SPLITTER your coach has. Other forums members can help you discover what device your coach uses. There is also PROTECTION in the circuit to protects against SHORTS. These devices can FAIL, and so can the splitter. So the answer is to IDENTIFY and to TROUBLE SHOOT. In that order. The splitter including its controls, and then the protection circuit, the fuse or breaker.

[jhlady]

luckydog3550,

The alternator of the coach should charge the house batteries when running.


John

[luckydog3550]

Thanks for replying. So then what charges the house batteries when the coach is running?

[RJsfishin]

Quote:
I have a 97 Allegro Bus. The converter outlet has 120V when the generator is running and when I am plugged into shore, but nothing when the coach is running.
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If you talking the outlet that the converter plugs into, that sounds normal to me.