Is my isolator suspect?

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Is my isolator suspect?

June 08, 2020, 04:01:54 pm

Just installed three new Odyssey start batteries today. Fired up the coach and drove it home. VMSpc shows 13.4/.6 Volts at start batteries. Went to the Sterling pro SplitR Islolator and saw a solid red led that shows there is high backfeed and has tripped the isolator function. While running, I checked the V's at the Alt input of the Iso. It was in the 13 V range. So not sure why the 16V fault. I also checked the voltage at each of the battery bank output lugs on the Isolator. Again, in the 13 V range. Nowhere did I find high DC volts.

At this point I shut off the engine. The red over volt LED remains on.

I'm thinking a kaput Isolator.

My apologies. Got out the magnifier and saw The LED readout is a solid light and not flashing so it is high backfeed.

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #1 – June 08, 2020, 04:05:48 pm

Probably the correct conclusion with the readings you have.

I would trust the digital voltmeter readings at the battery banks, particularly if the "correct voltage range" readings are seen on the two independent monitors: dash gauge (chassis battery) and monitor (house battery).

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #2 – June 08, 2020, 04:15:59 pm

Jerry

1) High alternator voltage trip. (red LED flashing) in the event of the alternator voltage exceeding 16 volts (x2 for 24V system), the unit will disconnect all battery banks from the batteries (all the blue LEDs showing connection to each battery bank will be off and this alarm LED will be flashing) this will protect the batteries from excessive damage and allow you to continue on your journey without the worry of exploding batteries and have the alternator regulator repaired at your next destination: in the event of the alternator voltage dropping down to below 15V for whatever reason (I.e. if the advanced regulator was a Sterling and it also picked up the high voltage fault, the advanced reg would return the alternator's regulator control back to the original reg which may be ok) during the journey then the unit would reset and continue to charge the battery banks.

2) High output voltage trip. (red LED on solid) this is where 16 volts (32 volts) is sensed on one of the battery bank inputs, this could come from something for example a defective battery charger on battery bank 3 trying to backfeed the dangerous voltage back into the other battery banks. The unit will identify the offending battery bank and isolate battery banks to prevent damage to the rest of the system (this will result in any damage which might be caused by the defective bank being limited to that bank and not causing damage to the other battery banks) however, we are unable to prevent the damage being caused to the actual battery bank causing the problem. For this, look at our new range of voltage sensitive current limiting relays.

Which one is it?

The Sterling ProSplitR has a 4 year Warranty.

Save yourself some time, call,Justin or Alan at Bay Marine Supply 619-320-5899.

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #3 – June 08, 2020, 04:35:32 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – June 08, 2020, 04:15:59 pm

Jerry

1) High alternator voltage trip. (red LED flashing) in the event of the alternator voltage exceeding 16 volts (x2 for 24V system), the unit will disconnect all battery banks from the batteries (all the blue LEDs showing connection to each battery bank will be off and this alarm LED will be flashing) this will protect the batteries from excessive damage and allow you to continue on your journey without the worry of exploding batteries and have the alternator regulator repaired at your next destination: in the event of the alternator voltage dropping down to below 15V for whatever reason (I.e. if the advanced regulator was a Sterling and it also picked up the high voltage fault, the advanced reg would return the alternator's regulator control back to the original reg which may be ok) during the journey then the unit would reset and continue to charge the battery banks.

2) High output voltage trip. (red LED on solid) this is where 16 volts (32 volts) is sensed on one of the battery bank inputs, this could come from something for example a defective battery charger on battery bank 3 trying to backfeed the dangerous voltage back into the other battery banks. The unit will identify the offending battery bank and isolate battery banks to prevent damage to the rest of the system (this will result in any damage which might be caused by the defective bank being limited to that bank and not causing damage to the other battery banks) however, we are unable to prevent the damage being caused to the actual battery bank causing the problem. For this, look at our new range of voltage sensitive current limiting relays.

Which one is it?

The Sterling ProSplitR has a 4 year Warranty.

Save yourself some time, call,Justin or Alan at Bay Marine Supply 619-320-5899.

Roger, I went back out with that magnifier to double check. I restarted the engine then took a closer look. It is a RED constant on. Which shows a high backfeed. The coach has sat for a few weeks with the salesman switch OFF. I went directly to the house battery bank and got a collective 12.7 Volts. So that doesn't read discharged enough to try and steal from the engine bank. Especially as the led remains on and the coach bank should be isolated with the alternator not running.

I put in a call to Bay Marine. They are in Covid mode and everyone is operating from home. So I'm waiting for a call back.

In the mean time I have hooked up my 20 Amp AGM smart charger to the coach bank. Even with that 13.4 V @ 20amps. The backfeed LED is still on.

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #4 – June 08, 2020, 08:24:35 pm

Reviewed my wiring. As I got rid of the LN and went to a Delco I don't need the Sense wire and the sterling instructions say to not use it. So should only be the -/+ off the Alt that need hooking up. I re-routed the ignition power wire from the old LN to the pwr lug on the isolator. And it works. No power with key off, Battery V when key on. The ground wire is good.

The other puzzling thing is that even after hours of the engine stopping. The LEDS are still on. Not sure if this is because of the backfeed led being on.

Edit to add: Tried disconnecting the house bank at the batt. No change in the lights. Hooked them back up and then removed the start batt bank. Again no change. Disconnected both house and chassis Neg cables and feedback trip light is still on.

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #5 – June 14, 2020, 04:04:59 pm

UPDATE, After pulling apart every connection from the batteries to the isolator, starter, alternator, Boost solenoid on the chassis side and cleaning them up with a wire brush.

When I reconnected all power. The isolator buzzed a bit but then stopped and no fault lights. Started the coach for a bit and ran at high idle. Then shut it off. The isolator shut off after the Caps discharged and again no fault lights. This is a big change from the isolators recent trick of NOT shutting off and having a faint to solid light on the backfeed led.

So, So far so good.

Odd thing, none of the connections looked particularly dirty. But something obviously changed. So they must have been dirty enough.

Even with the coach up on blocks under the tires and suspension aired up and blocked. I sure don't like being under the coach. But then I can't get in an MRI machine either. The MRI tube is what made me mildly claustrophobic in the first place.

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #6 – June 14, 2020, 05:00:37 pm

Quote from: bigdog – June 14, 2020, 04:04:59 pm

UPDATE, After pulling apart every connection from the batteries to the isolator, starter, alternator, Boost solenoid on the chassis side and cleaning them up with a wire brush.

When I reconnected all power. The isolator buzzed a bit but then stopped and no fault lights. Started the coach for a bit and ran at high idle. Then shut it off. The isolator shut off after the Caps discharged and again no fault lights. This is a big change from the isolators recent trick of NOT shutting off and having a faint to solid light on the backfeed led.

So, So far so good.

Odd thing, none of the connections looked particularly dirty. But something obviously changed. So they must have been dirty enough.

Even with the coach up on blocks under the tires and suspension aired up and blocked. I sure don't like being under the coach. But then I can't get in an MRI machine either. The MRI tube is what made me mildly claustrophobic in the first place.

Dude
Thanks for your updates, and completing post's for everyone, now and in the future "search". Wish more people would do it. Hate reading 4 pages of comments from the past, then no resolve.

Changing subjects (warned you I do that when you were here

) I feel your pain. Not claustrophobic to be under the coach, but had to have them knock me out to do my MRI. No way I was going inside that tube.

Chris

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #7 – June 14, 2020, 05:40:33 pm

Quote from: gracerace – June 14, 2020, 05:00:37 pm

Changing subjects (warned you I do that when you were here ) I feel your pain. Not claustrophobic to be under the coach, but had to have them knock me out to do my MRI. No way I was going inside that tube.

Chris

I have been spelunking in caves where I had to crawl around for 8 hours. Knee, Elbow pads and helmet with carbide lamp. It was old school. I always wear a full face motorcycle helmet.

Asked the Dr why. Said the MRI did it because I was sick enough to need one and we didn't know what was going on. So I was worried and then my feeble mind took over and I have been mildly claustrophobic ever since.

Thanks for the atta boy on the update. It certainly does help folks searching for a problem when they can see if that fixed the issue or not.

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #8 – June 14, 2020, 09:03:13 pm

Quote from: bigdog – June 14, 2020, 05:40:33 pm

I have been spelunking in caves where I had to crawl around for 8 hours. Knee, Elbow pads and helmet with carbide lamp. It was old school. I always wear a full face motorcycle helmet.

Asked the Dr why. Said the MRI did it because I was sick enough to need one and we didn't know what was going on. So I was worried and then my feeble mind took over and I have been mildly claustrophobic ever since.

Thanks for the atta boy on the update. It certainly does help folks searching for a problem when they can see if that fixed the issue or not.

I was fine till about 58 yrs old. Went on the Raiders of the lost ark Jeeps at Disneyland. Everything was fine, till we got to the end. Then I started to get out, and found out THEY control the seat belts. I don't like to be held against my will. Stupid, because you can get out of the tube anytime.

Was offered a window seat on a airplane. Guy and I started talking. He said he had it too. It's some juices in your mind that start flowing you can;t control. Your doomed now. LOL
CW

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Is my isolator suspect?

June 08, 2020, 04:01:54 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #1 – June 08, 2020, 04:05:48 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #2 – June 08, 2020, 04:15:59 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #3 – June 08, 2020, 04:35:32 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #4 – June 08, 2020, 08:24:35 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #5 – June 14, 2020, 04:04:59 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #6 – June 14, 2020, 05:00:37 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #7 – June 14, 2020, 05:40:33 pm

Re: Is my isolator suspect?

Reply #8 – June 14, 2020, 09:03:13 pm

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