Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 08, 2025 ...

1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

March 07, 2014, 06:19:39 pm

Hi, just replaced one of my 8D's, and now am unsure which is the start battery, and which is the coach battery. It looks like the front-most should be start.

Sound right..?



Thanks


Dave

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #1 – March 07, 2014, 06:29:10 pm

Disconnect one battery.  Try to start engine.  If it does that's the one.

Keith

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #2 – March 07, 2014, 07:05:51 pm

Dave,

Right at the end of the red battery cable should be a white label with a code on it. IF you can still read it, you can compare to the schematic. The engine battery lead to the starter will probably have a "B1" on it and the coach positive cable label should have a "B7" on it. Engine battery black ground cable should say "B2".

Pierce

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #3 – March 07, 2014, 07:13:07 pm

Connect ac power and get the battery charger running. The voltage in the house battery will go up whilst that in the starting battery will remain unchanged.

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #4 – March 07, 2014, 07:13:54 pm

Well sure Keith, apply logic to my dumb question

Too long upside down under the coach (first decent weather in a while).

Thanks Pierce, that might also be handy.


Thanks


Dave


ps. it's fun when a previous owner, or shop, changed out a couple of major Ground wires with Red wire instead of black, then put a tiny bit of electrical tape on the wire to 'tell me'...

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #5 – March 07, 2014, 07:23:52 pm

Dave,

That's why it's so important to make sure the code (if you can still read it) goes where it is supposed to go. Ours was also grossly miswired when the last owner or shop changed the isolator. Took a while to figure out why both sets of batteries were tied together and where the error was. If no code visible, use a tester to see where the cables go. Brother P label machine is good to make permanent labels to wrap the cables with.

Pierce

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #6 – March 07, 2014, 07:25:48 pm

Mmmm, you've got me thinking that this might be why I am eating batteries. Many other Posts have me also questioning the charger/inverting system as well. Bit expensive to guess at, and replace if unneeded...

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #7 – March 07, 2014, 08:20:45 pm

A few minutes with a good digital meter will quickly tell if the charger is doing good or bad for the battery.

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #8 – March 07, 2014, 09:40:10 pm

Looks like all 91 OREDs aren't the same in this regard.  My engine battery is an 8D back aft in the shore power comp't.  My house batteries are under the step going into the coach and there are 4 of them (6V deep cycle golf cart batteries) in a series parallel set up.  One good thing about the 6V batteries is that are a lot easier to change out than the 8D.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz

Quote Selected

Re: 1991 Grand Villa ORED 36' - Battery order

Reply #9 – March 08, 2014, 03:12:46 am

Hi Fritz, ya, I have also seen your setup. I wondered if I had a third battery hiding somewhere, but I don't.


Best


Dave

Quote Selected