Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Topic: Sterling alt' to Battery booster. (Read 998 times) previous topic - next topic

Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

December 27, 2014, 05:27:53 pm

Well finally got it installed and gues what-it is working!!
Pulling a pex tube to run the sense wiring from Coach batteries to engine compartment was a tad trying but it finally worked. At 1000 rpm it is in boost mode for coach batteries and was putting out 14.4 v as shown on Trimatic panel and on VOM. Indicater LEDs show working on AGM which is correct. It takes about 2-3 mins for the start up boost mode to work but once that LED is lit steady all seems fine. I guess I will not know the full story untill I get on a road trip but will be watching for any changes to volts/amps while driving.
Now just to clean up the bits and once I am satisfied I may run the wires to Alt a bit neater.
Last thing to do is make a panel to go across the engine bay by all the electrical pieces so any road moisture etc does not get around the booster and relays etc.
Anyway here are a couple of pics to show the Isolator out and Sterling unit in.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #1 – December 27, 2014, 09:16:52 pm

Nice work John! Running wires on these coaches is one of the most challenging tasks when it comes to doing upgrades... I look forward to comparing notes at the Q, assuming that I finish installing mind by then

Don

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #2 – December 28, 2014, 01:12:27 pm

I see a cooling fan. How will that setup handle the heat and dirt back there.

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #3 – December 28, 2014, 01:16:21 pm

John there are 3 cooling fans and that is why in my comments I mention about putting a divider in front of it to do just that. it will have some venting panels on it and it all should keep 95% of moisture away yet still allow air flow. It is a work in progress for me but I will win.
Johnh

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #4 – December 28, 2014, 01:48:34 pm

As part of my Sterling installation, I want to identify all the components on the back wall of the bed platform and see if I can clean up the wiring a bit. Since my insulation is so shot, I won't risk installing the Sterling with its cooling fans until I at least remove the old insulation. Otherwise, I think the Sterling would choke on the dust of the deteriorated foam. So I will have the opportunity to mount the Sterling higher up in the compartment, and like you John, I plan to make a vented shield to surround the device.
Don

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #5 – December 28, 2014, 02:27:22 pm

John, That insulation looks better than most. First time I have seen quilted insulation, is that OEM ?
Gary B

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #6 – December 28, 2014, 02:34:46 pm

Howdy Gary, I have that same quilted insulation on my Coach. OEM, and still in great shape. I did have to replace a few of the plastic fender washers with ss, and added a few screws and washers.
Dave A

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #7 – December 28, 2014, 07:18:59 pm

Gary, as Dave said yes it is original and in perfect shape still. I do not have to replace that for sure.
Today I made up the removable panel to protect the Sterling unit and it will also protect all the wiring relays, circuit breakers and the computor for the Banks system which I had covered in a platic drop sheet since I bought the coach. This panel has now been covered in alum insulation and has 2 large metal vents on it that will allow a pretty good cross flow of air. I also made a removable bottom panel that fits under the insulated vertical one and when you drop the bed down it forms a totally enclosed "box" that should be pretty well road dirt and moisture free!! I will post pictures in the afternoon tomorrow as am waiting for some rubberised spray to dry overnight before I can put it all together to take pics.
John S, I think you will like it and it should answer your question, but of course a long road test will determine if it works or not, so will leave that till we head for Q.
John H

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #8 – December 28, 2014, 07:36:17 pm

Does anybody know who makes the quilted insulation that seems to have started in the 2000' model year? It appears to have lasted orders of magnitude better than the stuff they used in 99' and prior years...
Don

Quote from: Dave and Nancy Abel – December 28, 2014, 02:34:46 pm

Howdy Gary, I have that same quilted insulation on my Coach. OEM, and still in great shape. I did have to replace a few of the plastic fender washers with ss, and added a few screws and washers.
Dave A

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #9 – December 28, 2014, 07:41:08 pm

Don, someone was parting out a 2000 unit so check if the insulation has been removed(or can be) from that one. Check classifieds.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #10 – December 28, 2014, 07:47:08 pm

Howdy Don, I don't know who made/manufactured these insulation quilts but, I will look it all over carefully, to see if I can find a pn/manufacture. It is very good quality material, and as you can tell from John's pics, the pieces were made to fit and a nice seam all around the edges. Good stuff. You might have some luck with FOT parts.
Good luck, Dave A

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #11 – December 28, 2014, 09:13:14 pm

Don, I have the same quilted material. Still looks good, and washes easy. Have not seen a tag or ID number anywhere.

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #12 – December 29, 2014, 05:51:02 pm

Well the panel etc is done and installed and can be simply lifted out if need be and a seperate base to fill the inside base area. It also comes apart and out and hopefully keeps this space nice and clean and dry. We will see.
Here are a few pictures to try and give you an idea of what it looks like.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #13 – December 29, 2014, 05:56:14 pm

That seems like a pretty good idea, John. I may have to steal it.

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #14 – December 29, 2014, 06:21:12 pm

Looks great John! So you put some rigid insulation on your panel. I am guessing that the panel underneath the insulation is aluminum... What gauge did you use?
Don

Quote from: John Haygarth – December 29, 2014, 05:51:02 pm

Well the panel etc is done and installed and can be simply lifted out if need be and a seperate base to fill the inside base area. It also comes apart and out and hopefully keeps this space nice and clean and dry. We will see.
Here are a few pictures to try and give you an idea of what it looks like.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #15 – December 29, 2014, 07:47:46 pm

Actually the lower piece is 1/4" ply painted with a rubber coating then sprayed aluminum to try and match the large panel. It also has a 3" round plastic vent in it below the unit to add to air circulation (hopefully)
This lower panel is held in place by the vertical one and sitting in the recess in the box framing going around engine, and is not going to fall out or?
Methinks it will work fine so we will see.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #16 – December 29, 2014, 07:56:20 pm

Well, I like your idea of a panel that goes all the way across and lifts out. I am definitely going to steal that... protect everything under there with enough air space and cooling air.

Quote from: John Haygarth – December 29, 2014, 07:47:46 pm

Actually the lower piece is 1/4" ply painted with a rubber coating then sprayed aluminum to try and match the large panel. It also has a 3" round plastic vent in it below the unit to add to air circulation (hopefully)
This lower panel is held in place by the vertical one and sitting in the recess in the box framing going around engine, and is not going to fall out or?
Methinks it will work fine so we will see.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #17 – December 30, 2014, 12:16:46 am

Yes I like the way it fits and can be out in 10seconds if needed. Just talking to my Bro' tonight after he looked at pics and I think I will add a piece of the air filter mesh in front of each of the 2 vents to help restrict dirt but still allow air. I will make a couple of spares too and somehow clip them in place so as not to fall out

JohnH

Don, did you see I washed the engine wall covers just to make you a bit more jealous?

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #18 – December 30, 2014, 12:43:14 am

Well John, it is working! I really need to do something about the engine bay and generator insulation. Nothing good, and too much bad, can come from that nasty deteriorated stuff.

Don

Quote from: John Haygarth – December 30, 2014, 12:16:46 am

Don, did you see I washed the engine wall covers just to make you a bit more jealous?

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #19 – December 31, 2014, 02:34:22 pm

decided to put a piece of a filter pad on each of the 2 vents on the wall I built just as a precaution with dust.
John S- what is your opinion now of what I did?
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #20 – December 31, 2014, 04:33:30 pm

John,

That looks like it will keep out most of the dirt. I am still interested to see how much heat is generated. That looks like there will be enough air space to dissipate the heat. Keep us posted after a couple of trips.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #21 – December 31, 2014, 06:19:10 pm

P& M- since I changed over to the Resonator there is not the heat in compartment like it used to be as nothing to hold exhaust heat in any more. That difference was noticed right away as the bed was no longer warm when climbing in it at bedtime. Mind you I am also a year or 2 older since it was removed and somone told me "as you get older you cool down" Darn it. $:-\$
Engine runs around 200 deg cooler on the Banks Pyrometer Gauge so I think it will be fine. I can always put a 12v fan in there to help I suppose.
JohnH

Re: Sterling alt' to Battery booster.

Reply #22 – December 31, 2014, 08:03:27 pm

John, I like that setup. I'm going to copy it also! Nice job.

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