Re: Checking batteries Reply #25 – April 29, 2015, 11:52:26 pm David,Open the generator door, bring a car next to it and use jumpers to directly supply the generator to start it. If it won't start right up, it's the starter. You can also use a small container of diesel and a return line back to it to find air leaks, and diagnose any fuel problems the generator has. Installing a low pressure gauge really helps too. Less than $20 buys enough hose and a pressure gauge. See my old posts for photos of the generator fuel pressure gauge along with the added coolant temp gauge. Pierce Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #26 – May 01, 2015, 07:25:18 pm This afternoon I shut off the a/c units, the computer, etc. and then flipped the 50A breaker to off. I left the interior lights on, and checked that they were still on as I measured the battery voltages for both house batteries. Both were pretty close to 12.8. I then went to the generator, turned on the preheat, and watched the interior lights. They stayed on. As soon as I hit the start, though, I got one click and all the lights went out. I checked the battery voltages and found about 12.6 on each one.Does this start to sound like battery problems? Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #27 – May 01, 2015, 07:44:23 pm It still could be the starter. Load test your batteries or substitute a known good one as Pierce suggested. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #28 – May 01, 2015, 09:25:17 pm Sounds like something is causing a dead short. Starter locked up, grounded cable somewhere, Locked starter solenoid. Use known good battery and jumper cables direct to starter, if same thing then you know its starter, if not its somewhere else. Or jump terminals at starter to see if it will start . That will also eliminate starter.Gary B Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #29 – May 01, 2015, 09:27:08 pm David, When 12-volt batteries are connected together (parallel) both will read the same voltage, even if one of the batteries are dead, so there is no value in check voltage on both house batteries. I would put my money on a poor positive or negative cable connection somewhere. But a damaged generator starter may act the same. It would help if you knew the battery voltage at the moment when the generator starter is trying to run. Does starter work ok when boost switch is on? Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #30 – May 01, 2015, 09:58:58 pm The generator has not been able to start since sometime in the fall. Using the boost switch, plugged in, Detroit running, doesn't make any difference.What started this whole thing was that we had no 12v power from the coach batteries while underway. Scuba Guy tried to help me with it when we were at St. Peters, MO in November. We're going to be quite busy this weekend, but maybe Monday afternoon I can get Jo Ann to try to start the generator while I watch the VOM.BTW, I've separated the batteries and checked the voltage individually several times, and they are always showing good. I'm a bit concerned about today's readings, though, as these are the lowest I've seen. The Audit system is showing 12.7 vdc right now, and that may be right, but since it is wrong on all of the tank readings I'm not sure I trust it on this, either. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #31 – May 01, 2015, 10:07:50 pm As an aside to this, is there a suggestion of someone who can check this electrical issue out in RIVERTON, WY? I specify Riverton because we will be there for a couple of weeks for our daughter's wedding. We'll be staying at the campground in town. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #32 – May 04, 2015, 06:01:04 pm I may have mislead some of you here when I described the "starting" of the generator as a clicking sound. It is more like a metallic banging. I think I'll try to record it this evening on my iPhone and then see if I can attach that recording to the report of what the battery voltage is at the moment of cranking the generator.With all of this preparation to report on the misbehavior the generator will most likely fire right up. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #33 – May 04, 2015, 07:38:22 pm We checked the battery voltage as I cranked the generator. Voltage was 13.07 initially, dropping to 12.99 as I had the preheat on. There was NO change when I cranked the generator.I recorded the generator's sounds as it cranked. Unfortunately, the iPhone stores that sort of file as an m4a file, which is not allowed on this forum. If someone has an idea of how to post that file please let me know.On edit: the audio file is attached (I hope). Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #34 – May 05, 2015, 12:59:23 am The forum shows m4a filetypes are acceptable. We recently changed m4a to mp3 using the Internet. M4A to MP3 | Zamzar - Free online file conversion Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #35 – May 05, 2015, 08:18:00 am Not an expert here, sounds like a clickING contact switch at first, then the clank, clank.... like like you SAID METAL TO METAL" , may be the starter solenoid not enguaginge the gears against the flywheel .. but grinding... DON KEEP TURNING IT OVER. I say this because of you battery voltage.. and it turns... may use a percussion instrument on the case of the starter.. tap, tap... A couple of times.. which is what i did on my 88..others are way more experienced, if it were mine... it's mechanic time SOUND worked fine Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #36 – May 05, 2015, 06:21:50 pm I also think it sounds like a solenoid trying to make contact. Did not hear any cranking sounds just the 2 clicking ones.JohnH Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #37 – May 05, 2015, 07:48:22 pm David:That is the classic sound of a starter solenoid with low voltage. The solenoid tries to connect the starter, but as soon as the starter draws current, the voltage drops, causing the solenoid to release, repeat... Need to find where the voltage drop is occurring. I would start at the house battery with a voltmeter, have someone try to crank the generator, measure voltage at points along the wiring path to the generator. In your post you mentioned measuring voltage, and it didn't drop much - where did you measure it? Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #38 – May 05, 2015, 08:23:13 pm Continued:I dug out my 12V schematic which I don't think is much different than yours. The main wire from the house batteries connects to the inverter fuse, then the boost relay, then the battery charger fuse, then runs to the main house battery switch by the entry door (aka the salesman switch), then finally runs to the generator starter. At any of these terminations there is a terminal lug and a nut, and the opportunity for a bad connection. Note the inverter fuse, boost relay and charger fuse connections will be under (inside) your 12V cover panel. The salesman switch should be accessible inside one of your cargo doors by the entry door. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #39 – May 05, 2015, 08:41:52 pm Thanks, Peter. I checked the battery voltage at the battery terminals. Are the "inverter fuse" and "battery charger fuse" the two automatically-resetting circuit breakers? We're in for several days of rain, so playing with electricity isn't high on my to-do list, but if I can have a few hours this weekend without rain I may be willing to shut everything off and try tightening connections. Again. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #40 – May 16, 2015, 05:13:34 pm I spent some time today poking around here, but I'm not sure what I actually accomplished. I turned off the 50A service, but left the batteries connected. I checked the battery voltage, and got around 12.6 or a bit higher. I then checked voltage at various places following Peter's suggestions. There are two automatically resetting circuit breakers and one that is reset by a push button from the rear. I got the same voltage on that manual one as I had on the batteries. Everywhere else I checked was about one volt lower. One nut on the salesman's switch was not as tight as the other one (it is now), but otherwise all connections were tight and clean. I then tried starting the generator, but stopped immediately as all I got was the same sound on the recording above.At this point I'm thinking that the starter has a problem. We'll be leaving Stillwater on the 26th, heading for Riverton, WY. Any suggestions for a repair shop in the Riverton area? Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #41 – May 16, 2015, 06:05:45 pm David,You need to find and correct that 1 VDC "loss". That is HUGE. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #42 – May 16, 2015, 06:13:42 pm I agree, Brett. That has me puzzled. I don't know if I'll be able to do much with it this week, but if I get a chance I'll see what I can see. I may have to wait until I get to Riverton. Jo Ann and Karen are planning a couple of shopping days, so I'll have time to work. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #43 – May 16, 2015, 08:29:47 pm Get a long piece of wire (like an old extension cord) and run it back to negative post on your battery when you check. Many electrical problems and headaches are caused by ground issues. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #44 – May 16, 2015, 09:07:29 pm I added an additional ground cable a week or two ago. Thanks for reminding me about it, though, as I will need to make sure it is safely tied up before we take off for Wyoming.There is a negative connection in that 12V box, so maybe the next time I poke around there I'll try running a wire from that terminal to the negative battery terminal and then see if that changes the voltage readings. Quote Selected
Re: Checking batteries Reply #45 – June 10, 2015, 11:01:59 pm I took the coach in this morning to have the generator worked on. About two hours after I dropped the coach off I got a call that it was done. It turned out that there was a poor connection somewhere. I ran the generator from the shop back to the campground and all was well. We'll see how it works Tuesday, when we head east for the next event on our busy summer schedule. Quote Selected
Topic: Checking batteries