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Topic: Chassis Batteries (Read 1547 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #25 –
Thanks, Brett. I do have a new 10ga sense wire from the sense terminal to the alternator and have measured in both places you suggest.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #26 –
I have yellow top chassis batteries and MK gel house batteries.  They seem to work well together.  At one time I had red top chassis and the resting voltage after charging was a bit different, but with the yellow tops it's almost the same. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker –
I have yellow top chassis batteries and MK gel house batteries.  They seem to work well together.  At one time I had red top chassis and the resting voltage after charging was a bit different, but with the yellow tops it's almost the same. 

Both the Optima red top and yellow top batteries are AGM technology and so the fully-charged resting voltage should  be the same. The details of the spiral plate design are different but the chemistry is the same.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
Thanks, Brett. I do have a new 10ga sense wire from the sense terminal to the alternator and have measured in both places you suggest.


I wonder  then if you potentially have a failing regulator that just can't deliver the requested voltage.  Or perhaps your regulator was replaced with one that delivers lower voltage.  There are regulators with lower voltage setpoints, adjustable regulators, 3 stage, etc so unless you are sure you have OE there might not be a "problem" exactly.

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #29 –
Wow what a technical discusion. You guys are way over my head. My 95 has three red tops which are old not sure of age. When in storage and plugged in I have a battery tender hooked up. When ready to travel they fire that cat engine and away we go. When its time to replace I will again use red tops. 
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #30 –
Quote from: joeszeidel –
Wow what a technical discusion. You guys are way over my head. My 95 has three red tops which are old not sure of age. When in storage and plugged in I have a battery tender hooked up. When ready to travel they fire that cat engine and away we go. When its time to replace I will again use red tops. 

Joe that's the ownership experience I didn't sign up for when I bought my coach from a Sleezy dealer ;)

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #31 –
Yup Mark you are correct and even if you didn't buy from a sleezy dealer, the help that you get from this forum cannot be bought anywhere. 
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #32 –
Mark, it is the original LN alternator.  It does work but the voltage seems low.  There is a voltage adjustment that I have to try.  That is next. It has probably worked this way since we got the coach.  Who knows what was done earlier.

Joe, a smart battery tender type charger is good for the start batteries.  Just sitting there, plugged in to a land line or not, even with the salesman switch off (turns off the house batteries) the start batteries see a small but constant load.  A smart solar charger or smart battery minder at 1-2 amps per battery is good,
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #33 –
Roger,
Look at the alternator drive belt. If it is old, hard or glazed it is slipping under load (the reason it's glazed) and that will effect alternator output.
JD
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #34 –
Thanks, John.  The belt is new and properly tightened.  At some point the alternator voltage adjustment screw must have been backed off a bit by the previous owner.  I am going to try turning that up a bit if I can.

Voltage Regulator Adjustment
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #35 –
Roger:

I read the Leece-Neville adjustment procedure. Does your alternator have a sense wire connection? If you do, I think the better place to measure the voltage for adjustment would be at the point where the sense wire is connected (typically at the chassis battery post on the isolator, or directly at the chassis battery), to account for any voltage drops between the alternator and battery.
Peter and Tammy Fleming
1991 U300 GV 40 - Sold, owned for 4 years
Downsized to Roadtrek Popular 210 class B
 

Re: Chassis Batteries

Reply #36 –
That makes sense.  I do have a new sense wire from my Sterling zero voltage drop isolator to the alternator. Voltage coming out of the alternator is low 13's last time I measured it. 

Not the best time of the year to be out fussing with this stuff although this might be a very short winter.  Or not.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN