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Topic: Dead house batteries (Read 1579 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #25 –
Ken, thanks for the feedback!  I may have to look into where I could possibly add a third 8D.  My battery compartment is in the steps on my GV and no room there.

I need to do more research on inverters, but do most have a low voltage battery sense to where they'll shut down at some low voltage battery watermark before completely exhausting the battery bank?
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #26 –
I don't know about others but mine does and my little plug-in 140 watt inverters I used on the U225 even alerted me when voltage dropped below 12.2 volts so I'm betting most inverters do alert you. Do a search on the forum for inverters. There have been many threads in the past. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Doesn't it pay to consider a charger/inverter, like Magnum or Xantrex have to replace a converter? Not hard to run a second Romex cable to automatically power motorhome outlets with the inverter or shore/gen. These are great battery chargers and it seems that this would be a nice upgrade.

I'm considering an upgrade to my old converter in the future and figure it may pay in the long run to install a Magnum or Xantrex charger/inverter.  It's been awhile since I had to read schematics, but it looks like all the converter is doing is charging the house battery and all DC functions on the coach are powered by the house battery?  That correct?  Not sure if I'm just getting caught up in the semantics of converter vs. charger?

Second question, it was my understanding that the alternator charges both the engine and house batteries when the engine is on.  However, I'm not sure I see any circuit connecting the house battery to the alternator UNLESS the main disconnect is turned to on.  Makes sense, but I just want to make sure that's correct?  When the main disconnect is off, my front monitor shows the house battery voltage fluctuating with engine RPM so my assumption was that it was charging off the alternator, but in looking at the schematic, I don't think that can happen unless the main disconnect is on.  Can someone confirm?
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #28 –
The alternator is connected to the center post of an isolator. One side post is connected to house battery and the other side post is connected to the start battery. Isolator is rectangular, with cooling fins and has three bolt cable connectors. Often found on engine side of firewall just inside side engine access door, near shore power connector.

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #29 –
I believe Barry means the alternator output is connected the center post of the ISOLATOR as he goes on to describe.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #30 –
I understand what the alternator and isolator do, however the main disconnect stands between the isolator and house battery. At least that's how I read it. I'll post the schematic when I get access on my PC, maybe I'm missing something.
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #31 –
Quote from: Benjie Zeller –

I'm considering an upgrade to my old converter in the future and figure it may pay in the long run to install a Magnum or Xantrex charger/inverter.  It's been awhile since I had to read schematics, but it looks like all the converter is doing is charging the house battery and all DC functions on the coach are powered by the house battery?  That correct?  Not sure if I'm just getting caught up in the semantics of converter vs. charger?
I believe you could say that is connected to both the battery and the coach DC circuit, because it does not go through the battery  to get to the coach circuits, but it supplies both the battery and the coach circuits.

Quote from: Benjie Zeller –
Second question, it was my understanding that the alternator charges both the engine and house batteries when the engine is on.  However, I'm not sure I see any circuit connecting the house battery to the alternator UNLESS the main disconnect is turned to on.  Makes sense, but I just want to make sure that's correct?  When the main disconnect is off, my front monitor shows the house battery voltage fluctuating with engine RPM so my assumption was that it was charging off the alternator, but in looking at the schematic, I don't think that can happen unless the main disconnect is on.  Can someone confirm?
As Barry and Brett both said, it is handled by the isolator.  The isolator is kind of like a switching system which handled supply and demand automatically.

Now the catcher!!!  The converter/charger does not charge the chassis (engine) batteries.  Many of us have solved that by using a trickle charger or a Trik-L-Start ( Ultra TRIK-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer.  A trickle  charger would charge the batteries and the Trik-L-Start "steals" power from the coach batteries to continously charge the chassis batteries.  Some will turn on the Boost switch the night before to charge up the chassis batteries, but I am not convinced that one should leave it on all the time to charge other.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #32 –
OK, here is a pic of my schematic.  I see where the connections out of the isolator hit the positive terminals of the engine and coach battery, but it looks to me like the connection to the house battery goes through the main disconnect.  Does anyone see this differently?  If not, then either my house battery is not being charged off the isolator unless the main disconnect is on OR the schematic is wrong.
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #33 –
Yes, as I read the schematic your house battery will not be charged by the alternator unless the main disconnect is on.  Normally you would have no reason to turn the main disconnect switch off when the engine is running so that should not be an issue.  When you have the generator running or are plugged into shore power the house battery will be charged by the charger regardless of the position of the main disconnect.
Monti
2015 Born Free Triumph Royal 4x4
Previous:  2000 U320 3600

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #34 –
Installed the Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power 9280 today. So far works as advertised. :)

The 9280 has 3 charge modes which the Inteli-Power selects depending on the voltage it sees from the batteries.

  • 14.4Volts Boost Mode
  • 13.6Volts Normal Mode
  • 13.2Volts Storage Mode

Once the batteries are charged it settles into the 13.2V storage mode. I'm wondering if I should just turn the dash boost switch on whenever I'm connected to shore power. Since after the first day the Inteli-Power should be in 13.2V storage mode which should be about perfect to keep them topped up without boiling them. (they're wet-cells)

Good idea or no?

See ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #35 –
Thanks Brett, I removed my old inverter and installed a new isolator.

(in my posting that is)

Barry

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #36 –
8D and 4D batteries refer to what?  I have no idea what mine are, but I have three batteries for the engine and three for the house,  and I was told that they are sealed.  The engine batteries are something that they called "gold top".  Hmmm.  The house batteries are large black batteries, I think Continental was written on them.  ....too much to learn!  Sure hope my charger/inverter thingee has this all sorted out.
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #37 –
Size: 8D is the largest footprint of what is normally used in the industry. lots of good data below

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ

The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #38 –
Hi Benji,

I had the same setup as you, but had space for a third battery, so installed 2 new DEKA 8D gels for coach power. If you have the space, it's worthwhile adding the additional battery.

A 2000W Magnum pure sine wave inverter with remote and gen start module will run around $2K, less installation and other supporting hardware - including a second panel with breakers for inverter-generated AC. That's what I'm planning at the moment. The converter breaker will be shut off and taped off, to be used in emergencies only.

Steve
1991 U225 Grand Villa

Re: Dead house batteries

Reply #39 –
Quote from: Merle Hench –
Hi Benji,

I had the same setup as you, but had space for a third battery, so installed 2 new DEKA 8D gels for coach power. If you have the space, it's worthwhile adding the additional battery.

Steve

Steve,

Where were your batteries located?  Mine are under my stairwell.  I haven't looked extensively, but I don't remember seeing any additional room under there.  I'll take a harder look next time I open it up.  If there's not room, I may try and fab something attached to the frame, behind the stairs for an extra battery or two.
Benjie, Ashley, Zoey, Fallon, and Lake
Round Rock, TX
In search of our next monster...