Help dead batteries ??

Topic: Help dead batteries ?? (Read 1972 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #25 – June 30, 2013, 08:51:09 pm

Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter – June 30, 2013, 08:01:39 pm

I'd focus on getting the starting battery bank up to speed in order to start your generator.

I just checked the wiring diagram for our 1997 coach. The generator starts from the house batteries rather than the chassis batteries.

As others have suggested, check all connections and check voltages to know that state of things. I suggest that if you can get shore power, even 15 amps, do that. Fifteen amperes at 120 VAC can provide 100 amperes of charging current at ~14 VDC. The draw may trip a 15 amp breaker. Fortunately, I've not had the experience of dealing with dead batteries on the Foretravel (yet!).

I like John S's suggestion of a portable charger on the house batteries to "bootstrap" the system.

Some options include:

using jumper cables to the house batteries to get the generator started;
putting an external charger on the house batteries long enough to get the generator started;
using jumper cables and a GOOD 12 VDC source to start the big engine in order to drive to a 50A pedestal;
pulling one or more batteries and taking them to a charging station, then "bootstrapping" by getting the generator started.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #26 – June 30, 2013, 08:53:12 pm

Anybody recommend good isolator switch

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #27 – June 30, 2013, 09:00:04 pm

May try jumper leads to coach battery's in morning , anything I should be aware of ?
Is it just parallel connections to booster battery then try start generator ?

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #28 – June 30, 2013, 09:27:40 pm

There are a few things to consider, especially if this is a fairly new-to-you coach. The electronics surrounding the engine and transmission do have a draw while "off". If the air leveling system was on, it might have used a lot of juice turning on the 12 volt compressor over a 2 week period. Occassionally, my 2002's compressor would go on and stay on. I think that is a common complaint. Lowering/Dumping the air in the coach and then parking it is what I generally do, and then if I am not going to be around the coach for a while, I turn the compressor off with the switch the FT tech told me to add (I used to just pull the fuse). I have left the coach parked in outside storage where it was safe to leave the auto-start on for the generator. I was kind of surprised at how much it actually came on during the month it had to sit there while construction was going on at the house. Two weeks seems a short time to discharge everything...but it is possible.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #29 – June 30, 2013, 09:28:11 pm

hope you get things going. for your information foretravels like to be plugged in.
and even if they are plugged in, the boost should be turned on at least once a week
for 24 hours to charge the chassis batteries, or you can install a trik-l-start which will
keep the chassis batteries charged. there are just too many parasitic draws on the
batteries to leave the coach without power. the only other option is disconnecting
battery cables or install enough solar to do the job.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #30 – June 30, 2013, 10:37:49 pm

Right after we bought ours, we went to a wedding and had all the ventilators turned on. We came back to the coach and found engine and house batteries dead. Isolator had been mis-wired and drained both.

I just connected a set of jumpers from our toad to the engine batteries, put a small stick into the throttle linkage and let it run for about 15-20 minutes. Engine started quickly and then started the generator a few minutes later.

When isolators are replaced it's easy to make a mistake if you don't label the cables before you pull them. Photo is a good reference also. Took me an hour of scratching my head before I found what the last owner had done.

Pierce

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #31 – July 01, 2013, 03:57:26 am

(Reference: Isolator incorrectly wired by previous owner)

It is truly amazing how normal it appears that some folks are hell bent on out dumbing themselves when it comes to electric wires,

My guess: Mommy told boy wonder how brilliant he was and he believed it.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #32 – July 01, 2013, 06:39:37 am

Jimmy,

Remember to leave the generator auto-start on from now on. If your storage location doesn't permit this, find another location that either allows this or has power available.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #33 – July 01, 2013, 09:17:22 am

When I store my coach I turn off the 24 volt switch, plug in to a 30 amp plug and put on small amp battery charger on the start batteries. I never turn on the auto for the gen. Coach is always ready to go. Put a switch on the aux compressor and I also turn it off when in storage. Coach always sits level in storage but both air tanks will eventually leak down. My coach is inside an enclosed warehouse. DAN

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #34 – July 01, 2013, 11:11:58 am

24v switch ??

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #35 – July 01, 2013, 11:20:08 am

Did you ever get reading on battery voltages?Gam

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #36 – July 01, 2013, 11:30:17 am

No , heading over to store age this morning , will check then try to start generator

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #37 – July 01, 2013, 12:35:31 pm

When you get everything charged up I would suggest you do the following.

1. Put an ammeter on each battery bank in turn with the coach set up for storage. Look at your amp draw on both sets. This will let you know how long the coach can sit. To work this out it's 1/2 the amp hours of the battery bank divided by the reading of the ammeter to give you how many hours the coach can sit plugged in. 50% is the absolute minimum to discharge to prevent deep cycling.

2. Go to any good marine store and, as suggested before, purchase two disconnects. They MUST be rated for more than the maximum draw that they will encounter. Heaviest is the starter motor. Or you can just disconnect the batteries each time.

3. Install a solar panel!

Keith

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #38 – July 01, 2013, 12:55:56 pm

Wasn't able to check voltages before yard owner arrived with jump leads and got generator started . Now thinking of ways to isolate battery's or allow gen to run on auto ?

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #39 – July 01, 2013, 01:06:36 pm

Like the idea of the disconnects any ideas on current rateing

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #40 – July 01, 2013, 01:37:00 pm

Glad you got the generator started. The auto-start (for future) will make the generator come on for a period of time once the voltage drops to a certain level. I *think* they are usually set to come on at 12.3 V. It will run for a period, then shut itself off, awaiting another self-check to see if it needs to come back on. If similar to my 2002, you will find the auto-start unit under the floor in your compartment below the drink tray. Since it is a new-to-you coach, you may want to check to see that someone hasn't changed its settings. I'm sure that our units are likely described on one of Barry's pages.
Foretravel Luxury Motorcoaches
generator_auto_start_on_foretravel_motorhome_rv
Having the Boost Switch off should serve to isolate the two battery banks, as its role is to combine them temporarily when needed for a boost. Battery switches, to completely disconnect the batteries, are another issue...and a "mechanical isolator" as opposed to the standard "electrical isolator".

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #41 – July 01, 2013, 01:40:39 pm

Quote from: Jimmyjnr – July 01, 2013, 01:06:36 pm

Like the idea of the disconnects any ideas on current rateing

Brett Wolfe has always recommended Perko PERKO Inc. - Battery Switches - Medium Duty Battery Disconnect Switch

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #42 – July 01, 2013, 01:50:01 pm

Here's more from Barry on the Boost switch. Boost Switch

I experienced an alternator failure (the regulator died and there was no output) in Ohio and was able to drive on to Kearney, NE by running the generator and having the boost switch on as Barry describes.

BTW, I was first alerted to the alternator problem by my VMSpc voltage gauge that showed the voltage dropping (A VMS is a really good investment for this and many other reasons. I think they are $395, and a computer is needed), so I just turned on the generator and the boost switch and there was no stress or issue. I could have safely driven all the way home to AZ.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #43 – July 01, 2013, 02:24:25 pm

Quote from: amos.harrison – July 01, 2013, 06:39:37 am

Remember to leave the generator auto-start on from now on. If your storage location doesn't permit this, find another location that either allows this or has power available.

Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter – July 01, 2013, 01:37:00 pm

Glad you got the generator started. The auto-start (for future) will make the generator come on for a period of time once the voltage drops to a certain level.

But don't leave the generator in auto-start mode if you store in a fully-enclosed structure or if you don't have a means to pipe the exhaust out of the building.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #44 – July 01, 2013, 03:26:31 pm

Just trying to under stand. You never got voltage readings. So there can be some other problem then dead battery's. If they are dead they went dead in two weeks in storage. If everything is turned off shouldn't charge last longer then two weeks ,and if the boost switch was off how can both sets be dead?Something is wrong but I don't think the problem is two weeks in storage without a charge. I have gone 2 months in storage without a charge or a problem.Gama

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #45 – July 01, 2013, 03:45:52 pm

Totally agree , but unsure where to start

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #46 – July 01, 2013, 03:59:13 pm

Quote from: amos.harrison

Remember to leave the generator auto-start on from now on. If your storage location doesn't permit this, find another location that either allows this or has power available. On: Mon Jul 1, 2013 Brad & Christine Slaughter Wrote:

Quote

Glad you got the generator started. The auto-start (for future) will make the generator come on for a period of time once the voltage drops to a certain level.

Do the majority believe leaving a gen-set in auto-start, when the coach is un-attended, is wise?

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #47 – July 01, 2013, 08:34:51 pm

Clean all the coach and engine battery cables and battery terminals and use a dielectric grease afterwards.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #48 – July 01, 2013, 10:30:16 pm

Did you have the inverter switched off while in storage? Those things have a fairly high idle current.

Re: Help dead batteries ??

Reply #49 – July 02, 2013, 01:44:54 pm

Things like the inverter, TV antenna boost (if so equipped), compressor and even the propane and cO sensors are not governed by the "Salesmans Switch" can draw enough amps to flatten less than optimum batteries in two weeks. Since it is a new to you coach, try to learn all of the systems and I think you will find that not everything was turned off as one would get it.

The best bet is the battery disconnect that Brett recommends. Then you know nothing will sneak up and drain your batteries.

Solar is also a good option for long term outdoor storage. I would never leave the generator autostart on in an unattended coach. Too many bad things can happen. IMHO

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