TO CHARGE OR NOT TO CHARGE....

[bigray]

I connected a small TV to my coach battery thinking that it charge while the Clipper was running. However, after a while the battery died. It was in the middle of my son watch "Finding Nemo". Having a 2 1/2 year stop watching TV is not a good thing.

I had to rewire the TV at a food stop. I thought the coach battery was suppose to change when the engine was running.

If it is suppose to, how can I trouble shoot the problem.

[handyman]

Bigray yes both batterys are suppose to charge with the engine running or with a/c pluged in or the gen running if it's not with the engine running take off the + cable and put a volt metter on it with the engine running you should read 13.5 to 14.6 if you get nothing your isolater is probaly bad it allows both batterys to charge but wont let the house drain the engine battery also you might want to have the battery checked you might have a dead cell  

[bigray]

Jim,

Thanks for the prompt reply. My battery might be on it's last leg. It doesn't much for it to get drained.

Where exactly is the isolator. How much would it be to change that puppy once I do find it.

Let me know!

[handyman]

it should be just to the right of the center when you open the hood it's the thing with all the wires going to it the battery leads ect it's hard to miss mines just under the brake lines just look for the big wires there fairly chep I think you can even get them at Kragen  

[Conrad]

The RV section at my local ACE hardware store had the heavy duty isolator.  The local auto parts just had a standard unit.  I had success with he HD unit.

[AndyIlles]

BigRay.... FINALLY something I can help someone else with.  I had exactly the same problem.  As Jim Foster said, there's a large relay right in front, with a little circuit breaker next to it. $20 total, any parts store.  The relay looks like a 35mm film canister with terminals sticking out of it... the circuit breaker, like half a metal Pez dispenser.

The relay has a wire coming from the ign. switch so that it engages when the engine is running.  It disconnects when the engine's off.

[HPotter]

When the Clipper is connected to shore power or to the generator, the front battery is NOT being charged--it only is charged if the engine is running.
By the way, if the isolator solenoid up by the grill ever needs replacing, be sure to get one that is rated for continuous duty--some of the starter- solenoid types will overheat and self-destruct if they run for a few minutes. ACOC #886
Harold,

[handyman]

Bigray sorry about some miss info my clipper has a switch on the isolater that when switched on will allow the engine battery to be charged or start the engine off the house battery there a picture of it in one of the older teck forms really works great, all thats needed is two peices of wire and a togel switch  

[bigray]

Thanks you guys for all the feedback. I'm going to change the isolator one day this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thank for the instructions on which isolator and/or selenoid to get.

[HPotter]

One more point--I can't see how a switch across the isolator solenoid can make it possible to start the engine from the coach battery, because there is no way that #12 wire coming forward from the coach battery is going to handle the load of cranking the engine.
What it can do, though, is keep the front battery charged during long periods of storage. Just remember to disconnect it before starting, or you could end up with all the insulation melted on that wire.
Harold, ACOC #886

[bigray]

HPotter,

I'm not all that electrical inclined so I couldn't exactly follow your last post.

What will the front battery be doing during long period of storage that the house battery won't.

I thought about running a jumper cable size wire from the front battery to the back one.

I figured since I'm always draining the house battery, I could jump it from the back battery. Instead, I bought one of the booster boxes from Wal-Mart.

Once I change the isolator (and perhaps get a new battery), I won't have the need to jump the house battery so frequent.

[HPotter]

Big Ray, to clarify my last post, I should have said that during those long periods of storage you would have the shore line connected to power. Then both batteries would get the benefit of the trickle charge coming from the power converter.
Harold.

[cat]

Several years ago I sent in a simple drawing of how one could hook up a toggle switch that would allow the engine battery to charge off of the converter/charger in the motor home.  I took some heat from some fellow menber who didn't care for my drawing and thought it should have been in a technical electrical schematic drawing.  Life's tough.  I never intended for this design to allow the house battery to start the engine.  It couldn't, as Harold Potter pointed out.  It is only to be used as a means of charging the engine battery when switched to that position.  You could just use a piece of wire with two alligator clips.

[handyman]

And a great idea it was thats where I got it from your right it wont start the engine but will recharge a dead battery thanks again for the info  

[bigray]

Oh.........I gotcha.

Right now my girl is sitting on my driveway. Until my homeowners association sends me a friendly letter, it will be here at my home. Afterward, she's going to be at a storage lot. I don't know if I'll have access to shore power there.

I guess that was my frame of mind. If the wire will charge the front battery, I'm all for that.

Thanks Harold Jime, and TigerCat.

I so look forward to meeting you guys. Speaking of which when and where is the next rally. I'm from Houston, TX so I have a long haul but I'm going to do it.

You guys are a tremendous help to me. Thanks a million.