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ARMoto

Pittsburgh

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Posted: 05/05/12 08:54pm

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Hi all

I'm pretty new to the Class A RV worls and have a question. I have a 2007 Holiday Rambler Ambassador 40DFT. I noticed that the house batteries do not charge off of the alternator. They do charge fine with on shore line or on the Gen.

Some times it charges and some times it does not. I just had the Alt changed as well as the belt. Is there a certain criteria that most be met before the Alt charges the house batts?

hammer01

Saint Amant, la.

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Posted: 05/05/12 09:12pm

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I have a class A gas and my house batteries were not charging. I took it to a mechanic friend of mine and he found a selenoid that thad failed. he replaced it and everything is fine now. Hope this helps.

Jeff

2ndhom

Eugene, Oregon

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Posted: 05/05/12 09:35pm

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ARMoto wrote:

Have you read your owners manual as to how the house v/s chassis batts get charged? Your inverter usually takes on charging either/or.

Fishinghat

Western Washington, USA

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Posted: 05/05/12 09:58pm

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Since the house batteries are being charged by shore power and the generator, the problem is the alternator's charging system. It is supposed to charge the coach batteries first and then charge the house batteries.

As hammer01 suggested, it could be a failed selenoid.

Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Hummer, and Honda VT1100C Shadow

ARMoto

Pittsburgh

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Posted: 05/05/12 10:09pm

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If the selenide is the large relay located in the battery comp that has the two large battery cables connected to it then that was changed last year. Still not working.

garym114

Bluff Dale, Texas

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Posted: 05/05/12 11:25pm

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If one of the large battery cables on the solenoid go the house batteries and the other goes to the chassis battery, that is it.

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ARMoto

Pittsburgh

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Posted: 05/06/12 05:45am

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Thanks Dale

Yep that's what was changed and still not working. There must be a signal that activates the selenide, perhaps a low voltage signal. If so then the issue may be farther up stream.

Ivylog

Blairsville, Ga. USA

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Posted: 05/06/12 06:22am

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Call Monaco (800-634-0855) tomorrow and they can help you find your problem. You'll need a meter and the last six of your vin #.

This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.

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Clay L

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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Posted: 05/06/12 12:33pm

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For many manufacturers the solenoid is activated by a wire from the run terminal on the ignition switch.
My Winnebago also uses that wire to run the back up monitor, the step retraction when the key is on and a rear heater fan.

In my case the amp fuse fuse labeled "Step Alarm" has blown and I will be trouble shooting the system today. I am sure your fuse won't be labeled the same but maybe knowing the above will help.

A couple of quick checks you can make.
With the engine running press the AUX Start switch and see if the voltage on the house batteries goes up to the alternator voltage (around 14.5 volts).
If so the solenoid and one wire are okay.

With the step switch in the stay open position see if they retract when the ignition switch is turned to the run position. If not then there is a common wire or fuse between the run terminal on the ignition switch and the solenoid and the step controller board.

Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (Wife), Katie (cat).

Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad

Jim@HiTek

Gresham, OR, USA

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Posted: 05/06/12 02:07pm

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It can appear that the alternator isn't charging the house batteries...

I thought this was the case on my rig when I'd start the engine and watch the voltage across the house batteries. Didn't change. But then one day, I left my probes on longer and found that 2 minutes after starting the engine, a solenoid would close, and charge the house batteries from the alternator.

Since then, I've learned that the BCC (Battery Control Center) does the job of checking the chassis battery voltage after starting...waits until it's charged, then closes a solenoid to charge the house batts.

The older and weaker the chassis battery is...the longer the delay will be.

Jim@HiTek
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