hilcntry
?
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Joined: 06/18/2012
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Greetings,
Have an older Four Winds class C. Chevy 454,In good shape because it's
been stored in my pole barn when not in use.
Discovered this Spring that neither shore power or the on
board generator charge the starting battery. The house battery
is being charged by either one ok. The engines alternator charges both batteries ok through the old style battery eliminator.
The battery elim is working, it drops the relay when the ignition is off. Inside storage appears to be good and bad. The engine compartment
is a home for mice, no damage done till this year. They ate through
the radio antenna. Wonder if they could be the cause of the no
12v to the starting battery. Don't see any evidence of chewed
wiring. Assuming it's not a mouse problem, any clues to my
problem will be appreciated.
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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It is unusual for the Coach to charge the Chassis. Yes, Chassis usually will charge BOTH.
There's a device that makes the chassis charging happen. I thihk it's "Battery Minder" or something like that. I don't have one, but several here do, and I'm sure somebody'll be along with details.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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"shore power doesn't charge starting battery"
None of the motorhomes I have ever owned (one Class C and 3 Class As, ranging from 1977 to 2002) have been wired to do that, so I would say it is pretty much normal.
I imagine there is a way to add the wiring to do it, and still not allow the coach to run the chassis battery down. Believe me, you do NOT want that to happen!
Good luck.
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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Sloop Smitten
San Marcos, CA
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Joined: 12/14/2011
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My Class C does not charge my starting battery when using the converter. The solenoid is there to allow both batteries to charge off the alternator when the engine is running or to allow the use of the house battery to assist the chassis battery to start the engine. If you want to charge both batteries off the converter you can jumper the solenoid but that will also allow both batteries to drain down when using the house battery.
1992 Fleetwood Jamboree Rallye 24' M/H
Ford E350 Chassis, 7.5L Engine, E40D Transmission
My other motorhome is a 1978 Catalina 25 Sailboat
Cruising Califonia, Sailing the Pacific!
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Joined: 07/28/2006
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See THIS
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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IAMICHABOD
Sunny So Cal
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Joined: 12/12/2011
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My motorhome Does charge the chasis battery as well as the coach batterys when on shore power as I have been told many new ones do.
Mine is a 2006 Toiga.
It is called a BIRD I guess it can be installed on any motorhome,mine just came with it.
The BIRD
Works great keeps everything charged.
2006 TIOGA 26Q CHEVY 6.0 VORTEC
Recycled El Monte RV Rental
Buying A Rental Class C
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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I installed the Trik L Start . Took about half hour to install because of my location. I'm sure most applications could take less. Its working flawlessly for the last 4 years.
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Dakzuki
Carnation, Wa, USA
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Joined: 11/01/2002
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On my last RV I had a battery combiner made by these guys Link Very good product. I put it in when the factory combiner that connected the batteries with the engine running failed. This one combined the batteries if either the coach or chassis battery were charging along with the ability to manually override.
On my current RV I have a Trik-L-Start. Easy installation.
2011 Itasca Navion 24J
95 Chinook Premier
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John & Angela
Full Timers in Canada, USA and Mexico
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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As was previously mentioned most motorhomes don't charge the chassis battery from shore or gen, There are some high end units (American coach, Eagles, Traditions, Revolutions etc etc) that do.
We added a separate manual disconnect to our little C so it would.
2003 Revolution 40C Class A. 2002 Vanguard 22 foot Class C. Diesel smart car Toad or pulling a 2009 Timeout Tent Trailer.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but rather by the moments that take our breath away.
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Kit Carson
Northwest Louisiana
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Joined: 01/25/2012
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j-d wrote:It is unusual for the Coach to charge the Chassis. Yes, Chassis usually will charge BOTH.
There's a device that makes the chassis charging happen. I thihk it's "Battery Minder" or something like that. I don't have one, but several here do, and I'm sure somebody'll be along with details. I have installed a BATTERY TENDER on my Class C Winnebago. I keep it plugged in while in storage and it keeps the start battery charged and maintained. Works like a charm.
KIT CARSON
GOOD SAM LIFE MEMBER
USAF VETERAN
ARS: KE5VLE
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
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