eldondo
great plains
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Joined: 02/23/2011
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I should know the answer but I don't. Does the alternator, I should say, of the engine, charge the house batteries as we go merrily down the road?
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trickyvic3
Raymond NH.
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Joined: 09/08/2011
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I believe in most MHs only the chassis batteries are charged. House are charged by genny or shore power.
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wolfe10
Texas
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Joined: 10/08/2000
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Yes, it should.
But, very easy to verify with a digital voltmeter:
With shore power and generator OFF, check voltage at house battery. 12.7 is a fully charged 12 volt battery. If reading is over this, turn on some lights or any load for a few minutes to lower it to that level or below.
Start engine, go to high idle and check voltage at house battery. Voltage should now be 13.2-14.2 VDC
Brett Wolfe
1997 Safari Sahara 3540
EX: 1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
FMCA Forum: www.community.fmca.com/index
Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/
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Roadpilot
NH Seacoast
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Ours does, but I would check it per Brett's instructions.
2006 Millennium Prevost
2013 Chevy Avalanche LTZ Black Diamond
2009 HD Electra Glide CVO Screaming Eagle - mine
2009 Yamaha VStar950 - DW
Cruiser Caddie motorcycle lift
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jml
Laval, Québec
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On my Sunseeker class C the engine alternator charge the house batteries. Brett's test will confirm.
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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ALL motorhomes charge BOTH battery banks in Transit. If you have one that does NOT, then the charging system is malfunctioning. Doug
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ernestfortier
Palmdale, Calif.
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Depends on what RV you have, and since you haven't told us yet, I don't know.
Ernie Fortier
99 Bounder 34V
2 honda 2K paralled (for economy)
5.5 Onan onboard
96 Geo Tracker 4x4 Auto. convertable
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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Even quicker test. Have someone look at a light in the on position in the "coach". Start the engine. It should be noticeably brighter with the engine running and you should see the immediate increase.
Mike and Carole
2007 Snowbird 9'6" Super Slide
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
2000 F350 7.3 SC 4X4
previously 8'10" Snowbird Camper
2006 Triple E Regency 27 foot SXL SOLD!
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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ernestfortier wrote:Depends on what RV you have, and since you haven't told us yet, I don't know.
Lets make this easy. Tell us which motorhomes do not charge both battery banks. I have been a Motorhome Service tech for 34 years and have NEVER seen a Motorhome that does NOT charge both battery banks. So, that makes it 1978 to 2012. Tell us which brands and models Doug
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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For many years now on most all motor homes (if not all) there is a device called an ISOLATOR, may be a box with diodes in it (Metal housing, epoxy filled, 3 or 4 bolts stick out of the epoxy for wires to bolt on) or it may be a solenoid, not unlike a ford starter solenoid in appearance.
When driving this lets the engine charge ALL batteires.
SOME coaches have a "Bi-Directional-Isolator"
This means that as I sit here, in the RV park, typing, my chassis batteries are being charged in addition to the house bank
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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