BIRD

KIX · 03-22-2011, 01:07 PM

On the coach in the sig, BOTH battery banks are being charged when the charger is receiving 110 VAC. The chassis batteries ONLY are being charged from the alternator. The house battery bank does NOT get charged from the alternator. What's the problem?
thanks

**"007"** · 03-22-2011, 01:58 PM

Kix if you have one here is some info on the B.I.R.D. with picture and PDF information.

KIX · 03-22-2011, 06:37 PM

Thanks 007. I took a look at the the read you referenced and the pictures. Since I posted the OP I called Winnebago and talked to a service advisor or whatever they call them about the BIRD. What he told me is just opposite of the info in the thread you quoted. Winne says the BIRD switches charge over to chassis batteries only when the coach is either on gen or shore power. The BIRD has nothing to do with charging either bank when not on shoAnre power. Winne says the battery solenoid connects the two banks together when the ignition is switched to ON and therefore send alternator voltage to both banks simultaneously.
So, I think I have gotten my question answered and the answer appears to be that the battery solenoid is defective. There was one post in the thread you referred me to that had a very good suggestion. And that was to replace the 12V solenoid with a 14V solenoid so that he solenoid would not be the "weak link" in the charging circuit since charging voltages can regularly be 14.1V
Thanks for helping me out.