Charging while driving

[Mortgagehomes]

Driving down the road House batteries go dead even though my One Place says 13.8 volts. Is this reading taken before the charging selonoid?
If so it would make sense that my selonoid is history and needs replacement. It charges just fine when on shore power.

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortgagehomes Driving down the road House batteries go dead even though my One Place says 13.8 volts. Is this reading taken before the charging selonoid? If so it would make sense that my selonoid is history and needs replacement. It charges just fine when on shore power.

I don't know what a "One Place" is but there is a isolation solenoid under your entrance step that, when it fails, will cause this. Inexpensive and easy to replace. Pull the step up to expose the batts and then remove the back of the step to reveal the cover. The solenoid is behind the panel.

[RickO]

I'm not sure where the one place panel pulls the voltage reading but I think you've assessed the situation correctly. If you have a "battery boost" switch on the dash you should be able to test the operation of the bridging solenoid by operating it and listening to see if it's engaging. Although that doesn't ensure that the electronics controlling it are operating correctly by telling it to bridge the batteries when the engine is running.

I think another, and probably easier, way to test it is to ignore the one place reading and take a multimeter directly to the coach batteries while the engine is running. If you are still reading >13 volts I think your system is working properly and the issue might be with your batteries.

Good luck...

Rick

[RJay]

If you have a BIRD(Bi-directional Isolation Relay) it could be your problem also since the BIRD controls the solenoid.

[puttin]

homes,

The volts you see is what's at the battery terminals. Shut everything off, and keep shorepower/generator off. Now you'll see the "resting voltage". If you get less than 12.5 there- replace them. (You should check the batts. after they've been off charging mode at least two hrs.)