Electricity and batteries on my DS 2006

[Iron Man]

Verify if you generator starts off the chassis or house batteries. Am not sure about the DS but Essex strarts off the chassis. Knowing this could come in handy if you dry camp.

[wa8yxm]

WHat else uses 12vdc:
Lights, most of them at least
Roof vent fans
Furnace
Control board on water heater, and Refrigerator
IN SOME CASES control power for the air conditioners
Propane/explosive gas detector
IN SOME CASES Smoke and CO detectors
Water pump
If you have slide outs or power jacks or power steps or power awning.

Shall I go on?

[Renden]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

WHat else uses 12vdc:


If you have slide outs or power jacks or power steps or power awning.

Shall I go on?

If hydraulic levellers are on 12VDC, why put the ignition on ACC ??

[Luv2go]

Originally Posted by Renden

If hydraulic levellers are on 12VDC, why put the ignition on ACC ??

On our coach the levelers run off chassis batteries (I've traced the wires). The ignition key has to be in the "run" position to use them. If the voltage is too low (i.e. engine off and not hooked up to shore power which charges the chassis batteries thru the BIRD) the jacks will refuse to work until the engine is started. Our chassis is a Gas Puller with Atwood electric jacks, your setup is hydraulic but you still need DC power to run the hydraulic pump when leveling. HWH should have a similar low voltage lockout to protect your chassis battery.

IMHO if you can level (or unlevel) without the engine running you're fine, especially if you are hooked to shore power or going to drive away shortly, either of these situations will recharge the chassis batteries quickly.

[Dave1956]

I am also a complete rookie with my coach (2003 KSDP) but at the dealer I was instructed to set the parking brake, turn off the coach engine (that way the alarm does not sound when deploying jacks) switch the key to auxillory, and then lower the jacks. So far it has worked fine. I really don't know, but it seems that since they are hydaullic they should not be drawing too much power??

[Renden]

I follow Newmar's plastified instructions on levelling for my model and have never experienced loss of power. However, when I arrive at a new site, I plug to shore power prior to levelling - First time I hear about the BIRD - nice to know the chassis batteries receive a charge also. Therefore, no need to put the Gen on for this levelling procedure, unless, maybe, I do not have shore power and want to keep my chassis batteries optimized.

[Iron Man]

Unless you have battery issues the chassis batteries should more that power your HWH system. I turn my key to acc and auto-level the coach while I am hooking up the power/water/sewer. After HWH is finished we out the slides. I know those with electric jacks that have to have the engine running to level the coach, but that is a totally different leveling system.

[Renden]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Unless you have battery issues the chassis batteries should more that power your HWH system. I turn my key to acc and auto-level the coach while I am hooking up the power/water/sewer. After HWH is finished we out the slides. I know those with electric jacks that have to have the engine running to level the coach, but that is a totally different leveling system.

Thanks - so you agree with my method, when you do not have shore power

[Renden]

What is the BIRD ?

[GaryKD]

Hi Renden,
The short answer is:

The B.I.R.D. is a (Bi Directional Islorator Relay Device). What it does is allow the engine alternator to charge the coach batteries as one motors down the road. It also allows shore power to charge the engine batteries when camped and connected to shore power.

There are conditions that must be met for this to happen, but that is the long story.

[Renden]

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi Renden,
The short answer is:

The B.I.R.D. is a (Bi Directional Islorator Relay Device). What it does is allow the engine alternator to charge the coach batteries as one motors down the road. It also allows shore power to charge the engine batteries when camped and connected to shore power.

There are conditions that must be met for this to happen, but that is the long story.

GaryKD

I like long stories since most Forums I go to (except this one) do not mention the chassis batteries being charged by shorepower (or Gen) and this interests me very much so

Appreciate your input - by Tampa's Super Show, I should know the all the answers on my Dutchstar

[Renden]

Originally Posted by Renden

GaryKD

I like long stories since most Forums I go to (except this one) do not mention the chassis batteries being charged by shorepower (or Gen) and this interests me very much so

Appreciate your input - by Tampa's Super Show, I should know the all the answers on my Dutchstar

This is what I found on Xantrex's Web Site:
Battery Chargers | Auxiliary Battery Charger | Xantrex

[Renden]

Originally Posted by Renden

This is what I found on Xantrex's Web Site:
Battery Chargers | Auxiliary Battery Charger | Xantrex

After some research and reading another thread on electricity, found useful info in the BIRD

Am trying to locate it on my DP - asked 007 a few minutes ago

http://www.intellitec.com/PDF/5300362.100.pdf------ BIRD SYSTEM

["007"]

Not sure you have a BIRD in your DP the Xantrex will charge your chassis batteries when plugged into shore power from what I read on your link.
Would not know where that unit is.
I think GaryKD has a BIRD on his DP maybe he can help for location.
The Bird as you have read will charge off alternator while traveling.