House batteries not charging

[rvjimmy]

My house batteries don't seem to charge up while running down the road. They charge up fine when plugged into shore power. I have a 2002 Dutch Star with a 330 CAT on a Freightliner chassis. It just started doing this what do I look for and where might it be.

[OneRVer]

The only thing I can think of is the Alternator. Have you checked all of your connections, ie; grounds? Sorry not anymore help but this is where I would start. Good luck and let us know what you find.

[pkmesser]

First item, does your chassis battery charge when plugged into shore power? You can check with a voltmeter, the coach batteries and chassis should be the same. If not, find the Bi Directional Relay Delay, and check for voltage on the "relay" connector. If you do not have voltage here, there is a problem with the BiRD itself, or it's power sources. If you have 12 volts on that connector, then the battery isolator relay (power solinoid) is probably bad. (you can follow that lead from the BiRD relay connector to find the correct solinoid)

You almost certainly have a problem with your BiRD system, it can be a fuse, a bad solinoid, or a bad Bi Directional Relay Delay itself. Do a search on this forum, there are a lot of posts on the issue. I had to troubleshoot mine this past winter, and needed to replace the battery isolator solinoid, which is controlled by the BiRD itself. My MH is a gas unit, and the system is slightly different that the diesel rigs, but you will almost certainly have a BiRD system with a Newmar MH. If you get replys from persons with other than a Newmar, I suggest you ignore them, they do not have the same type of system. If you do not find enough information by doing a search, look for BiRD under the "Quick Tips and Easy Mods" section of this forum. (sorry, I haven't taken time to figure out how to give you a link within the forum post. It is the 2nd "sticky" in the Newmar forum) But just so you know, before you do a search, the BiRD system and associated relay(s) connect the two battery systems together for charging, 1 1/2 minutes after either of them see 13.1 + volts, either from the alternator, or from the convertor. When the voltage drops below that threshold, (not charging from either source) then they are seperated. If you have further questions after you look at the other information on this forum, send me a PM. (The gas rig units have 1 solinoid, and I understand the diesel rigs may have two solinoids).

["007"]

This is a link to your B.I.R.D. System there are two types one for gas and DP.
Make sure you have good tight clean battery ground cables to chassis frame and on batteries. Use a star washer to keep them tight.
Alternator should be bolted tight also.
Follow Pk's instructions also.

Information on RV Electric Systems

[pkmesser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvjimmy My house batteries don't seem to charge up while running down the road. They charge up fine when plugged into shore power. I have a 2002 Dutch Star with a 330 CAT on a Freightliner chassis. It just started doing this what do I look for and where might it be.

I reread your original post, and see that your batteries charge on shore power. You still need to check at the BiRD, check for 12 volts on the relay connector, both while on shore power, and then again while disconnected from shore power, but with engine running. In each case, wait 2 minutes from the time of establishing that power until you check. If you have 12 volts on that connector in both cases, then the solinoid is probably bad. If you do not, then check the alternator input (chassis battery) to the BiRD with the engine running. If you do not have input voltage, you may have a wireing issue with that input. The most probable issue is that isolator solinoid, these seem to be prone to failure. The coils can burn up, and also the contacts can go bad. In my case, the contacts were bad.

[rvjimmy]

I would like to give a update but have been busy with keeping the wife happy with all the stresses of a upcoming wedding. That will be over this weekend so then I should have time to look at it.