Community Forums

Vtxbiker · 10-18-2018, 05:42 PM

I have a question about the normal position of the 3 battery switches in the battery compartment. I bought this coach used and all 3 switches have been in the on position the whole time I have owned it. The switches are labeled engine,emergency parallel, and house. I looked in the owners manual but found no information about them. I have cycled the engine switch to reboot the Vansco when I have a problem with something not working.If I turn off the emergency parallel switch I lose all 12 volt house power inside coach. Is this the correct operation?

twinboat · 10-18-2018, 05:52 PM

The emergency parallel switch should be use just to tie the house and start batteries together for emergency starting of the engine or generator.

If things in the house go off when you turn off the emergency switch, that means that the house batteries are not connecting or are totally dead.

winniman · 10-18-2018, 06:26 PM

I agree with twinboat. The parallel switch would be similar to the boost button most other rvs have on their dash. Shut all the switches off for an hour to let the batteries rest, then test each set to see what the voltage is. Maybe your house batteries are toast. The voltage should be around 12.7 or 12.8 if the batteries are good and fully charged.

whalepirot · 10-18-2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winniman

The parallel switch would be similar to the boost button most other rvs have on their dash.

My Alpine has both. Does your post mean the compartment switch should normally be OFF? I understand that the dash 'boost' is for starting when the chassis batteries are low. Does that switch ON allow charging of all batteries, or does it not matter?

twinboat · 10-18-2018, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whalepirot

My Alpine has both. Does your post mean the compartment switch should normally be OFF? I understand that the dash 'boost' is for starting when the chassis batteries are low. Does that switch ON allow charging of all batteries, or does it not matter?

The charging of all batteries is handled by a different system.
It wouldn't be handled by a switch marked Emergancy. That would only be needed If the regular system was malfunctioning.

The Emergency switch should be left off.

Old Scout · 10-18-2018, 08:46 PM

Think you should wait for a late model Alpine owner with experience using this switch configuration to chime in and assist you....

RVPioneer · 10-18-2018, 10:35 PM

One problem with the boost swirch, at least on the 2005 MY, is that a certain amount of voltage is required from the Chassis/Engine batteries to operate the solenoid in order to connect the 2 battery banks together. Dead chassis batteries=non-operational boost switch. Perhaps WRV added the Emergency Parallel switch sometime after 2005 to allow owners to be able to actually start the coach when the chassis batteries are dead.

I agree that logic would seem to dictate that it should normally be left in the "off" position, but we are talking about an Alpine here.

Vtxbiker · 10-19-2018, 07:33 AM

Just a few more pieces of information about the system: All house batteries are new and are fully charged. The large solenoid in the battery compartment that connects the house and engine banks is energized and contacts are closed.Output 19 on Vansco is on. Shore power is on. Battery voltage is 13.5 volts on both house and engine batteries. Battery charger is on float per the Xantrex panel.

This would be just like being at campground. Also I do have a boost switch up front on drivers panel.
I have all 3 switches in the on position. All systems work fine and have since buying the coach.

Now if I turn the emergency parallel switch off I lose all 12volt systems operating inside the coach.

I am hoping like Old Scout suggests that someone with a 2008 Alpine can confirm one way or another if this is correct operation or not.

Thanks for the replies and for future ones.

Unplanned Tourist · 10-19-2018, 07:45 AM

Could it be that the switches are labeled wrong? Seen that before.

whalepirot · 10-19-2018, 09:45 AM

FWIW: My '07 is probably the same; a late model, as termed by OldScout and different from 'older' models.

Bottom switch is chassis, mid is Emergency Parallel and top is coach. Unable to post a pic in here.

I ran 115v shore power, shut 'OFF' the EP switch and the fridge, fwd TV, conv/micro operate.

I believe I read (owner's manual?) that the normal position for that switch is ON, which is how the PO delivered the coach to me.

JLMunsil · 10-19-2018, 03:46 PM

Do you loose 12 volt power in the coach if the bottom switch only is turned off?

twinboat · 10-19-2018, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vtxbiker

Just a few more pieces of information about the system: All house batteries are new and are fully charged. The large solenoid in the battery compartment that connects the house and engine banks is energized and contacts are closed.Output 19 on Vansco is on. Shore power is on. Battery voltage is 13.5 volts on both house and engine batteries. Battery charger is on float per the Xantrex panel.

This would be just like being at campground. Also I do have a boost switch up front on drivers panel.
I have all 3 switches in the on position. All systems work fine and have since buying the coach.

Now if I turn the emergency parallel switch off I lose all 12volt systems operating inside the coach.

I am hoping like Old Scout suggests that someone with a 2008 Alpine can confirm one way or another if this is correct operation or not.

Thanks for the replies and for future ones.

That tells me that the house battery voltage is not getting to the house loads.

Does the house battery voltage show up when the emergency switch is opened ?

Make sure the cables coming off the house batteries are actually connected to the house loads. Look for a tripped breaker, fuse or non functioning solenoid.

Janet and Todd · 10-19-2018, 06:30 PM

If you have a "Blue Sea" brand set of switches, the center, "key" switch should be in the horizontal position.

Bking · 11-03-2018, 07:07 PM

We have a 2007 APEX and have the same issue with the emergency parallel switch. Our “extra” ongoing issue is batteries discharging while connected to shore power. We have to keep the chassis batt’s connected to an external battery charger to keep them up while parked. At least until we get back to Washington to have it all thoroughly looked into. It’s a big gremlin