Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Monaco Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-08-2012, 03:19 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
distaff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
Bird Unit

Mine makes a really loud hum. I was puzzled and concerned that every time I put the batteries on line this loud hum started that I started turning things off until I found it. I don't seen any documentation online about it so I don't really know what it does, or why it makes such a loud hum.

I'm concerned that it may be failing - electronic parts usually go about their business nice and quietly.
__________________
Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
distaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 07-08-2012, 06:49 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Robi.1014's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
Is it the BIRD module buzzing?....or your Inverter/Charger (back near or "in" the battery bay).
__________________
Robi & Dale ---- Go Navy ----
2016 Winnie TOUR 42'
Tow: '19 Buick Envision
or: '08 Buick Lucerne
Robi.1014 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 06:46 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Mike Canter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
Or is it the Big Boy solenoid humming?
__________________
Mike Canter
"Gunner" USN Retired, Airdale
2004 Monaco Signature 44' Conquest. Detroit 60
Mike Canter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 08:59 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
distaff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
Hey Mike, good to hear from you again. Since the Bird unit and the Big Boy are inches apart it is really hard to tell which it is. Rob, I'm pretty sure it is not the inverter as mine is about 8 feet away.

What I do know is that my Big Boys doesn't seem to be working. If I leave the chassis batteries connected with the genset on or on shore power, the draws on the chassis will drain the chassis batteries, and the last time that happened I had plenty of juice in the coach batteries and the Big Boy wouldn't pass the power across to the chassis and I had to get a jump.

What I was planning to do was pull it yesterday but found I was missing something I needed, but while I was back there I sequentially opened the breakers until the hum stopped, and it was the Bird Unit circuit breaker. Each time I closed the breaker I did hear a fairly loud "clunk" just before the hum started again.

What exactly does the Bird Unit do? Also, is the Big Boy something that can be serviced or is it a throw away and replace part? I see they are fairly expensive.
__________________
Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
distaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 10:58 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Robi.1014's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
I'll have to bow out. No experience with your rig. But like "Frasier Crane" would say on his sitcom: "I'm listening".
__________________
Robi & Dale ---- Go Navy ----
2016 Winnie TOUR 42'
Tow: '19 Buick Envision
or: '08 Buick Lucerne
Robi.1014 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 12:10 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Triker56's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,031
Intellitec's BIRD is a Bi-Directional Isolator Relay Delay
Bi-Directional Isolator Relay

Charging batteries in an RV application.
When the coach is being driven, batteries will be charged from the engine's
alternator.
When the coach is plugged into shore power,batteries will be charged from the
converter or inverter/charger.
If neither battery is being charged, the batteries are fully isolated.
The controller also senses heavy load so neither battery to prevent the wrong battery from being inadvertently discharged.
__________________
99 Discovery 34Q ISB
2014 MKS AWD EcoBoost Toad
Fulltime Since "99"
Triker56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 01:07 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Mike Canter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
The BIRD Controller switches charging voltage from the house to the chassis batteries via the "Big Boy" solenoid/relay. The priority is the house batteries which have to get charged to 13.2 volts before the controller will actvate the Big Boy and then charge up the chassis batteries. If you have a bad house battery(s) that prevent the voltage from getting to 13.2 volts then the chassis batteries will never be charged. I have sent a full set of BIRD documents to paul and have spoken to him on the phone and he is going to do some testing and get back to me.
__________________
Mike Canter
"Gunner" USN Retired, Airdale
2004 Monaco Signature 44' Conquest. Detroit 60
Mike Canter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 02:16 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
distaff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Canter View Post
The BIRD Controller switches charging voltage from the house to the chassis batteries via the "Big Boy" solenoid/relay. The priority is the house batteries which have to get charged to 13.2 volts before the controller will actvate the Big Boy and then charge up the chassis batteries. If you have a bad house battery(s) that prevent the voltage from getting to 13.2 volts then the chassis batteries will never be charged. I have sent a full set of BIRD documents to paul and have spoken to him on the phone and he is going to do some testing and get back to me.
Mike, you are the best. I don't get over to the east side of the continent with my MH (I do get to NY on business pretty often), or I'd make plans to meet you in person.
__________________
Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
distaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 07:27 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Robi.1014's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
Clarification please...
Is "Big Boy" a true brand/manufacturer (or model) name?...for the battery isolation solenoid?
__________________
Robi & Dale ---- Go Navy ----
2016 Winnie TOUR 42'
Tow: '19 Buick Envision
or: '08 Buick Lucerne
Robi.1014 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2012, 08:57 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Mike Canter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
Yes it is actually called a Big Boy. Yes it is a brand name. It is a 200 amp continuous duty solenoid and I have been told it can handle 1000 amps for short periods. Not sure it is called a battery isolation solenoid but it does do that. It is really a charge 'selection solenoid but is also the battery boost solenoid. It is physically big and costs $280.
__________________
Mike Canter
"Gunner" USN Retired, Airdale
2004 Monaco Signature 44' Conquest. Detroit 60
Mike Canter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2012, 08:02 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
distaff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
Mike,

According to the specs you sent me a Big Boy can handle 1,200 amps for 30 seconds.

Both the BIRD unit and the Big Boy solenoid are Intellitec brands. When I first Googled different variations of "Bird Unit" I got a lot of unrelated results. It was only when I got the documents from you it became clear what it was.

Paul.
__________________
Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
distaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2012, 08:23 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
DennisZ's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pipe Creek, TX
Posts: 688
I replaced my relay recently, the cost for the new relay was $55 delivered, this is the new improved version with silver contacts, all the info to get a new one and how the system works is in this thread, if you find my post.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/cont...or-114093.html

Dennis
__________________
Dennis & Debbie Z (Retired) F415847
Pipe Creek, TX
2008 HR Endeavor 40PDQ / 2015 RAM 1500 Toad
DennisZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2012, 01:05 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Mike Canter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
Dennis, I don't think you bought a Intellitec 200 amp Big Boy for $55. What you bought was a battery isolation solenoid which is very different. On EBay the Big Boy is $284. Google Intellitec 200 amp Big Boy.
__________________
Mike Canter
"Gunner" USN Retired, Airdale
2004 Monaco Signature 44' Conquest. Detroit 60
Mike Canter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2012, 07:48 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
distaff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
Dennis,

I think that is the price of a B.I.R.D. unit, not the Big Boy. Mike is right that the Big Boy is close to $300, but the B.I.R.D. is under $60.

I'm going to the coach tomorrow to check to see which part has failed, or if both are for the trash bin. Hope it is the B.I.R.D.
__________________
Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
distaff is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.