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07-08-2012, 03:19 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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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
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07-08-2012, 06:49 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
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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
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07-09-2012, 06:46 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
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Or is it the Big Boy solenoid humming?
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Mike Canter
"Gunner" USN Retired, Airdale
2004 Monaco Signature 44' Conquest. Detroit 60
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07-09-2012, 08:59 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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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
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07-09-2012, 10:58 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
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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
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07-09-2012, 12:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,031
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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"
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07-09-2012, 01:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
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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
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07-09-2012, 02:16 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Canter
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.
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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.
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Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
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07-09-2012, 07:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,043
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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
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07-09-2012, 08:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
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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
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07-10-2012, 08:02 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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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
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07-10-2012, 08:23 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pipe Creek, TX
Posts: 688
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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
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Dennis & Debbie Z (Retired) F415847
Pipe Creek, TX
2008 HR Endeavor 40PDQ / 2015 RAM 1500 Toad
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07-10-2012, 01:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Freeport, ME
Posts: 4,707
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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
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07-10-2012, 07:48 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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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
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