|
|
10-21-2017, 10:56 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 10
|
Dead Chassis Batteries
I have been parked and plugged in to 50 amp shore power for three weeks. In preparing to depart on Monday I was performing checks and find my chassis batteries are dead (12.3v). The batteries are new AGM 4/2017. When I attempt to bridge the coach batteries I have no response. When pressing the Battery Boost toggle it does not light up. This started happening on my trip to Albuquerque after traveling a very rough highway through Arizona. In fact several items have shaken free but can be handled at a later date. When checking the battery compartment I found a loose wire that I do not know what the function is and have attached a photo. When checking the Elec Status (photo attached) on Alladin before opening the battery compartment I had NO solar charging now it appears I have some. I do not understand what the Aladdin display is telling me so any explanation of the readings is much appreciated. Questions include (1.) Is there a fuse or Big Boy that controls the Battery Boost and if so where would it be located? (2) Why would the chassis batteries not be charging or maintained by the charger/inverter and/or the solar? (3) What is the loose wire I found in the battery compartment and should it be connected, if so, where?
My rig is a 2007 Monaco Executive Sandia 44' with Cummins 525hp ISX.
Thanks in advance for your answers and assistance.
Patrick
|
|
|
|
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!
|
10-21-2017, 11:30 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: cayucos, ca
Posts: 1,299
|
Hi
We had an 05 Navigator for years so I haunted the Aladdin . That page for sure. It is showing your coach is hooked up to 50 amps with great voltage but inverter is not charging. Try going out to inverter and see if circuit breaker is on. Battery charger portion of inverter is not working. Try that and let me know.
__________________
Ross Starkenburg
2017 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. Spartan chassis w/full disc brakes. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 11:42 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
|
Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!
Sorry I can't offer suggestions on that problem. Keep her between the ditches!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 11:50 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
|
First, I was intrigued by your description of using AGM batteries for chassis starting use. I looked up Trojan Battery suggestions and found:
"What are the advantages and disadvantages of gel, AGM, and flooded lead acid deep cycle?
Generally, gel and AGM batteries have about 20% less capacity, cost about two times more, and have a shorter cycle life than comparable flooded lead acid batteries. However, Gel and AGM batteries do not need watering, are safer (no acid spilling out), can be placed in a variety of positions, have a slower self-discharge characteristic, and are more efficient in charging and discharging than flooded batteries (see table below). Gel batteries are more suitable for deep cycling applications whereas AGM batteries are more for light cycling and engine-starting applications."
So I guess if you don't mind the cost and have enough CCA, they do save having to add water. If you installed them, I would hope you checked that you have a proper charging system for AGM batteries.
If you have a 12.3v reading on your chassis batteries, measured at their terminals, they aren't dead. 12.3v is a state of charge of more than 70% . If you're not getting any reaction in the chassis circuits, it could be connection problem or blown fuse.
It's beyond my ability to tell from a couple of inches of a large gauge wire end to tell what its function and connection point should be. Where does it come from? Any voltage present? Is it a ground? Does it become 'hot' when the dash boost switch is held down?
You'll need to do a step-by-step check of your electrical system, checking for 12v with a meter at each point of the system, from batteries to fuse panel. Just reading off the screen of the Aladdin system isn't telling you much. You didn't mention which Aladdin model you have, but manuals are available online. Here's one.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 12:12 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: cayucos, ca
Posts: 1,299
|
I agree with bflinn. However I had AGMs in our coach and found that the chassis batteries held lots of storage. With the engine battery the motor always spun fast and started right up (Detroit diesel 60 series ). Check the inverter.........
__________________
Ross Starkenburg
2017 Newmar Dutch Star 4369. Spartan chassis w/full disc brakes. 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 12:20 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
|
That "loose wire" appears terminated with insulation and isn't supposed to go anywhere.
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 01:07 PM
|
#7
|
Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 10
|
Those are my fingers holding the wire so it is not large gauge. I am guessing that it is for battery temp but not certain. I was asking for the location of the fuses for chassis and inverter in my questions. I appreciate the link to Aladdin.
Thanks
First, I was intrigued by your description of using AGM batteries for chassis starting use. I looked up Trojan Battery suggestions and found:
"What are the advantages and disadvantages of gel, AGM, and flooded lead acid deep cycle?
Generally, gel and AGM batteries have about 20% less capacity, cost about two times more, and have a shorter cycle life than comparable flooded lead acid batteries. However, Gel and AGM batteries do not need watering, are safer (no acid spilling out), can be placed in a variety of positions, have a slower self-discharge characteristic, and are more efficient in charging and discharging than flooded batteries (see table below). Gel batteries are more suitable for deep cycling applications whereas AGM batteries are more for light cycling and engine-starting applications."
So I guess if you don't mind the cost and have enough CCA, they do save having to add water. If you installed them, I would hope you checked that you have a proper charging system for AGM batteries.
If you have a 12.3v reading on your chassis batteries, measured at their terminals, they aren't dead. 12.3v is a state of charge of more than 70% . If you're not getting any reaction in the chassis circuits, it could be connection problem or blown fuse.
It's beyond my ability to tell from a couple of inches of a large gauge wire end to tell what its function and connection point should be. Where does it come from? Any voltage present? Is it a ground? Does it become 'hot' when the dash boost switch is held down?
You'll need to do a step-by-step check of your electrical system, checking for 12v with a meter at each point of the system, from batteries to fuse panel. Just reading off the screen of the Aladdin system isn't telling you much. You didn't mention which Aladdin model you have, but manuals are available online. Here's one.[/QUOTE]
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 01:09 PM
|
#8
|
Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 10
|
It is actually bare metal on the end
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 01:21 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Angola State Prison - Murder
Posts: 4,230
|
That 'wire' is a temperature sensor that runs to the charger. Tuck it somewhere between the batteries. Aladdin looks normal for being plugged into 50a. Solar is charging at 3.6a. House batts are at 12.7v discharging at 7a. Which tells me they were not being charged at the time of this photo.
Your problem appears to be the chassis batts are not being charged on shore power. This points to the Big Boy or the intelletec BIRD. The BB is located on the right side of the engine compartment.
__________________
John & Clare Lyon
2007 43.5' Monaco Dynasty Palace III (All Electric)
Towd: 2011 Chevy Equinox
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 01:21 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
|
Check in a manual for your inverter(converter)/charger and see if it is a temperature sensor for the charger. If so, it is usually tucked in to have contact with the battery terminal or case. A temperature probe usually is more than one conductor, before touching the end to anything, I'd make sure it's not a 12v (+) lead.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 01:48 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,544
|
I agree. That's probably the Inverter temp sensor. Just tuck it in between batteries.
Make sure your inverter is running first.
If it's working, then clean/rebuild the Intelletec Big Boy relay. It's located in the rear run compartment on the passenger side.
Mike Canter posted some very nice instructions on how to take it apart and clean it. Basically there are 2 copper contacts that corrode. You can also just purchase a new Big Boy, but keep the old one as a spare.
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 02:08 PM
|
#12
|
Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 10
|
I located the BB a little while ago but still searching for my main chassis fuse. Also any idea on why the Battery Boost does not appear to work? Is this a function of the BB? It was in my previous coach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vito.a
I agree. That's probably the Inverter temp sensor. Just tuck it in between batteries.
Make sure your inverter is running first.
If it's working, then clean/rebuild the Intelletec Big Boy relay. It's located in the rear run compartment on the passenger side.
Mike Canter posted some very nice instructions on how to take it apart and clean it. Basically there are 2 copper contacts that corrode. You can also just purchase a new Big Boy, but keep the old one as a spare.
|
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 02:08 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 798
|
Like others have said, it is your BigBoy solenoid in the rear run box. It allows for the jump start as well as getting all your batteries connected for charging. Had same problem on mine when i got it. I also switched to AGM batteries for starting because they offered higher voltage when first demand drawn by the starter. I was having slow cranking and needed more battery. They will work fine with your alternator. I ended up learning on this forum about the Denso gear reduction starter and that solved my cranking issues. These were known to have weak starters.
__________________
Randy & Kathy-n-Auggie
07 HR Navigator 43PBQ, 525hp Cummins ISX, 17 Ford Supercrew Ecoboost King Ranch 4x4
|
|
|
10-21-2017, 02:34 PM
|
#14
|
Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 10
|
Did you replace your BB or just clean the contacts. Also are there any precautions, disconnects required or inverter turned off, shore power disco'd etc I need to follow so I don't fry anything or get hurt?
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|