Dead Starting Batteries

bdpreece · 05-19-2011, 01:29 PM

I know all about parasitic drains so spare me the details. Yesterday after having been parked for three weeks plugged into power I attempted to start the coach to leave and found the batteries dead. In the manual for my 2008 HR Endeavor it shows a Battery Maintainer (Bi directional isolator relay delay) and says it is used to maintain the both the house and chassis batteries when plugged into shore power or operating from the generator. It just lists it and does not say it is an option. It says that this relay is mounted in the front roadside compartment. I find no such relay there. Is my manual generic for several types of coaches. Do I need to install a Trik-L-Start battery maintainer?

For now I have just moved the wire from my solar panel from the house batteries to the chassis batteries.

**RJay** · 05-19-2011, 01:33 PM

Brian,
Do you have any emergency start switch on your dash the connects the coach batteries to the chassis batteries for just this situation? If you don't have a BIRD then your only other option is to install a Trik -L -Start.

bdpreece · 05-19-2011, 01:47 PM

I do have the emergency start switch and after starting the generator and holding down the switch for awhile I was able to get it started. My question is just whether or not this is normal for my coach. When we have the coach in storage I always turn off the battery disconnect switches but this is the longest we have stayed in one place while on the road without starting the coach. Never had these problems with our last coach as long as it was plugged in but, it was a National product rather than a Monaco product. Trying to find someone with a Monaco or HR to see if theirs works the same way.

**RJay** · 05-19-2011, 02:14 PM

I am very surprised that the year coach you have does not have a BIRD. In my coach it is located in the outside electrical power bay(where the power cable is) hidden behind a vinyl door on Velcro. If you have a BIRD it is either defective or the solenoid allowing the chassis battery to be connected to the coach batteries for charging is defective. This solenoid is controlled by the BIRD. This is the same solenoid you used for the emergency start so the solenoid is NOT defective.

moisheh · 05-19-2011, 03:05 PM

In our Dynasty the BIRD is in the engine bay RH side . Have you tested your batteries? Are they dry? Ours is a 2008 and I just bought new batteries as the original Interstates each had one bad cell.

**RJay** · 05-19-2011, 03:11 PM

moisheh makes a good point. The batteries could be in such a state that they are damaged and cannot accept a charge.

bdpreece · 05-19-2011, 07:09 PM

I will have the batteries checked when we get back home. I have no problems unless go for over a week without starting the engine so it can wait till I get back. I moved the solar charger over to the starting batteries so hopefully that will hold me for now.

Drifter · 05-19-2011, 09:55 PM

In 08 on the Endeavor's and Diplomats what I found is that some have the B.I.R.D. relay, some have nothing and use them I.R.D. and on the late production models few have a lockout circuit board made I believe by Intellitech.

Here's what ours looks like. I have installed four of these on other coaches with very good results, but you have to make your own wiring using the connector end from the no longer used I.R.D from the main board.

WheelingIt · 05-19-2011, 10:07 PM

We have an 08 endeavor and have gone easily for 3 weeks without issue. I'm pretty sure we have a BIRD having seen several relays in that front compartment, but couldn't say for sure. We've checked battery charge while hooked up and they're always kept full. We've also checked discharge rate while unhooked. Maybe your batteries are on the blink?

RCLImperial · 05-19-2011, 10:14 PM

It always helps to take a few measurements. I would take measurements of both the chassis and house batteries while the coach is plugged in. You should see something above 13 volts. If your coach batteries are really bad, you might see something less as the charger can't get them fully charged. After making these measurements, unplug the coach from AC and remake the measurements. If the batteries were being charged while connected to AC, the voltages should be lower when disconnected from the AC.

This simple measurement will tell you if you have a charging problem or a battery problem.

Dick Lucas, '04 HR Imperial

bdpreece · 05-20-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drifter

In 08 on the Endeavor's and Diplomats what I found is that some have the B.I.R.D. relay, some have nothing and use them I.R.D. and on the late production models few have a lockout circuit board made I believe by Intellitech.

Here's what ours looks like. I have installed four of these on other coaches with very good results, but you have to make your own wiring using the connector end from the no longer used I.R.D from the main board.

this is the unit shown in my manual but I have yet to find it. Where is this unit located on your coach>

Drifter · 05-20-2011, 06:05 AM

Front left run bay electric compartment.

bdpreece · 05-20-2011, 10:50 AM

my manual shows that box but my front compartment does not have it mounted there. On another forum I found someone else with an 08 Endeavor who says he will send me pictures of his setup and that it is a small board on standoffs mounted on a larger circuit board. I think I have already found it and it is mounted on the large board inside that box with the 3 nylon wing nuts. It was hard to see as it was hidden behind some wires and they had hung a fuse puller over it. If this is it then that probably means my trombetta relay is bad.

Drifter · 05-20-2011, 11:12 AM

If you do not have the B.I.R.D. relay, open the cover to the large board and look for the green plastic twizzers, next those you will see a small board with red and blue wires. Thats the I.R.D. relay, if its pluged in you need something added to charge your chassie batteries.

The white,yellow purple and red wire are where the remote B.I.R.D. relay plugs in and the I.R.D. is then unpluged.