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01-15-2020, 08:33 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Humble, TX
Posts: 169
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What is the small solar panel for?
I have a small solar panel, probably 5 or 10 watts toward the rear of our 2002 DSO2 Motorhome. Anyone know what that is for?
It appears to be the reason that the house batteries are drawn down as soon as I disconnect from shore power, unless there the sun is shining on the coach. For some reason there is almost 11 VDC on the wiring coming to the panel when the panel is disconnected.
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01-15-2020, 09:32 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,569
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The 5 and 10 watt panels were supposed to be for keeping the batteries topped off.
IMO they are a gimmick and can be disconnected if you want to.
__________________
1996 Tioga Class C
2007 Monaco Diplomat 40 PDQ
TOAD 2012 Cadillac SRX 4
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01-15-2020, 09:54 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Conifer, Colorado
Posts: 1,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okcnewbie
The 5 and 10 watt panels were supposed to be for keeping the batteries topped off.
IMO they are a gimmick and can be disconnected if you want to.
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Yup.. I did.. Disconnect I mean... No ill effects.. My original one looked pretty sad...
Ron
__________________
Ron Husak
Conifer, CO
Living at 9200 Feet and looking down at ya!
04 Travel Supreme 40DS04 400 Cummins ISL
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01-15-2020, 11:56 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Posts: 150
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Because the chassis batteries don't charge when the rig is plugged in to shore power, the 5 watt solar panel was installed by the factory and connected to the chassis batteries only. Clean it up, verify it's still connected to the batteries and you'll probably find that it works exactly as intended. The one on my 2004 Select does exactly what it is supposed to.
Safe travels.
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Al Fetch
2004 Travel Supreme Select
45' DS04
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01-15-2020, 12:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 823
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Hmmmm, the BIRD on my 06 Select keeps the chassis batteries charged just fine when I'm plugged in to shore or running the genny, AND the house batteries when the Cummins is running.
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[COLOR="Blue"]Doug, Robyn, Ross & Ryan
06 Travel Supreme Select 45'
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01-15-2020, 12:42 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 6
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mine's a small 10w, for the chassis [engine] battery, for off of electricity
marc
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01-15-2020, 12:46 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Posts: 150
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Yep....the B.I.R.D will do what you've posted, but didn't come standard on any of the TS coaches I'm aware of....at least not the older ones. Did you, or a previous owner add it? There are a number of after market products that can be installed to do the same. I've not seen the need as my solar panel works just fine. As for the house batteries....they all charge when the Cummins is running. The White Rodgers Relay closes when the ignition switch is on and combines the chassis and house batteries.
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Al Fetch
2004 Travel Supreme Select
45' DS04
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01-15-2020, 01:40 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 823
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BIRD was standard on mine. Why would we have a boost switch if the Big Boy always connected with the key on?
__________________
[COLOR="Blue"]Doug, Robyn, Ross & Ryan
06 Travel Supreme Select 45'
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01-15-2020, 02:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,402
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alfetch
.
As for the house batteries....they all charge when the Cummins is running. The White Rodgers Relay closes when the ignition switch is on and combines the chassis and house batteries.
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That would be hard on the alternator if the large house bank was low.
The BIRD or what ever your RV uses, IRD, BIM, BCC, controls the White Rodgers Solenoid to prevent overloading the charging system.
If too much current is drawing down the chassis battery, thru the solenoid to the low house bank, it open up for a time to let the alternator cool and and chassis battery recover, then closes the circuit again.
That's the D in BIRD, delay.
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01-15-2020, 03:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Posts: 150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Driver
BIRD was standard on mine. Why would we have a boost switch if the Big Boy always connected with the key on?
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To start the generator if batteries are low?
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01-15-2020, 03:59 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Posts: 150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
That would be hard on the alternator if the large house bank was low.
The BIRD or what ever your RV uses, IRD, BIM, BCC, controls the White Rodgers Solenoid to prevent overloading the charging system.
If too much current is drawing down the chassis battery, thru the solenoid to the low house bank, it open up for a time to let the alternator cool and and chassis battery recover, then closes the circuit again.
That's the D in BIRD, delay.
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Hmmmm...my big old 200 amp alternator is still original and keeps on charging. It's pretty robust. That being said, batteries that are extremely low should be charged by the generator or shore power first, when possible.
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01-15-2020, 04:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 823
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Having a boost switch just for the genny seems like much ado about very little to me, but it's a moot point in my coach because I have the BIRD.
I've always understood BIRDs were typical for TS.
__________________
[COLOR="Blue"]Doug, Robyn, Ross & Ryan
06 Travel Supreme Select 45'
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01-15-2020, 08:43 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 1,589
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Driver
Having a boost switch just for the genny seems like much ado about very little to me, but it's a moot point in my coach because I have the BIRD.
I've always understood BIRDs were typical for TS.
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Nope, no BIRD on mine (See post #7)! Had to install a Trik-L-Start
__________________
2004 38DS04 Travel Supreme
Cummins 8.3 ISC 350HP CAPS
Spartan Mountain Master
2023 F-150 Towed
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01-15-2020, 08:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 1,589
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In response to OPs original post: That small solar panel is SUPPOSED to keep the chassis batteries topped off when not running the engine for extended periods.
They have been know to short and draw 2+amps in stead of charging. You should have a quick disconnect on the roof where the wires go into what appears to be a tank vent. Unhook it and see if that helps. I had to replace mine a few years back.
__________________
2004 38DS04 Travel Supreme
Cummins 8.3 ISC 350HP CAPS
Spartan Mountain Master
2023 F-150 Towed
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