Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_Boy
Mike,
I have a problem. My second Trombetta just failed after 16 months in service. I can't get the engine alternator to charge the house batteries. The original Trombetta only made it about 14 months from delivery date. I may replace the Trombetta once again as a 'patch', but this is ridiculous.
So...I'm very interested in your Blue Sea Automatic Charging relay ML-ACR.
1) How hard was this to install? Assume I don't add solar collectors for now.
2) Do I need to run any additional wires from the dash to the inverter/charge compartment? Or...to the Magnum on the control panel?
3) Have you had any issues with the ML-ACR?
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All my schematics are in the RV in storage, so I'll try to answer from memory:
1) Install is not that hard, after removal of TrombettaI had enough space to mount it there. And it is totally separate from solar install.
Dash switch mounts in the same hole, no mod needed.
2) I was trying to avoid running wires from ML-ACR to the front, so I had to get creative. I re-purposed one of the existing wires, the one that supplies constant power to various circuits, i.e. radio memory, salesman switch, AGS, etc. This wire runs all the way from the fuse in the inverter compartment to the front. Obviously this re-purposing required a lot of rewiring, let me know if you want details.
The alternative is to run one wire back to front.
3) No issues, I only use it during one short 4 day trip. I like that I now have ability to control contactor remotely. For example driving during sunny day I disconnected batteries and let solar take care of the house batteries while alternator charged chassis battery.
The other nice feature is manual control. I did not have to use it, but in case of any failure there is always ability to operate contactor manually.
Mike