Electrical Questions

[907blizzard]

Hi all! First time caller, long time listener. I own a 1979 Dodge Trans Van and I have a few questions about my electrical system. I am currently in the process of redoing the whole system with the idea of adding solar next summer.

Here is what I am working with:
-I have 2 new energizer GC2 6 volt golf cart batteries from sams club, (wanted to buy the trojan 105s but they were over double the price)
-I have a inteli-power 9280 converter/charger with charge wizard (came with the RV)
-2000w inverter (cant remember the brand right now, also came with the RV)
-tri metric 2025rv battery monitor

From all the information i have gathered from this forum (thanks) plus other sources i feel confident in wiring the system but my questions are:

1. how would i go about getting my alternator to charge my battery bank when i am driving?

2. should i get a different charger that the voltage is adjustable for charging my batteries on shore power. with the inteli power charger i can not adjust it so the majority of the charging is done at 14.8v.

3. i have heard conflicting information on where in the system the ac circuit breakers and dc fuses should be located. any info to help clear this up is appreciated.

thanks for any and all input.
if i left out any information (which im sure i have) let me know.

This forum is great and has helped me alot
Zac

[autofish]

1. use a battery isolator from the alt. to chagre both the starting bat. and house bats, from alt, 2.Charging at 14.8v should be ok 3.Fuses and breakers shuold be in breaker boxes .

[wa8yxm]

Q1. how would i go about getting my alternator to charge my battery bank when i am driving?

A1: IN most motor homes... This is how they come from the factory, If yours is NOT doing this, then you have a bad isolator solenoid or control circuit.

Q2. should i get a different charger that the voltage is adjustable for charging my batteries on shore power. with the inteli power charger i can not adjust it so the majority of the charging is done at 14.8v.

A2: Why, the one you have is an outstanding unit, It is one of the very best and it does adjust it's voltage out depending on the needs of the battery. That is the converter I recommend.. It is a tad (About 10 amps) large for your batteries but odds are that 10 amps will be consumed by stuff in the motor home so don't worry about it, I might add that is the very converter I use.

Q3. i have heard conflicting information on where in the system the ac circuit breakers and dc fuses should be located. any info to help clear this up is appreciated.

A3: I'm not sure what you mean by "Where in the system"

Somewhere in your coach is/are one or two Circuit Breaker panels.. If you have two one is the MAIN and takes either shore or generator power and "Spreads it around" these can be anywhere from the basement to a cabinet to under the bed to Mine are in the wall in the hall. (MAIN) and under the half-bath sink (SUB) If you have two the sub panel is for the circuits powered by your 2,000 watt inverter.

In addition there are breakers on the genertor, and may be breakers on the inverter.

12 volt fuses.. I have 4 different fuse panels in my rig, all different places. plus a few scattered "in-line" fuses, plus fuses in some of the appliances. See Breaker box location for where to find 'em (Look everywhere) Again the main "HOUSE" panel is in the hall, right above the breakers in fact.

Normally in an RV fuses are used for 12 volt.. OH, that PDI 9180 has a pair of 'em in it too.

["007"]

Welcome Zac to irv2.
Here is a link to wiring info you will need and within same link has the plumbing side also.
Enjoy the forums.

[907blizzard]

Q1. My RV is pretty old and has been redone at least once. If it ever had an "isolator solenoid or control circuit" it doesn't now.

Ss if i get a solenoid can i wire the the 2 battery systems together with the solenoid between them?

Q2. the reason i ask about the charger is i was told that a battery to be fully charged needs to be charged at 14.8v. the intelli powers output is 13.8v.

im not really in a position to be able to buy a new charger so either way im going to keep mine

Q3. Sorry for the wording on this question. i meant location as far as wiring schematic. The AC circuit breakers are where the shore power comes in and the AC current is "spread out." But the DC fuse panel is where im confused. Should that be where all the dc power from the batteries is "spread out?" Then should the inverter be getting its power from the fuse panel or should that be connected directly to the batteries?

thanks for the quick responses
Zac

also i dont have a generator