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08-05-2013, 06:40 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Jamestown, NC
Posts: 1,579
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Coach batteries not charging
On our last trip our coach batteries were not charging while driving the MH or with the generator running. They do charge when plugged in to shore power. I am new to MH ownership and need some guidance as to what to look for as to the problem.
Thanks,
Gary
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Gary and Kay & Chipper
2018 Thor Tuscany 38SQ
2019 Ford Ranger XLT Super Crew
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08-05-2013, 07:04 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 325
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I would first check to make sure all the cables are connected to the battery/batteries and the generator. You might just have a loose or broken wire.
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08-05-2013, 10:06 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Jamestown, NC
Posts: 1,579
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Fixed - it was the breaker on the generator that had tripped.
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Gary and Kay & Chipper
2018 Thor Tuscany 38SQ
2019 Ford Ranger XLT Super Crew
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08-05-2013, 10:59 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,790
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But coach batteries should still be charging while driving MH. I cannot see how a breaker on generator would affect that?
ronspradley
__________________
'95 Monaco Windsor DP 32' Cummins 5.9
Toads '96 Tracker 4x4, '06 Honda CRV AWD
Life's too short to drink diet soda.
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08-05-2013, 11:28 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Jamestown, NC
Posts: 1,579
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Good point. Guess it is back to the drawing board.
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Gary and Kay & Chipper
2018 Thor Tuscany 38SQ
2019 Ford Ranger XLT Super Crew
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08-05-2013, 06:12 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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What sources the coach batteries receive a charge from is unique to each manufacturer. It should not be assumed the coach batteries are charged from the engine alternator. A call to the manufacturer's customer service should solve the mystery very quickly.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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08-05-2013, 06:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmadams
I am new to MH ownership and need some guidance as to what to look for as to the problem.
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The problem is, that you don't have the basic tools to tell you when something is working and when it isn't!
I can't imagine trying to troubleshoot the simplest of electrical puzzles without utilizing at least a simple electrical meter such as an AC/DC CLAMP meter. With a clamp meter, all you have to do to discover what's happening with your batteries, is place the clamp around one of your house battery cables. It will not only tell you if the batteries are being charged, but accurately will tell you the charging current:
MS2108 RMS DC Clamp Meter Compared W Fluke Inrush Curre | eBay
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Stan Birch
1999 Winnebago Adventurer 32T Ford V-10
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08-05-2013, 07:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Jamestown, NC
Posts: 1,579
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan.Birch
The problem is, that you don't have the basic tools to tell you when something is working and when it isn't!
I can't imagine trying to troubleshoot the simplest of electrical puzzles without utilizing at least a simple electrical meter such as an AC/DC CLAMP meter. With a clamp meter, all you have to do to discover what's happening with your batteries, is place the clamp around one of your house battery cables. It will not only tell you if the batteries are being charged, but accurately will tell you the charging current:
MS2108 RMS DC Clamp Meter Compared W Fluke Inrush Curre | eBay
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Thanks for the tip. I am not the handy man that my dad was and I miss his wisdom. He could fix anything.
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Gary and Kay & Chipper
2018 Thor Tuscany 38SQ
2019 Ford Ranger XLT Super Crew
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08-08-2013, 08:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryKD
What sources the coach batteries receive a charge from is unique to each manufacturer. It should not be assumed the coach batteries are charged from the engine alternator. A call to the manufacturer's customer service should solve the mystery very quickly.
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You can't show me a coach that was built in the last forty years that wasn't designed to charge both the chassis and house batteries from the alternator.
The same can't be said for charging both batteries from the converter when on shore or generator power though. However, Winnebago gas coaches are just about the last hold out on that score too.
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'97 Bounder 34V, F53 7.5L-460
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08-09-2013, 09:23 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi loulong,
How about an 04 HR 40' DP. There may be more. After a day of travel the coach batteries were drained. I went in circles trying to determine why the coach batteries were not charging from the alternator. I had my friend contact HR tech support. The call was on a speaker phone and the tech said the coach was not designed to charge the coach batteries from the alternator. Coach batteries would be charged from the generator or shore power only.
[ moderator edit ]
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Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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08-09-2013, 09:58 AM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loulong
You can't show me a coach that was built in the last forty years that wasn't designed to charge both the chassis and house batteries from the alternator.
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2007 Itasca Ellipse 40 FD.
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Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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08-10-2013, 08:49 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickO
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40 FD.
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NOT TRUE.....
That coach has a solenoid, specifically installed to bridge the batteries together anytime the ignition is ON. Try again....
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'97 Bounder 34V, F53 7.5L-460
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08-10-2013, 09:20 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 597
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On mine a circuit breaker trips on occasion and keeps the batteries from being charged.
Jack
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Jack & Kay
2015 Allegro 32CA Ford Chassis
FMCA #341229
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08-10-2013, 10:27 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryKD
Hi loulong,
How about an 04 HR 40' DP. There may be more. After a day of travel the coach batteries were drained. I went in circles trying to determine why the coach batteries were not charging from the alternator. I had my friend contact HR tech support. The call was on a speaker phone and the tech said the coach was not designed to charge the coach batteries from the alternator. Coach batteries would be charged from the generator or shore power only.
[ moderator edit ]
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I know many folks with HR coaches, ranging in years from 1995 through 2010, and they ALL will charge the coach batteries (along with the chassis batteries) from the alternator when the engine is running. I suggest your friend obtain a wiring diagram for his coach and see for himself.
The HR Tech was simply WRONG. I realize that a speaker phone makes it true (not ), but he didn't know his facts.
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'97 Bounder 34V, F53 7.5L-460
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