Community Forums

bill257 · 09-05-2018, 06:28 PM

I recently installed RV Solar panel 100 Watt for sole purpose of charging my house and chassis batteries.Today I connected Amp L Start. Solar panel monitor showing 13.5 volt for the house battery with charging bar showing that it is charging the house batteries.Now Amp L Start has maintenance green light blinking.No other light is blinking.Is this normal,how do I know that my chassis battery iis getting the trickle charge from the house battery.This is the principal with Amp L Start that it takes the energy from house battery(has to be 13.2 volt or up) and get it to the chassis battery if it need it to keep it topped up.Am I correct.

Winterbagoal · 09-05-2018, 06:35 PM

What does the amplstart manual say a flashing green light means? Low voltage? Low current? Start there.

twinboat · 09-05-2018, 06:42 PM

Blinking green light is standby. It does not see 13.4 volts.

Do you have the wires to the batteries correct and making proper contact ?

bill257 · 09-05-2018, 08:21 PM

ok the way I connected Amp L Start is this.There is a BUS under the hood near the chassis battery.A wire from ONE terminal of BUS is going under the Rig all the way to the house battery and connected to the house battery via another connector.I connected Amp L Start house battery terminal to the side of BUS where the wire coming from house battery is connected and chassis terminal of Amp L Start to other side of BUS which is connected to the positive terminal of chassis battery.Now the third wire which is ground wire is connected to the negative terminal of chassis battery.I hope I connected wires correct.

twinboat · 09-05-2018, 08:53 PM

If these wires are light gauge, you may not be getting the voltage to the device to kick it in.

If the wire run of the solar controller is long and light gauge, what your reading on the controller may not be what's going into the battery.

Best thing to do is get a digital multi meter and take some accurate voltage readings at each connection point.

Most MHs have a boost solenoid with battery cable size wires on it. That's the best place to connect it.

bill257 · 09-05-2018, 09:06 PM

I am using 10 gage solar panel wires for Ampl L Start connection.Where should I look for solenoid in my motorhome.I have coachman Freelander 32BH 2011 model.

bill257 · 09-08-2018, 08:54 AM

May be I should use direct connection to house and chassis battery.Relay or solenoid I am not able to locate.I have to use long 10 gage wire for house battery.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 09-08-2018, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill257

I am using 10 gage solar panel wires for Ampl L Start connection.Where should I look for solenoid in my motorhome.I have coachman Freelander 32BH 2011 model.

If you have a battery "boost" switch, which allows you to combine the chassis and house batteries, have someone activate the switch while you walk around, listening for the combining solenoid to close and open. I can hear our coach's solenoid (and it's pretty small) from the opposite corner of the coach.

bill257 · 09-08-2018, 12:37 PM

I do not know whether I have battery boost switch.I never used it.Where to look for it.

bill257 · 09-08-2018, 12:46 PM

In Amp L Start installation guide following is written and I quote
"MAINTAINING light blinks every second — Indicates that the unit is operating normally, but the house battery voltage isn't high enough to charge or maintain the starting battery(s) (i.e., isn't above approx. 13.2 volts, measured at the HOUSE [+] terminal). If this occurs when the unit should be operating, check for (1.) disconnected shore power, (2.) house battery charger unplugged or switched off, (3.) heavily-discharged house batteries"

I checked all 3 and none apply in my case.My 100 Watt Solar panel working fine and generating energy and charging the house batteries and voltage showing on the Solar control panel is 13.6 volt which is above 13.2 volt required.My house batteries are 2 Trojan 6 volt each connected in series to make 12 voltage supply.Both are brand new.
So why chassis battery is not getting charge via Amp L Start.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 09-08-2018, 01:27 PM

bill257-

I just went looking for any documentation that would indicate if what system, if any, your coach uses to charge the house batteries from the alternator. That includes a "battery boost" solenoid and a "battery boost" switch. I could find nothing that indicated these components exist. That does not mean they are not there.

If I were you, I'd start tracing the wires from the chassis battery, looking for components between it and the house batteries. I'd also make a call to Coachmen to see what they say is there, and where.