Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Newmar Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-21-2013, 04:25 AM   #1
Member
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 76
Alternator-all electric

Hi to all

Getting ready for a long trip and have a stupid question, my coach 05 Mtn Aire is all electric
if the altenator was to let me down while driving
out in the middle of no where, Is there any advantage
being all electric that I can use to get me somewhere
to get it fixed (like borrow from house batteries)
or would that be just a great idea someday
thanks
Mtnaire is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 11-21-2013, 05:29 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
gauto5150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 326
My Discovery's alternator was weak and going bad when I bought it a couple years ago. I ran the generator with the inverter on and it charged up all the batteries. You could monitor the engine battery voltages with the gauge on the dash.
__________________
2004 Fleetwood Discovery 3126 CAT engine
gauto5150 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2013, 05:52 AM   #3
Moderator Emeritus
 
"007"'s Avatar
 
Nor'easters Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
To add to what previous poster said you also have the Bird charging system that will charge your house batteries and the chassis batteries with the Gen running.
Newmar 12v wiring system.
__________________
98KSCA, 99MACA, 03 KSCA-3740- 8.1 Chev-- ALLISON Trans
VISIT the NEWMAR QUICK TIPS & EASYMODS 1 & 2
QUICK TIPS # 3
RV SYSTEMS & APPLIANCES & RECALLS --- TECH INFORMATION
"007" is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2013, 08:58 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
PDR John's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,816
If the engine alternator goes out, just use the genny for keeping the batteries up. Till you get some place to change the alternator.

We drove 1500 miles like this once. It was winter and we were going to be using the genny anyway.
__________________
2011 MVP Tahoe 230 QB on Ford E350 Chassis
PDR John is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 04:51 AM   #5
Member
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 76
Hi everyone

Thanks for the info, the forum is such a great place to gain
knowledge and friends. Camping for years in a 5th wheel didn't have
to know this stuff, Now enjoying my coach but having
to learn a lot of information and could not do that with out
you all

thanks again
Mtnaire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2013, 05:51 PM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
"007"'s Avatar
 
Nor'easters Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
If it has not been mentioned before there are three links in my signature below with much more info for you.
__________________
98KSCA, 99MACA, 03 KSCA-3740- 8.1 Chev-- ALLISON Trans
VISIT the NEWMAR QUICK TIPS & EASYMODS 1 & 2
QUICK TIPS # 3
RV SYSTEMS & APPLIANCES & RECALLS --- TECH INFORMATION
"007" is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2013, 12:18 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
Depending on the coach, there are two ways to use the generator to sub for the alternator.

1: IF you have a BIRD (BI-Directional Relay Device) isolator, that uses the house CONVERTER to charge the chassis battery when parked..... Simply crank 'er up and wait 2 minutes.

2: If you do not have a BIRD..

2A: jumper from the POSITIVE house battery to the POSITIVE chassis, using a standard Auto jumper

2B: Jumper across the two BIG terminals on the isolator relay

NOTE: This only applies if both house and chassis are 12 volt systems. If chassis is 24 volt you have to go to the 3rd method

Plug in charger (24 volt).
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2013, 12:32 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
"007"'s Avatar
 
Nor'easters Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
All battery systems are 12v in a Newmar coach, 12v battery system.
__________________
98KSCA, 99MACA, 03 KSCA-3740- 8.1 Chev-- ALLISON Trans
VISIT the NEWMAR QUICK TIPS & EASYMODS 1 & 2
QUICK TIPS # 3
RV SYSTEMS & APPLIANCES & RECALLS --- TECH INFORMATION
"007" is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2013, 08:25 AM   #9
Member
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 76
TO WY8YXM

In your first yes we have B.I.R.D systems what do you
mean "crank it up "
Mtnaire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2013, 08:38 AM   #10
Registered User
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
Go to NAPA and buy a 6 gauge 12 inch long battery cable with eyelets on each end.

Find your Battery Isolator relay and hook one end of the battery cable on each side of the Battery Isolator.

Then start your generator to keep both the chassis and house batteries fully charged.

Generally, your alternator will keep the chassis battery charged FIRST and anything leftover will go to the House batteries. Conversely, when the generator is running, it will keep your HOUSE batteries charged FIRST and anything leftover will go to the chassis batteries.

By jumping the Battery Isolator, the generator will charge both battery banks equally.

I have traveled hundreds of miles for days using this method before I was able to get to a location where the alternator could be removed and rebuilt.

Another suggestion, ALWAYS have you alternator rebuilt versus replacing it with an off-the-shelf one. Motorhome alternators are wired differently than truck, bus or auto alternators.

Dr4Film ----- Richard
Dr4Film is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 03:37 AM   #11
Member
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 76
Dr4film

Do you mean put that cable on and leave it on all the time ? Or just carry the cable and use when required

Thanks for you help
Mtnaire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 07:46 AM   #12
Registered User
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
No, this procedure is ONLY used when you have an alternator failure. It will allow you to keep the chassis battery from going dead while driving.

One other point I forgot to mention is to try not to drive at night when using this emergency method. The headlights put a significant drain on the chassis battery.

If your coach has an Allison transmission, once your chassis battery gets to about 11.1 - 11.3 VDC or so, your Allison will stop working and you are dead on the road.

It's best to carry this cable to use in emergencies so that it will allow you get to your destination or a place where you can have the alternator removed and rebuilt.

Dr4Film ----- Richard
Dr4Film is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 10:24 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
JohnT's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: On the road.
Posts: 1,432
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film View Post
Go to NAPA and buy a 6 gauge 12 inch long battery cable with eyelets on each end.

Find your Battery Isolator relay and hook one end of the battery cable on each side of the Battery Isolator.

Then start your generator to keep both the chassis and house batteries fully charged.


Dr4Film ----- Richard

Nice bit of info.
Thanks
__________________
John & Diann
2014 Dutch Star 4364
2016 Ford Edge Sport
JohnT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2013, 10:43 AM   #14
Member
 
wrb7636's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 43
Dr4Film,

Where will I find the battery Isolator relay? I have a 2000 DSDP. Will it be in the electrical shore power connection compartment or in the compartment with the chassis battery disconnect switch which is just forward of the battery tray on the passenger side.

Thanks.
__________________
WRBrown(drvr), MDBrown(DW)
2000 DSDP(Eddie), 2010 Buick Enclave(Betty)
wrb7636 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Electric useage ? Batten54 Full-Timers 16 10-28-2013 11:27 AM
Bounder: Electric steps 2013 Bounder 35K doowop Fleetwood Owner's Forum 20 10-20-2013 04:14 PM
All Electric? Whizzer60 Monaco Owner's Forum 9 08-25-2013 06:10 PM
Residential Refer vs Gas Electric in phaeton firebugg Tiffin Owner's Forum 27 08-08-2013 02:37 PM
Electric Brake Sender Unit Robar Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 3 06-25-2013 03:49 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.