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Max Hubrich · 12-14-2007, 05:25 AM

I had a '05 Adventure parked next to me this past summer, for 5 months in Maine, and his Chassis battery went dead several times. They were using the power seat regularly, and whatever else. So I went and ordered a "Trik-L-Start" to bridge the converter charging circuitry to include my Chassis battery-- sounded like a good idea, since my old Holiday Rambler had a relay to use the boost in an emergency. Everytime I go check the Chassis battery on my Mountain Aire with a digital volt meter it's running at 13.46 volts. I can't find an "isolator" or "relay". Questions:

1- Does Newmar keep the chassis battery charged via the solar panel or from the converter?

2- If not the solar panel, what does the solar panel charge, and what does it do if your hooked into shore power most all the time?

3- My digital battery volt meter in the rig's control panel has a reading in two positions, is one position the house batteries and the second position the chassis battery? They always read the same-- like 13.3 or 13.4 volts

4- Does my rig have a don't worry about it system installed? If it does, what a wonderful way to go Newmar!!

Max Hubrich · 12-14-2007, 05:25 AM

I had a '05 Adventure parked next to me this past summer, for 5 months in Maine, and his Chassis battery went dead several times. They were using the power seat regularly, and whatever else. So I went and ordered a "Trik-L-Start" to bridge the converter charging circuitry to include my Chassis battery-- sounded like a good idea, since my old Holiday Rambler had a relay to use the boost in an emergency. Everytime I go check the Chassis battery on my Mountain Aire with a digital volt meter it's running at 13.46 volts. I can't find an "isolator" or "relay". Questions:

1- Does Newmar keep the chassis battery charged via the solar panel or from the converter?

2- If not the solar panel, what does the solar panel charge, and what does it do if your hooked into shore power most all the time?

3- My digital battery volt meter in the rig's control panel has a reading in two positions, is one position the house batteries and the second position the chassis battery? They always read the same-- like 13.3 or 13.4 volts

4- Does my rig have a don't worry about it system installed? If it does, what a wonderful way to go Newmar!!

Lug_Nut · 12-14-2007, 07:50 AM

Max, Your chassis batteries are charged via a 5 watt solar panel and it also does charge through the house battery charger/converter.
You can prove this yourself. Unplug the rig from shore power. Put the headlights on and leave them on for 15 minutes or so. Connect your multi-meter to the chassis batteries and observe the voltage. Now while watching the voltage have someone plug the shore power back in. You will see the voltage climb immediately.
Yes, Newmar's are great, they think of everything.

Peter

Max Hubrich · 12-14-2007, 08:54 AM

Thanks Peter--

That's wonderful, I love it!

Then why do I have a Battery boost switch on the dashboard? If both sets of batteries are kept charged to the same voltage, by the converter (and the solar panel for the chassis battery- I only have one), they both will deplete at an equal rate and the battery boost switch won't help. I had to use that function in my old Holiday Rambler several times. Just wondering---

Cruzer · 12-14-2007, 09:12 AM

Your system is only designed to trickle charge current from the coach side to the chassis side. If you use excessive amps on the chassis side while parked your chassis battery may not have enough zap to crank the engine. in that case the battery boost switch will tie the two systems together to give you the ability to crank the engine with both battery banks. That can also be handy if it's really cold outside or the engine is hard starting.

JavaJelly · 12-14-2007, 09:18 AM

I had struggled with the electrical system myself and how the two sets of batteries get charged. After all my research and questions to folks here on the forum and at Newmar, here is as simple as I can describe it and it is verified by Newmar.

CHASSIS BATTERIES:
The alternator and Solar panel feed/charge the chassis batteries. The "stock" Solar Panel will not charge house batteries.

HOUSE BATTERIES:
Shore Power or the Generator feed the Transfer Switch - the transfer switch's job is to determine shore or generator.

The Transfer switch feeds the converter/inverter.

The converter/inverter converts A/C power and charges the house batteries. When there is no A/C power present it inverts D/C power to A/C for use in the coach.

BATTERY BOOST BUTTON:
There is a Bi-Directional Relay between the Chassis Batteries and House Batteries.

The Battery Boost button opens that Bi-Directional Relay. That relay lets power flow from the higher voltage to lower voltage temporarily creating one bank of batteries.

So the boost can work in both directions.

Max Hubrich · 12-14-2007, 09:26 AM

Thanks Mark,

Again, what a neat system. If I "boon Docked" a lot, I could see it also helping to get the generator started, etc. When I press the "Batt Boost" I can't hear a relay, or anything, being activated- I guess that's normal-- Just makes me wonder if the system will work when needed.

I'm going to disconnect the chassis battery and see if I lose one of my digital read outs in the control panel, and which one, so I can label the two read outs.

I'm taking my rig to Raleign on Monday to get the Dometic refrigerator recall fixed. It works great now, I hate for them to mess with it---

Dav5942 · 12-14-2007, 09:35 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JavaJelly:
I had struggled with the electrical system myself and how the two sets of batteries get charged. After all my research and questions to folks here on the forum and at Newmar, here is as simple as I can describe it and it is verified by Newmar.

CHASSIS BATTERIES:
The alternator and Solar panel feed/charge the chassis batteries. The "stock" Solar Panel will not charge house batteries </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are you saying the inverter only charges the House Batteries and not the Chassis Batteries?

JavaJelly · 12-14-2007, 09:59 AM

I didn't want to confuse so I left this out.

That said, the inverter/converter is supposed to charge the chassis batteries only after the house batteries are full.

However, this feature is not on all units and it has been a challenge thus far to get a clear answer. It is also only available if you have a 3 stage converter.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I have it or not. I was going to get a clear answer the next time I went to Newmar.

Lug_Nut · 12-14-2007, 10:48 AM

It has never been spelled out or even discussed in any manuals, but I've had 3 Newmars, a Mountain Aire, A Dutch Star and now an Essex. The years were '99, '02 and '07. I tested each and can verify that all were charged via the converter/inverter.
I doubt many Newmar people would necessarily be aware of this as I'm sure they are using a templated standard wiring harness from many years as there has been little or no needed change in this area.

Peter

RVDude · 12-14-2007, 11:03 AM

Java: If one has the "cross-over" charge feature, called BIRD (Bidirectional Isolator Relay Delay), it also impacts the engine alternator charging. I have it - I determined by measuring charge rates - and found that the engine alternator will charge the chassis battery BEFORE shifting charge to house. The reverse is true when charging from inverter, that is, the house charges first and when topped up to about 13.3v the BIRD then switches to charge the chassis. I measured this using an ammeter. I don't know how to visually tell if this feature is installed or not. This info is also in the Newmar owner's manual.

Also to clarify, the Batt Boost switch is completely independent from the BIRD simply connects both banks of batteries together making one giant bank of batteries. Hence, if you have an engine start need (chassis battery default) OR a genset start need (house battery default) it works "both ways" because it just ties both sets of batteries together while the switch is held. The relays for this are in the power cord compartment. You should be able to hear a very faint click from inside of the coach if it is totally silent.

JavaJelly · 12-14-2007, 11:19 AM

Peter,

I do have it right that the house batteries charge first then the chassis. I have read that on this forum many times it seems.

JavaJelly · 12-14-2007, 11:23 AM

Peter,

It seems I had the answer to my own question.

From my notes after talking to Newmar:
"When the Chassis Batteries or House Batteries get charged to 13.4 – 13.6 volts the relay opens and the power source starts charging the other batteries. The batteries become one bank at that point. The voltage moves from high to low."

I believe this means that the alternator should charge the house batteries too. Is that true?

Dav5942 · 12-14-2007, 11:24 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">

CHASSIS BATTERIES:
The alternator and Solar panel feed/charge the chassis batteries. The "stock" Solar Panel will not charge house batteries.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry to get so specific but are you saying the alternator does NOT charge the house batteries?