My B.I.R.D. is humming ?? 2006 Dutch Star

[Renden]

I have noticed, on and off, a humming high pitched noise from the B.I.R.D. area compartment close to my 50 Amp reel and the Transfer switch. Have unplugged the electricity but the noise stays........

[Qwert66]

On ours (on shore power) when the chassis battery banks become fully charged the intellitec controller for the tie in solenoid will latch the solenoid then drop the voltage which is supposed to hold it at less power consumption.

In our case it holds but whines. This may or may not be your case.

This lower voltage makes our coil hum a high pitched whine if left plugged into shore power which is typical and how it was designed to run somewhat. This solenoid latching/holding current will be removed as soon as one of the battery banks becomes slightly used if not on shore power and may be why it doesn't do it all the time.
What works for us is to use a manual 12ga 12" long jumper that goes from the 12vdc + feed on the intellitec controller to the 12vdc + feed terminal on the solenoid coil so when we are in a camp ground plugged in we can get some sleep. Pleas note this forces both chassis and coach battery banks to be tied together at the risk of running down the starting batteries should the converter not charge.

[Doggy Daddy]

A Humming BIRD and a Whining BIRD

["007"]

A humming bird ,really.
Check the isolator relay see if its buzzing may need to check the wiring to it.

[Ramets]

It could be humming because it doesn't know the words.

[Renden]

Some of you folks are really funny
But you answers do not help me at all - I will find the answer

[Ramets]

Sorry Renden couldn't help myself. But mine hums all the time, but not a high pitched one.

[Qwert66]

Does temporarily pulling this red wire from the controller make the whining stop ?

[YC1]

I too have heard that the reduced pulsating voltage will cause the solenoid to buzz. Changing the solenoid would be a shot in the dark but the old laminations in the coil of the solenoid could be loose.

If it is a recent occurance and as suggested removing the red wire to be sure then just change the solenoid. If it has always been an issue then a newer BIRD model would cure the problem.

[Renden]

Originally Posted by Qwert66

Does temporarily pulling this red wire from the controller make the whining stop ?
Attachment 39296

which red wire, Qwert66 (thanks by the way)?
what am I working on as current....? Am not an electrician

[jettyjock]

I had to replace my BIRD because it was pulling in the battery boost sol. all the time and draining all my batteries.
On mine the Bi-directional relay when the engine is running, first charges the chassis battery and then pulls in the battery boost sol. and charges the house batteries.
When plugged into shore power it will charge the house battery first then charge the chassis battery.
If I have the battery disconnect switch off and on shore power no batteries are charged.

[Qwert66]

The spade ended plug wire on the intellitec controller labeled "relay".
Shown in my pic as the spade ended red wire where the other end goes to the relay coil.

[Qwert66]

There is and old and newer version of Intellitecs B.I.R.D.. One difference is in the battery trigger voltages used to control when it latches/unlatches the coil. We have the original old one
P/N 00-00366-000

The unit is housed in a plastic enclosure for
mounting in an engine compartment. To connect
the two batteries together under proper
conditions, it operates in combination with an
intermittent duty solenoid, similar to ones used as
diesel starter solenoids. In order to use this type
solenoid for continuous duty, the controller will
engage it with full voltage and then reduce the coil

voltage to approximately 4 volts to hold it in.

How Does It Work?

The Bi-Directional Isolator Relay Delay-Diesel constantly senses the voltage on the auxiliary and chassis
batteries. If either voltage is above 13.1 volts, which indicates the batteries are being charged, the control closes
the isolator relay. This parallels the batteries, charging them both. If the ignition is off and the voltage falls below
12.6 volts for approximately five seconds, the relay will open to prevent the auxiliary loads from discharging the
chassis battery. When the voltage goes back above 13.1 volts, the relay will close again.
If the ignition is on and the voltage falls below 12.0 volts for approximately five seconds, the relay will open to
prevent the auxiliary loads from over-loading the alternator and discharging the chassis battery. When the voltage
on the chassis goes back above 13.1 volts, the relay will close again. Allowing the batteries to stay connected
together to a lower voltage helps charge a heavily discharged auxiliary battery more quickly with the varying output
of the alternator.
A lock-out lead is provided to prevent conflicts if both the converter/gen-set and the alternator are trying to charge

the batteries at the same time.

[Qwert66]

What is the part# on the front of your BIRD controller ??