chassis not charging from shore pwr

[liteship]

HI all

I have a 2005 dolphin lx. when i am plugged into shore power only my house charges. when i start the engine or generator both banks charge. is this normal or should shore power charge the chassis as well the house. Thought i would check this out before adding secondary chargers

Liteship

[JJH3rd]

According to the Workhorse chassis guide (Work Horse Chassis Guide 1999-2009.pdf p33/ Workhorse Chassis Guide 2006.pdf p59) there is a battery isolator that separates the chassis from the house batteries. The isolator disconnects the chassis battery from the house batteries when the motor is turned off. “This prevents the chassis battery from losing charge through the use of the motor home electrical components. Once the vehicle has started, the isolator will reconnect the motor home battery(s) back into the charging system to re-charge the motor home battery(s).”

I think this fits the circumstances you have described.

Workhorse manuals: RV Chassis Guide
you have to create a free accouint to get the manuals but its worth it for the information.

[liteship]

I understand how the battery isolation works. My question is when i'm plugged into external power only my house batteries charge shouldnt both banks charge> i understand some units do>

[Retiredblade]

Originally Posted by liteship

I understand how the battery isolation works. My question is when i'm plugged into external power only my house batteries charge shouldnt both banks charge> i understand some units do>

I don't have a Dolphin, but a Islander and I found the same problem. leaving the M.H. plugged into shore power, I found that the chassis battery wasn't getting charged, to the point that it dropped to 11 volts, not enough to start the engine. So, I believe something was robbing power off of my chassis battery. I unplugged shore line, turned off both master switches and my two solar panels keep my house batteries charged up, but not the chassis. So, I heard about the Xantrex Echo charger, and installed one. While sitting the echo charger take power from the house batteries and keeps a charge going to the chassis battery, when the chassis battery reaches full charge, the echo keeps a float charge on it. Should the house battery reach a certain voltage, it quits charging altogether so it won't lose its voltage. I have found that the solar panels keep them up enough and the chassis battery hasn't gone below 12.75 volts. You might consider a echo charger, easy to install, you can get them for about $100.

[Fred and Bonnie]

National RV's 12V system was set-up to charge the chassis battery after the coach batteries reached full charge. I don't have the info pertaining to the function within the 12V Distribution board. I suspect there is an interconnect relay within the system.

Hopefully others can be more specific.

fred

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by Fred and Bonnie

National RV's 12V system was set-up to charge the chassis battery after the coach batteries reached full charge. I don't have the info pertaining to the function within the 12V Distribution board. I suspect there is an interconnect relay within the system.

Hopefully others can be more specific.

fred

This is the way mine works also and it does normally take a while before it switches over.

[keninvic]

Originally Posted by tropical36

This is the way mine works also and it does normally take a while before it switches over.

The battery control board will charge the engine battery if it drops below a threshold voltage (cant remember that voltage). The short answer is yes, your battery charger should charge the house batteries and the chassis battery.

[Dunner]

My 2004 Sea Breeze charges both the house and chassis batteries on shore or generator. I'm not sure how the transfer switch is wired, but I would think if it charges with the generator, it should also charge with shore power.