Community Forums

Ludger · 03-31-2023, 08:23 PM

Would anyone know if the house batteries on my 2015 34T Bounder are being charged along with the starting battery by the alternator while driving?

code2e · 03-31-2023, 10:17 PM

The house batteries are supposed to be charged by the alternator while the engine is running. Best to make sure system is working. If you don't already own a multimeter, you should get one. $20 to $30 will do it. Set it for DC Volts and check at your chassis battery and at the positive and negative ends of your coach battery pack. Your coach pack is likely made up of 6 volt golf cart batteries wired together to end up with 12 volts. While engine is running you should read between 13.8 and 14.2 volts D.C. at both chassis and coach batteries.

A multimeter can be the most valuable tool in your RV toolbox.

Ludger · 04-01-2023, 09:10 AM

Thank you for the reply, I thought that was the case. I do have a voltmeter and will check as you suggested.

Elwood58 · 04-01-2023, 10:56 AM

You can also look at the battery display while the engine is running. House and Chassis should be well north of 13 volts.

Make sure the generator is off when checking.

computerguy · 04-01-2023, 11:26 AM

Yea the house (aux) batts should be charged with the engine running.
It is controlled by a BCC (battery control center). There are conditions both batts are supposed to link and charge each other. Whether they are or not is the question. There are electronics involved that control this and electronics fail. Also why having a multimeter can help figure out where the problem is. If you search the forum for BCC you’ll see lots of info breads on the topic.

Tech Writer · 04-12-2023, 01:15 AM

In one of the Bounders that we one owned, we were just into Canada when I found that the batteries were not charging. I was fortunate to find a small RV repair shop. He quickly diagnosed the problem. Under the hood were what appeared to be starter relays but these had to do with the alternator charging the batteries and the circuit was also designed to not allow the house battery to discharge the chassis battery and vice versa. One of those relays had failed. A short time later, back on the road with everything working perfectly.