Community Forums

jrgreen · 12-30-2015, 11:23 AM

Can anyone tell me where the "BIRD" is located in a 2008 Discovery? My chassis batteries are not charging when plugged into shore power.

TonyMac · 12-30-2015, 03:17 PM

Did they used to charge on shore power? Mine don't, not on out last two motorhomes. To charge the chassis battery, one must use a charger of some sort, or fire up the main engine. I'm not even sure if the genset will charge the chassis batts. If you do use a charger remember: charging batteries give off hydrogen gas, which is very explosive. Either leave the charger outside the battery compartment with the cables running in thru the door seal, or leave the door open while charging. My current mh has a 2" hole in the bottom of the battery compartment to allow the cables to enter while the charger itself sits outside ON, not in, a plastic oil drip pan to keep it off the ground.

ga traveler · 12-30-2015, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyMac

Did they used to charge on shore power? Mine don't, not on out last two motorhomes. To charge the chassis battery, one must use a charger of some sort, or fire up the main engine. I'm not even sure if the genset will charge the chassis batts. If you do use a charger remember: charging batteries give off hydrogen gas, which is very explosive. Either leave the charger outside the battery compartment with the cables running in thru the door seal, or leave the door open while charging. My current mh has a 2" hole in the bottom of the battery compartment to allow the cables to enter while the charger itself sits outside ON, not in, a plastic oil drip pan to keep it off the ground.

that is exactly what a BIRD is. It is to charge both the chassis and house batteries.

twinboat · 12-30-2015, 03:35 PM

BIRD.
Bi-directional Isolation Relay with Delay.

Cat320 · 12-30-2015, 06:37 PM

My chassis batteries charge through the coach batteries. The coach batteries have to be getting at least 13.3 volts, or they will not let the charge go through to the chassis batteries. Call FW if you have questions, they can talk you through the process.

montyhp · 12-30-2015, 09:11 PM

Fleetwood will tell you that you have bad batteries. I had the exact same conversation with them (And it turns out they were probably right).

Old Bounder · 12-31-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrgreen

Can anyone tell me where the "BIRD" is located in a 2008 Discovery? My chassis batteries are not charging when plugged into shore power.

Your coach does not have a discreet BIRD (like the Intellitec device shown in your post). Your BIRD function is located in the BCC (Battery Control Center). It is integrated into the printed Circuit board.

Find the BCC, and tell us who manufactured it (Intellitec or RV-Custom Products) and I'll give you test procedures and diagrams for the correct one.

frede · 12-31-2015, 11:54 AM

FWIW my BCC is on the right side as you open the "hood", big black box cleverly labled "Battery Control Center. It's made by RV-Custom Products and I'd love a copy of the test procedures since mine dosen't charge the starter battery on shore power and the "boost" switch doesn't work, so I have to carry a battery charger for when I stop for more then a week.

twinboat · 12-31-2015, 12:35 PM

I find it amazing that MH manufactures can put out a product that can't sit for a week without the batteries going dead.

I park my car for a month or more and it starts.

We had Mack and Freightliner trucks that started after sitting over the winter.

firedoc · 12-31-2015, 12:46 PM

A lot of electronics and gadgets in these motor homes!

Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum

mel s · 12-31-2015, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyMac

Did they used to charge on shore power? Mine don't, not on out last two motorhomes. To charge the chassis battery, one must use a charger of some sort, or fire up the main engine. I'm not even sure if the genset will charge the chassis batts. If you do use a charger remember: charging batteries give off hydrogen gas, which is very explosive. Either leave the charger outside the battery compartment with the cables running in thru the door seal, or leave the door open while charging. My current mh has a 2" hole in the bottom of the battery compartment to allow the cables to enter while the charger itself sits outside ON, not in, a plastic oil drip pan to keep it off the ground.

TonyMac
That is excellent advice if/when batteries need to be charged using a battery charger.

It is apparent that you know that many motor home chassis batteries are not charged at all unless the engine is running.
That is not a bad thing...most motorized vehicles, (cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.), handle battery charging that same way.

BTW that has NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM on my 145k mile coach.

Mel
'96 Safari

Old Bounder · 12-31-2015, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frede

FWIW my BCC is on the right side as you open the "hood", big black box cleverly labled "Battery Control Center. It's made by RV-Custom Products and I'd love a copy of the test procedures since mine dosen't charge the starter battery on shore power and the "boost" switch doesn't work, so I have to carry a battery charger for when I stop for more then a week.

Your problem is most likely a defective Isolator/aux start/charge solenoid. This solenoid is located behind the circuit board in your BCC. It is a simple continuous duty solenoid, and is the shiny on in the middle of the two disconnect solenoids.

PM me an e-mail address and I'll give you the diagrams and test procedures.

Old Bounder · 12-31-2015, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

I find it amazing that MH manufactures can put out a product that can't sit for a week without the batteries going dead.

I park my car for a month or more and it starts.

We had Mack and Freightliner trucks that started after sitting over the winter.

Those trucks and cars don't have continuously operating LP leak detectors, hard wired smoke/fire detectors and/or step motors either.

mel s · 12-31-2015, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Bounder

Those trucks and cars don't have continuously operating LP leak detectors, hard wired smoke/fire detectors and/or step motors either.

Old Bounder
I believe those 12V items are powered by the "house" batteries, (not the "chassis" battery or batteries), in coaches that have no provision for chassis battery charging other than via the alternator.
I know they are in my coach.
Mel
'96 Safari