Excursion battery charger issue

[nyparrothead]

Hi all,

We are still getting to know our Excursion 35b.. we plug the coach in while in storage and I push the two toggle switch’s down in the control cabinet above the door to disconnect the batteries.

Our issue is the battery charger does not seem to be charging.. the display shows it is floating but the batteries won’t start the coach. I turn on the gen and charge the batteries a few min and it will then start.

Do I need to leave the batteries “connected” in order for the charger to charge them....

Mark

[House Husband]

Originally Posted by nyparrothead

Hi all,

We are still getting to know our Excursion 35b.. we plug the coach in while in storage and I push the two toggle switch’s down in the control cabinet above the door to disconnect the batteries.

Our issue is the battery charger does not seem to be charging.. the display shows it is floating but the batteries won’t start the coach. I turn on the gen and charge the batteries a few min and it will then start.

Do I need to leave the batteries “connected” in order for the charger to charge them....

Mark

The only time you want to turn off the battery disconnect switches is when the coach is parked with OUT shore power. The batteries will not charge with the switches off.

Richard

[nyparrothead]

Ok thanks... the coach has a magnum inverter/charger and 1 me-mr remote display for it.. does that charger charge both the house and starting batteries? The problem is my starting batteries do not seem to be charging but I have been hitting the disconnect toggles...If it does not charge the starting batteries, what’s the best way to charge them, battery tender?
‘Thanks

Mark

[twinboat]

Your inverter/charger is connected directly to the house batteries, so they should charge with the switchs on or off.

Between the house and chassis battery is a solenoid that connects them together. Its called the isolation solenoid. For it to work, the chassis battery disconnect needs to be ON.
That way the controller, for the isolation solenoid, will sense the house battery voltage receiving a charge and connect the chassis battery to the house batteries.

It also works the other way, when the engine is running, so the house batteries charge while underway.

[Sailguy252]

If you are plugged in do not turn the battery switches off, leave them on and your batts will charge - I have a 2017 Pace arrow which is similar to the excursion and that is how mine works. Good luck.

[House Husband]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Your inverter/charger is connected directly to the house batteries, so they should charge with the switchs on or off.

Between the house and chassis battery is a solenoid that connects them together. Its called the isolation solenoid. For it to work, the chassis battery disconnect needs to be ON.
That way the controller, for the isolation solenoid, will sense the house battery voltage receiving a charge and connect the chassis battery to the house batteries.

It also works the other way, when the engine is running, so the house batteries charge while underway.

It don't work that way on Fleetwood products. The inverter/charger is not connected directly to the house batteries. The disconnect relay is in the circuit between the converter/charger and the house batteries. Not all manufactures do it the same way.

Richard

[House Husband]

Originally Posted by nyparrothead

Ok thanks... the coach has a magnum inverter/charger and 1 me-mr remote display for it.. does that charger charge both the house and starting batteries? The problem is my starting batteries do not seem to be charging but I have been hitting the disconnect toggles...If it does not charge the starting batteries, what’s the best way to charge them, battery tender?
‘Thanks

Mark

When on shore power or generator the circuit board in you Battery Control Center will sense when the house battery voltage reaches 13.3 volts and close the isolator relay which connects both battery banks together. Thus charging all batteries. When either battery bank drops to 12.8 volts the isolator relay will open, keeping the chassis battery from discharging when off grid.

Again, leave the disconnect relays turned on all the time except when stored with no shore power.

Richard

[nyparrothead]

Thanks to all who replied!!!

Mark

[Djeffries]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Your inverter/charger is connected directly to the house batteries, so they should charge with the switchs on or off.

Between the house and chassis battery is a solenoid that connects them together. Its called the isolation solenoid. For it to work, the chassis battery disconnect needs to be ON.
That way the controller, for the isolation solenoid, will sense the house battery voltage receiving a charge and connect the chassis battery to the house batteries.

It also works the other way, when the engine is running, so the house batteries charge while underway.

This is correct for my 2007 Excursion 39 V. House batteries WILL charge when both chassis and house power switches are in the off position. Chassis batteries are not charged in this position.
If you leave your power switch for the chassis or house in the on position and lose shore power it seems there is much greater parasitic electric drain to fully discharge the batteries in short order. So, I have left both power switches in the off position and still receive the benefit of the inverter charging and monitoring the house bank of batteries.