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fastcat · 08-14-2013, 12:42 PM

Just like most of you my chassis batteries don't get charged when the coach is plugged in. OK, so I know they'll go down.

Well, I let them go completely dead while we were gone on vacation on the Harley. Yeah, I nkow.

So I put a charger on them with the battery disconnect switch turned on. As soon as I did that all the outside lights on the coach, as well as the dash lights and idiot lights on the console switches started flashing on and off. I think even the Aladdin screen was flashing but can't remember for sure.

When I turned off the disconnect everything stopped flashing, of course.

I let the charger run for a while and with the help of the boost switch I got the motor started. After about 1 minute the lights quit flashing. About a minute later they started again, then finally stopped for good another minute later.

Everything seems to be fine now, but? Any ideas what the flashing lights are suppose to mean??

CJScepter · 08-14-2013, 01:36 PM

I can't speak directly to your case but I can tell you from 40+ years working with electonic gear that battery voltage is very critical. If all is well now that voltage is restored to proper level ckalk it up to experience. I was working on a friends car(saturn) and the door locks were locking and unlocking, never stopping, also the dome loght would flash on and off. I checked voltage, it was 10.5 volts. After charging it up all was well. They did have to replace the battery 2 months later.
Good luck
John G.

fastcat · 08-14-2013, 05:11 PM

Yeah, I expect to have to put in new batteries soon. Just really baffled by all the flashing lights. I could hear a relay clicking every time they would flash.

YC1 · 08-14-2013, 05:31 PM

Do you have the key fob lock system? If so the alarm system may have been triggered by the bad voltage. No horns blow because those are driven by air.

fastcat · 08-14-2013, 06:30 PM

I do and I bet that's it.

That said, I didn't know my coach had an alarm.

YC1 · 08-14-2013, 08:21 PM

Pressing one of the buttons for two seconds will flash the lights. Could be useful in an emergency,. I don't remember which button but heck, there aren't that many.

Willie300s · 08-15-2013, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YC1

Pressing one of the buttons for two seconds will flash the lights. Could be useful in an emergency,. I don't remember which button but heck, there aren't that many.

It's the panic button on my Endeavor key fob. I have done that accidentally while working on the MH and it took a while before I figured out what was going on. Would have been obvious if it operated the horn.

Dutch Star Don · 08-15-2013, 11:07 PM

fastcat.....Like YC1 stated, it's an alarm that uses the other functions, but not the alarm. If you look (usually under the right side of your dash or behind the sliding center console drawers) at night and hit the remote you'll see a red light flash. The light is connected to the alarm/keyless entry unit, about the size of a pack of cigarettes. The red light is what you would typically mount on your dash when you have a car alarm installed. The red LED has three feet of wire attached. There is another wire attached with a reset button on it.

I added another three feet of wire to the red LED and mounted in the lower section of the right front "A" pillar. When you lock the coach with the key fob, the red LED will blink until you unlock the coach. It makes a great deterrent and looks like you have an alarm. The spot where I mounted it, also reflects in the mirror and can been seen when approaching the coach from behind.

Back to your batteries. You just need to add the Xantrex Echo unit or the Magnum combiner. They will keep your batteries charged while parked.

fastcat · 08-16-2013, 09:53 AM

Thanks Don. Great tip on the LED!

I just put two new group 31s in it last night. They are from Les Schwab and have 950 CCA and 1185 CA, compared to 750 CCA and 940 CA on the Monaco installed Interstate Workaholics.

Whips over that little Cummins like crazy. I use the same batteries in my race car with a 15-1 compression, 572" motor (bigger than the Cummins) and they spin it the same way.

Right now I have a battery tender hooked up to it but I think the Magnum combiner is going in soon. I can buy it from one of my parts distributors for $110.