Community Forums

Gary RVRoamer · 10-26-2008, 05:20 PM

Gas vs diesel has nothing to do with charging the chassis batteries from the house system - it is strictly a matter of the coach electrical system design. For example, Fleetwood coaches generally do charge both, while for years Winnebago did not (but I understand that has now changed?). Other manufacturers did their own thing...

LVJ58 · 10-26-2008, 06:05 PM

"It's a good idea and neat function------when it works."

Amen to that Marty, the isolator solenoid went bad in ours back in Jul 07 and the house batteries wouldn't charge. I replaced it and now it works, but what a pain. And I have to agree, sometimes the older systems worked the best.

Jim

georgetown350 · 10-27-2008, 05:35 AM

It was a bad battery. Ford replaced it today under warranty.

I called rv dealer up to ask if engine battery is charged from shore power and he said no it is not.

He said if there is an aux switch on the dash, this is the only way to connect engine battery to converter.

Something about the converter is designed to charge a deep cycle battery and not an engine battery which requires a stronger charge.

Any ways I have my new battery and thankfully it went before warranty ends in Feb.

Thanks for the input guys

Steve

LVJ58 · 10-27-2008, 06:10 AM

"I called rv dealer up to ask if engine battery is charged from shore power and he said no it is not."

Steve, not to belabor the issue, but I would suggest you contact the manufacturer of your coach just to verify what the dealer told you.

I've often found the folks at dealerships are not totally knowledgeable when it comes to technical issues although they should be.

Best of luck, Jim

DriVer · 10-27-2008, 07:05 AM

I hope that you miight find this piece useful.

Deep Cycle Battery Replacement

AFChap · 10-27-2008, 11:24 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">He said if there is an aux switch on the dash, this is the only way to connect engine battery to converter. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
The above statement is not true, so if that is precisely what the dealer said, I wouldn't trust their technical expertise. My coach charges both engine and house batteries whether driving down the road or connected to shore power. And I do have an AUX switch on the dash. My coach uses a BIRD (bi-directional relay device) to charge both battery banks. This isn't the only way to accomplish this.

I second the recommendation to talk to the mfg. about your specific coach.

Eddie Foy · 10-27-2008, 01:59 PM

My Coach carges all batteries on shore or alternator power.

georgetown350 · 10-27-2008, 09:51 PM

I will call Forest River today.

thanks guys

Steve

georgetown350 · 10-28-2008, 07:21 PM

Hey you guys were right about the rv tech not knowing his stuff.

Forest River states that the chassis battery is charged by shore power. He said that the coach battery is charged first and then the chassis battery is charged second. When driving down the road its the reverse, the alternator will charge the chassis battery first then the house batterys.