Community Forums

JSPERRELLA · 04-08-2016, 08:36 PM

I had two toad chargers and they have failed. I now wish to just direct wire between the MH chassis batteries and the toad. I have connected two 14 gauge stranded wires from one of my two chassis batteries to 15 amp circuit breakers to the toad's batteries. Problem is after I connect the wiring I only read the toad battery's voltage at the circuit breakers and read the MH chassis battery voltage only at the MH. I have attached a table. Should I connect the wiring from the MH to both chassis batteries or how can I get the MH power to go to the toad. The table does not reflect the MH running but I then get 14.4 at the MH and the toad battery voltage at both sides of the circuit breakers.

grtharris · 04-08-2016, 09:14 PM

JSPERRELLA, sounds like you have a bad ground between the motorhome and toad.

twinboat · 04-08-2016, 09:17 PM

Are you running 2 seperate 12 volt positive wires ?

If not, you don't need 2 breakers. Only 1 in the positive line.

Is the MH end hooked to the chassis battery ?

If hooked to house, it takes time before the house batteries get a charge from the alternator. It's prority is the chassis battery.

Arch Hoagland · 04-08-2016, 09:20 PM

I'm curious how you determined a 15 amp circuit breaker would be sufficient?

twinboat · 04-08-2016, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

I'm curious how you determined a 15 amp circuit breaker would be sufficient?

Probably due to the 14 gauge wire.

Arch Hoagland · 04-09-2016, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Probably due to the 14 gauge wire.

He is connecting to the toad battery and that will draw more than 15 amps if the toad battery is run down at all.

The two wires puzzle me too.

Mr_D · 04-09-2016, 12:43 AM

I used 10 GA wire and 30 amp breakers, one on the RV and another on the towed. Works fine and has for two different MH's with the same towed.

w2drfg · 04-09-2016, 04:27 AM

I agree a bad ground. From the voltage readings in the pdf you have a ground problem between the black wire from MH battery to the circuit breaker in the picture. Assuming that is the breaker or fuse in the picture. Disconnect one black wire and read accross to make sure breaker is good then reattach. read from chassis ground or frame of each vehicle to black wire for continuity.
Could be a bad connection at mh battery.

Bigd9 · 04-09-2016, 05:55 AM

John, if you have a Freightliner chassis, there may be an easier way to put in a charge wire. On my 2006 Freightliner chassis, there is a 12 volt "charge wire" already in the trailer plug (pin #4). It is fused and controlled by a relay. It is hot only when the ignition is on.

My electric cord between the coach and toad is a 7 wire cord, and at the toad plug I simply ran a wire from the 12 volt #4 pin to the battery, placed a fuse there and connected it to the battery.

I'm not familiar how Spartan wires their coaches.

JSPERRELLA · 04-09-2016, 12:23 PM

Okay I tried to bypass the breakers. DID NOT WORK
I checked the continuity of the wiring. NO PROBLEM
Then I wired directly from the MH starter solenoid to the car battery. SHOWED 14 VOLTS
Then I wired through the breakers. 14 VOLTS
Before I make this a permanent fix is there something I am not considering.

When not wired from the starter solenoid showed 12.6 although the MH batteries reflected 14.1. After I disconnected the new MH connection from the auto, the auto battery was showing 13.

twinboat · 04-09-2016, 01:49 PM

Are you sure you were hooking up to the chassis batteries the first time ?

You defiantly are, going to the starter cable.

JSPERRELLA · 04-09-2016, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Are you sure you were hooking up to the chassis batteries the first time ?

You defiantly are, going to the starter cable.

I followed the wires to the MH battery and did a continuity test.

I am not defiant. But I am attached now to the starter cable.

JSPERRELLA · 04-10-2016, 07:19 AM

Correction

Attached to charge solenoid.

Scottybdivin · 04-10-2016, 09:14 AM

Just curious why you installed a breaker on the ground? I agree with others that you should already have a 12V charging wire in your 7-pole plug. Especially on a 2009. Mine was dead and I couldn't locate the fuse in any of the regular fuse panels. I had to call Spartan and it ended up being at the chassis batteries. They used 10 ga wire from the battery to the plug.