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House batteries not charging at all
Hey there,

I am new to this forum, and can't find an answer to my question so far by searching the forum. So, i am the new proud owner of an 82 LD 22' and I have been spending about the last week trying to get the house battery to charge. It is a typical interstate marine battery, but I am only getting about 8v off of it. The battery may be toast, i am aware (i actually had to fill it with water last week.) But the house battery does not seem to be getting any charge from the alternator or from shore power. I am still trying to figure this all out, but here is what I know:

The chassis battery is getting plenty of power from the alternator. (alternator went out on me 3 weeks ago and was just replaced)
I did some investiagting on the "diode isolator" and, my alternator post (post 2, or A) was empty. The wire from the alternator was positioned on the #3 post which heads to the house battery, after passing thru an automatic circuit breaker.
When i move the #2 wire to where it should be, the house battery receives a charge, but then the chassis battery stops getting charge.
When I moved both #1 and #3 wire to the center post (per owners manuals solution for failed isolator), I was still getting charge to the house battery, but my chassis battery went completely dead. Couldst even start it again after readjusting the wires.
--(also may be worth noting that i believe the alternator wire on that isolator was moved in order to keep this chassis battery charged, by the mechanics that installed the new alternator for me. i believed they had a problem charging that truck chassis batter so they bypassed or manuvered around that isolator, and said forget it to the house battery. )

Ok, so I went ahead and put a new 70A isolator in, and i am still having the same problems. I still can't get the house battery to charge while driving, or engine running, and i also have not been able to find any shops to help me with this issue. I am sinking more and more money onto things that i am not able to repair. My wife and I are getting ready to head across country and ill need the power for boon docking as well. If there is anyone out there who has an idea as to how i can get both battery to charge at the same time, i would greatly appreciate it. Thank you! I hope i explained clearly enough what problems i am running into :)

Nick
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #1 –
I don't know much about the isolator system, but it sounds like your batteries were not well cared for or just old and may need replacing.  Or at least enough charging that it would require a long time running the engine.   Can you plug the RV into AC shore power, or put a charger on the house batteries.  They should charge at around 13-14 volts on any charging system made for 12Volt batteries (unless maybe they are so depleted they load the charger voltage down below that).   If you manage to get them charged and then unhook them from all chargers and loads they should still be above 12 Volts after sitting 24 hours.
Jay Carlson
2003  LD RB
2005 Bigfoot 40MH35LX
rvingjaygwynne.wordpress.com
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #2 –
I don't believe this model will charge the batteries from AC power.  I will do some more test today and see if i can say for sure, but i think that it only charges off the alternator.
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #3 –
Quote from: ndjavas1  - 
I don't believe this model will charge the batteries from AC power.  I will do some more test today and see if i can say for sure, but i think that it only charges off the alternator.
Unless the coach's electrical system has been modified, the converter, in a 1982 LD,  charges the coach battery as well as providing 12-volt power to the coach's accessories.
Check the circuit breaker, in the battery compartment.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
 
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #4 –
Well....a new battery helped a bit. I am getting charge while driving down the road now. As far as charging from shore power goes....I can't find any way for that to happen. On my house battery, I have 2 hot wires. One comes from the alternator and engine compartment that is hot when i start the truck, the other is the wire that runs up into the house to supply the house with power from the battery. When I plug into shore power, there is no current running to the battery from either wire. Is there something else that should be there?

The battery compartment doesn't have a circuit breaker, unless you are talking about something up in the engine compartment. But all i have in my house battery compartment  is: a battery, and 2 pos wires and 2 grounds. Can you clarify Larry what circuit breaker you are referring to please?
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #5 –
Quote from: ndjavas1  - 
what circuit breaker you are referring to please?
Oh I forgot, the older LDs had different battery arrangements than the newer ones.
There should be a circuit breaker someplace but who knows where, without tracing the wiring.

Since there are no accurate schematics of LD's wiring, tracking the wires is what has to be done.
You should have a shore-powered converter, probably in the Power Center, unless it was removed.
With old RVs, you never know what the previous owners did, I have seen some real interesting wiring jobs.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #6 –
Here are some things to consider:

-the chassis battery should have about 14.2V when the engine is running
-the center post of the isolator, where the alternator is connected, should have about a volt more, 15.2V
-the coach battery should have 13.2 - 14.2 volts, depending on state of discharge.

This vintage Chevy had poor routing of the alternator belt, making belt tension critical. The belt would begin to slip, its surface would glaze, heating the alternator pulley, drying out the front bearing lubricant, causing the bearing to freeze up and the internal electronics to fry. If your alternator is still ok, replace the belt and get a Krikit belt tension gauge to adjust it.

A discharged battery will measure a bit over 11V. Anything less and it should be replaced.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #7 –
yes....the alternator went out on me a few weeks ago, and i replaced it. Also replaced the isolator. The chassis battery and the house battery are all getting their proper voltage when the truck is running, but i still can't seem to find the shore converter that charges the house battery. I have a 115v converter that runs the electric throughout the house when connected to shore power, but i see no way of charging the battery from this converter. I don't understand why it would be taken out.


Also, in my owners manual, it does not say anything about the house batteries being charged when connected to shore power. Only when running the truck alternator.
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #8 –
Quote from: ndjavas1  - 
I see no way of charging the battery from this converter. I don't understand why it would be taken out.
Also, in my owners manual, it does not say anything about the house batteries being charged when connected to shore power. Only when running the truck alternator.
Well, if it doesn't have a converter connected to the battery, it's time to make it so, in the correct manner.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #9 –
Quote from: ndjavas1  - 
yes....the alternator went out on me a few weeks ago, and i replaced it. Also replaced the isolator. The chassis battery and the house battery are all getting their proper voltage when the truck is running, but i still can't seem to find the shore converter that charges the house battery.

Here's a test: Turn on the engine, and turn your fridge to 12V mode, if it has one - or else turn on the headlights. Turn off the engine after 10 min., then carefully put your hand on the face of the alternator pulley. If it is HOT, then your belt is slipping. Get a Krikit gauge and adjust it properly. If it is glazed, replace it first, adjust to new belt tension, and re-adjust after 100 miles.

Does your AC cord have a 30A connector or conventional 15/20 A house plug. If the latter, I believe LD sometimes did not set up the converter to charge the batteries. I would get an upgraded multi-stage converter and wire it to charge the coach battery, as Larry said.
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #10 –
We have a 30a plug on this rig    :D
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #11 –
Hi Nick. From your reply a few days ago, you have fixed your alternator charging problems, and both your chassis battery and your house battery are charging while underway. The problem now remains that while plugged in, your house battery isn't charging. At best with an older converter (that is 115v AC in, and 13+ v. DC out) will just trickle charge the battery. It uses the same wire that goes from the battery to the house power distribution panel (12 volt fuses). I assume you have one 12 battery, newer LD's have two 6 volt batteries in series for more ampere/hour capacity. When you are running the house, say lights for example, you would have about 12.7 volts to 13.0 volts from freshly engine charged batteries. When you plug in the coach, the lights might get slightly brighter, and the voltage on the house battery should go up, to about 13.3 volts. That means the converter has stepped in to supply power to the house, lighting, water pump, and other loads. It will also prevent the battery from discharging. Days later the battery would not have discharged, and should have gone up, but not much. Newer 3 or 4 stage converters have special circuitry to charge your house battery faster and better. This is especially important if you are running your generator to charge your house battery, since you really can't run the genny for days. Your converter could be bad, have an open fuse or circuit breaker, or may not have been provided with enough capacity to run your house loads and charge the battery at the same time. These converters usually had a relay to disconnect the battery while plugged in. I think mostly the 15 amp (115vAC) plug connections had this. You said you had a 30 Amp plug, so your converter should be able to run the house and provide extra current to charge the battery. For extra momentary power demands like the water pump, forced air heater, TV, the house battery in parallel would provide power out to help the converter. I hope this was helpful. RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: House batteries not charging at all
Reply #12 –
That makes a lot of sense Ron! A trickle charge, and that it runs thru the wiring from house battery t0 12v center. I am getting plenty of charge from my alternator, and using power when plugged into shore. Thank you to everyone on this forum for you help and feedback. We are crusin USA in the lazy days and having a blast. Thanks again!

Safe travels,

Nick