Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: A "busy" battery compartment  (Read 420 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 8 Guests are viewing this topic.
A "busy" battery compartment
I'm wanting to install both a Bluetooth battery monitor shunt and a battery disconnect switch here.

The left side has some room but is it enough?

P.S...bonus points for anyone who can tell me what those mounted switches control. I'll recheck the manual but I don't recall seeing that info.





2021 Mid Bath
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #1 –
I mounted our shunt on the upper left side, easy to get to the ground connections and all the rest of the wiring was small and easy to deal with. Our battery box also had easy access from inside the coach. Our catch was the base for the battery's was on a slide so everything had to be flexible. Too bad you can't do it while your battery's are out for replacement, on the road makes it almost impossible though
Aren't the circuit breakers going to the converter and vehicle alternator, the third one I don't know.


Jon
1994 MB
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #2 –
Quote from: JonS  - 
I mounted our shunt on the upper left side, easy to get to the ground connections and all the rest of the wiring was small and easy to deal with. Our battery box also had easy access from inside the coach. Our catch was the base for the battery's was on a slide so everything had to be flexible. Too bad you can't do it while your battery's are out for replacement, on the road makes it almost impossible though.

Jon
This will definitely be a job for when we get home in September. 
2021 Mid Bath
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #3 –
The battery disconnect typically replaces the jumper between the batteries, and mounts on a thin fiberglass card that slips vertically between them. The third breaker might be to the generator.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #4 –
Here's a dumb question: if you turn off all three of those breakers, have you effectively disconnected the battery, and hence don't need a battery disconnect switch?
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #5 –
I need to look at a new LD and see what the different breakers do, they are all large breakers, a 90-amp. 150-amp and a 200-amp
The 200-amp may be a battery disconnect, impossible to say without looking.

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: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
Here's a dub question: if you turn off all three of those breakers, have you effectively disconnected the battery, and hence don't need a battery disconnect switch?

That's not dumb.
That's an intriguing question.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #7 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 
I'm wanting to install both a Bluetooth battery monitor shunt and a battery disconnect switch here.

The left side has some room but is it enough?

P.S...bonus points for anyone who can tell me what those mounted switches control. I'll recheck the manual but I don't recall seeing that info.






positive and negative terminal have four wires ..... shunt screw dia is bigger as well and length of the screw is not long enough .... you may want to add battery bank ..... i was surprised that shop who helped me to add two additional batteries did not add battery bank ... also putting additional wire from shunt to battery positive terminal will be a challenge not enough space and battery screw length is barely long enough for existing four wires and at least one of the wire is very thick and do not want to bend.
I paid $150 to add two batteries and shunt, batteries are extremely heavy, it was a bargain but I am still not convinced that work is done properly. Very simple wiring and they let me get in the garage, wish I am able to bend just a little bit ..... shop also took out the partition between the battery box and space below the fridge where two new batteries are kept. I do remember see Larry's picture and he did the same thing which give me some satisfaction that shop knew what they were doing.

I am reading you story and am very surprise that mothership is not stepping up. Ask sales person to get you connected to decision maker/owner.

All the best
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #8 –
Hi Andy and Ted;  the 90 Amp breaker is the only one with a 'trip' button.  The 150 Amp and 200 Amp apparently do not. They have reset levers to reset them if they trip, but can't be just turned off.  If the 200 A goes to the generator starter motor, and the 150 A is the wire coming from the engine alternator, those can be left on. The 90 A, I believe, is the one going to the converter, and actually serves double duty.  It is charging current from the converter, going to the batteries, and when not connected to shore power, the converter uses that same wire to connect the batteries to the house 12 vdc branch circuits.  So yes, pushing that red button to trip that 90 A breaker would 'shut off' the batteries.  While 'Shut off', the generator could still be started, and the truck chassis alternator could charge the batteries. without shore power or generator, the 12 volt circuits in the 'house' would be without 12 vdc.
     Lazy Daze, for not much extra, could have provided those two breakers with the capability to be shut off. But possibly Steve didn't want trouble calls from people who wouldn't realize what those buttons did.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #9 –
Tedeboy-

Our mid-bath's battery box had less "stuff." I installed the shunt on the left-hand wall of the box; pictures are here. Your mid-bath's battery box has room there, I believe. The flexible cable on the shunt input allowed the battery tray to move normally.

Mark H.
Former owner, 31-foot gas Class A
Former owner, 1997-8 mid-bath
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #10 –
Ted. There is room on the left side of the box for the monitor sending unit. That is where I placed my Victron unit. Look at my thread on the modifications to Villa Verde for the photos. I do have a emergency disconnect switch upstream to the battery negative post.
2010 RB "Monty"  & currently: 2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23'
1982 Dolphin/Toyota 22'
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #11 –
Quote from: l1v3fr33ord13  - 
Tedeboy-

Our mid-bath's battery box had less "stuff." I installed the shunt on the left-hand wall of the box; pictures are here. Your mid-bath's battery box has room there, I believe. The flexible cable on the shunt input allowed the battery tray to move normally.

Mark H.

My 2021 doesn't have a sliding tray.
My 1995 did.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #12 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 
My 2021 doesn't have a sliding tray.
My 1995 did.

Lead-acid batteries had a sliding tray, this ended with introduction of AGM batteries.

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: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #14 –
So are the batteries just sitting on the bottom of the battery box?   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #16 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 
That makes sense to aid in adding water.

No need to pull the AGMs out for watering. It isn’t necessary with lead-acid batteries either if a remote watering system is used.
When switching to AGMs, I would pull the slide out, most of the time, they are badly ruested and will barely.

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: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #17 –
Ted,

We have an MB and we installed a shunt on the left wall.  Check out this post with photos and details of the install.

Balmar SG200 Battery Monitor

Jim
Jim & Sue
Formerly owned: 2011 27' MB, Sidra
Re: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #20 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 

Is the battery compartment wall that thin  so as to need a backing plate? Just curious.


The left wall is the place for the shunt in most floor plans, most of the cable are onthe left side.
The shunt can be screwed directly to the box, if you can get to the side of the box. a small, plywood backing plate isn’t a bad idea.
I mount the shunts on a plywood square that is both screwed and glued to left side of the box, this provides a solid mount without having to access the side of the box.


Have you figured out what circuit the different breakers in the battery box protect?

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: A "busy" battery compartment
Reply #21 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
The left wall is the place for the shunt in most floor plans, most of the cable are onthe left side.
The shunt can be screwed directly to the box, if you can get to the side of the box. a small, plywood backing plate isn’t a bad idea.
I mount the shunts on a plywood square that is both screwed and glued to left side of the box, this provides a solid mount without having to access the side of the box.


Have you figured out what circuit the different breakers in the battery box protect?

Larry



I haven't looked at the manual regarding those breakers yet.
2021 Mid Bath