RV Alternator IS NOT Charging House Batteries • The FIX
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- čas přidán 2. 09. 2022
- FAILED isolator solenoids are probably the reason your alternator is not charging your RV house batteries.
All RV batteries are controlled by some sort of Battery Isolation System & these systems do fail.
Replacing your motorhome RV house battery charging solenoids / Isolator solenoids is a PM item.
Whether you have a B.I.R.D, a B.I.R.D and a BIG Boy, or a B.I.M…..Battery Isolation System….bad solenoids are probably the reason your alternator is not charging your batteries.
These B.I.R.D, B.I.R.D and a BIG Boy or a B.I.M., Battery Isolation Systems basically accomplish the same thing maintaining your batteries only in different ways. Replacing these solenoids and the relay is a PM item if you want to be proactive and avoid roadside surprises.
Over the years isolator solenoids are constantly engaging and disengaging. In addition to that…..the motorhome is constantly jarring and getting slam jams on the highways. Plus you have varying degrees of temperatures as we travel and can sometimes cause condensation which is not good for anything electrical. All these things combined add up to one thing…..these isolator solenoids and relays will fail at some point.
Today, I’m going to change out all 3 isolator solenoids and the relay.
• My 2 outside solenoids are for the chassis and house batteries - these are rated for 100amps, they are continuous solenoids and I paid $52ea for them and are in my Amazon Store
• My center solenoid is the Auxillary start solenoid - Amazon didn’t have my particular one, so I bought it from Winnebago and paid $72 and that included shipping
• Right below that is my 5 post Tyco Relay - also not on Amazon so I ended up finding that from a Electrical supply house online and that was about $17 including shipping
So all in all $193 in parts.
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DISCLAIMER:
We are in no way experts or professional mechanics. But being a journeyman millwright for years & being EX Military, has proven to be very helpful in my lifetime learning how to care for & maintain all sorts of machinery & equipment like: helicopters, airplanes, tanks, motorcycles & many types of other vehicles. That, along with 18 months preparing & upgrading our RV before we went full time, & now traveling for several years has gained us a lot of knowledge. Regardless of what we recommend, consult a professional if you're unsure about working on your RV. Work you perform or products you purchase based on any information we provide is at your own risk.
I have had only 2 RVs in my life and BOTH had solenoid failures as you describe. Both were challenging to access and replace. Both were discovered failing by the lack of charging just as you have described. Prior to watching your video, I figured that it was just an amazing coincidence that these failed on me on 2 unrelated RVs. But now I know this must be a common problem. I am guessing the contacts get corroded inside from arcing high amperage along with environmental moisture? Not sure. But love your videos and you should know that you are a help to both the newbie and the little more advanced type owners!
I dumped my dead acid house batteries and installed LFE batteries that fit in the same space. I then installed a 50 Amp DCDC converter to charge them from the alternator. Live is good now. Half the weight and twice the capacity.
I love that you use arm guards instead of a long sleeve shirt so you can still show off your “guns”.
How do I use a charger to charge my parallel batteries. I have the same battery layout as you. Where do I place my trickle charger clips at please?
Great video, your attention to detail is truely impressive. I have one suggestion, this is a trick I used on the fleet of commercial trucks that maintained. Solenoids were always mounted on the firewall requiring me to get assistance to unbolt the solenoid since I could reach both sides. I imagine similar to your situation with the box. What did was get a slightly longer mounting bolts and 2 nuts and lock washers per bolt(2 bolts 4 nuts and lock washers per solenoid) and then I reversed the bolt (head on the outside with a lock washer and nut on the inside never to be removed again! No more rust problems or reaching issues. Now on the inside of you box you'll have a stud that you will slide the solenoid onto and secure with a nut and lock washer. From that point on mounting will be done from inside the box without need of assistance. Now this will push the solenoids out away from the wall a 1/4" but in your case I do not think (and in most cases) it will not matter at all. Just a thought happy RVing.
I can run EVERYTHING just fine when plugged in or on Generator power but as soon as I start the Engine, my Inverter / charger reads a negative draw. Once I fire up the AC units eventually it throws a code PTOC shutdown over current protection....
I'm having the opposite problem... Plugged into shore power, my house batteries charge, but not my chassis batteries. I have to run my generator for 15 minutes every week to charge them. Same part failed? Isolator relay? According to my owner's manual, my float charger is supposed to charge the house batteries until their full, then switch to charging the chassis batteries, then switch back. 2007 Beaver Contessa DP.
Well done, and as usual, a do it your selfer often will do a better, more thorough job than paying a "professional".
I’ll have to see wheee George’s are! I miss you guys!
Great information as always. I would have used Rivnuts instead to eliminate the need to go behind the bay in future. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the great videos Martin!
As always, Thank You RV Street for the time you take to do these Very helpful videos in supporting the RV community.
Outstanding video will save a lot of headaches for RV owners. As always wishing safe travels and fair weather.
Sure do enjoy these videos. What a guy Martin was and oh how he will be missed. So glad he had made so many of these fine videos. RIP Martin!
Congrats on getting over 50k subs'. Just not to long ago purchased my first Class A and have learned so much from you guys. Keep up the good work and Good health.
Martin the thing I like most about your videos is that you are very articulate and very knowledgeable, keep up the good work.
Martin, as always you go above and beyond in explaining what & how to go about whatever repair you are doing. Thank You and keep the video's coming. Joe
That Grinding hat really made my day Martin! lol Not to sure if my wife would give up one of her winter toboggan hats that's that nice to work under our RV with but its worth a try. Hope you all are having a nice summer and keep up the great work please stay safe and healthy.👍
Hi Martin, had the same issue 1 day before departure. No time for the $25 amaxon delco relay. Auto parts took $120 from me with a smile for the same relay. Cured the issue. Love your channel. Be safe, get healthy. Prayers are with you. Bob & Lynda from Montreal, Canada
I keep going back to Martins videos. The intro is one of the best on CZcams. Keep strong Joanie, you don't walk alone in this world. Lost our 23-year-old granddaughter on the 23rd of this month. We will be together again on the other side.
Martin, Thank you for another great PM Video. Nice job.