| Author | Message | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 460 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 66.87.1.73  Rating: N/A |
Howdy - Follows an e-mail I received in response to my post “Re: Batts – a PITA tech question” (about 15 posts below). I thought it a great explanation of the Vanner / battery setup on the MCI, and figured others might benefit as well. Brian (the author) has helped me with other problems too, and is a terrific source of information. But, for some reason, he can’t seem to get registered here… and we could all benefit from his experience. At least that’s what I think. If anyone could help him get registered, he’d be most appreciative. Maybe this will catch Ian’s eagle eye? ‘Nuff said… here’s his email (I have permission). > Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 06:40:59 -0800 > From: evans.motorsport@yahoo.com > Subject: MC-5C batteries > To: music4u2@hotmail.com > Hi Nellie, as you may recall I have an MC-5C like yours, but I can't seem to register on the BNO board. I saw your note about your batteries. The MC-5C has, stock from the factory, a 12 volt tap. It taps off the upper battery, which is the 0 - 12 volt side of the 24 volt pair. There is a 30 amp fuse under a little twisty fuse cap in the upper right hand corner of the battery compartment. You can check to see if you have 12 volts on stud 55 of your front electrical panel, under the driver's window, or on stud 6 in the AC electrical panel. My bus also had a Vanner, stock, and it was technically not connected properly either, it was switched at 24 volts when the master switch/disconnect was thrown, and they like to be turned off with disconnecting the ground lead first. The 12 volt tap that I mention is not affected by the master disconnect switch, it cannot be disconnected unless you actually pull that little fuse. If there is a trace or trickle 12 volt leak, and you don't have the Vanner, only the top battery will discharge. If you have a little leak and the Vanner is connected, it will make both batteries discharge (happened to me last winter). So if you look for that stuff on your bus, you may find a reason why your upper battery is discharging. If you recharge it for a couple of weeks and it still fails the load test, it's gone to the happy home for batteries in the sky... Hope this helps. I am seriously jealous of your location, it is bloody cold here today in Canada (Dundas Ontario)... Cheers, Brian | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1109 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.1.12  Rating: N/A |
Thanks Nellie for the info. Keep a digging and you will find the answers LOL Gomer | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 215 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213  Rating: N/A |
Nellie. You got the book I sent you, Did it help? It has all the models in it that I seen so yours should be in it. The units don't like to be disconnected except neg. first is correct. The disconnect on our 102 doesn't disconnect the 12 volt side or the ground but does disconnect 24 volt. It was set up that way because the coach came with a webasto that ran on 12 volts and they wanted to be able to use it without powering the whole coach It is fine to have it hooked up so that the 24 volt side disconnects as long as the 12 volt is still powered Les | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 461 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 66.87.1.73 Rating: N/A |
Hey Les - Was about to shout your praises and here you are! Sure did get that book, and it's very helpful. Sent you an email... let me know if you didn't receive and I'll re-send. I haven't dug into the 'downstairs' yet. Too cold lately (believe it or not) - think I'll head to Florida  . First, I gotta see which model Vanner I have. Then I gotta figure out 12V from 24V. Then I gotta see if I actually run any 12V stuff (when not running). Then I gotta figure how to wire my house batteries so they charge along with the start batteries. But first, I gotta figure how to wean myself off these enormous (heavy, unecessary, PITA) 8Ds without throwing out the good one... I don't want to buy two if I can get away (for now) with one. So that's a pretty steep learning curve for someone that doesn't know squat about electronics (and is scared sh**less of electricity). But, as the song goes, "I will survive." Adios for now, Nellie PS: How come those little yellow 'new post' flags don't stay up longer? Always have to guess which threads have new stuff. Ian? Iannnn? | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 216 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
Hey Nellie I don't need any praises but you are very welcome. Tony made a suggestion that i looked into for my next batteries. Because we won't be using the coach for about 5 years ,I don't want to buy new batteries for it. Tony suggested to look into rebuilt batteries. He used them successfully on his trucks for some time and they can be had for about 1/2 the price of new. I found that I can buy a matched set of 8Ds for $80 each. I am also looking at different ways to charge my house batteries from the alternator and isolate them from the start batteries when not running. I have some info to share if you need it. I didn't get your e-mail Les | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 146 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 67.174.144.159  Rating: N/A |
bevans; How come you can't sign up. Probably because your fingers are still frozen from fixing your air compressor in the snow way up north EHHHHHHHHH Brian LOL Dave | ||
| tony denny (Papatony)
Registered Member Username: Papatony Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2010 Posted From: 74.206.82.239 Rating: |
Nellie Find you a heat and air fellow pay him a couple hours to lay out your system. They deal with ACand DC currents. It will be well worth it in the long run to save yourself a lot of time | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1167 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.56.244.104 Rating: N/A |
Nellie, I think you will find that the new post flags are actually tied into the last time you looked at the board. In other words, once you have looked at a post, it won't show new unless someone else posts to it. Tony gives good advice. I was asked by a utility company electrician whether I was the air conditioning repairman, or the electrician. On that job I had installed and wired the A/C, but I just said I was the A/C man, not knowing what he was getting at. He said "good, you refrigeration guys know more about electricity than the electricians." It does make some sense, because when your A/C quits, you call a refrigeration tech, not an electrician? I did tell Nellie to call an electrician a year ago, I guess I should have said a qualified one? Ha, G | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 464 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 66.87.8.59 Rating: N/A |
Thanks George - I''ll check that out (the 'flag' thing). Yes, you did (suggest the 'electrician' thing). But learning that 'qualified' doesn't necessarily mean qualified on buses. Dave: So my email benefactor (Brian) is really our ol' bud Bevans? E-mail doesn't say he couln't 'sign up' but couldn't 'register.' Joke's on me... never put it together. Les: is 'Tony' also Papatony'??? (Guess I'd best get these names figured out). Either way, how do I glom onto a rebuilt battery? Never knew such a thing existed. Thanks to all, Nellie |
