| Author |
Message |
fly-by (216.79.79.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 2:49 pm: | |
GM 4106.
something is drawing down my batteries. I have a 55amp 12V charger/converter that should keep the batteries charged .....and it will charge when hooked to shore power overnight, but strangely enough, it won't keep them charged while running down the road with genset on. Made a 4 hr trip over the weekend with genset running the whole time.....when i got home, bus would not crank....in fact it would choke the genset (6.5kw) down when i hit the starter. batteries are relatively new and so is the starter. Also, batteries will discharge overnight to the point that the bus won't start.
anybody got any ideas?? |
John that newguy (199.232.240.61)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 3:08 pm: | |
I'd check -all- the grounds before I go any further. |
fly-by (216.79.79.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 4:21 pm: | |
another thing... in the past i have had an intermittent problem with the battery discharging
overnight after having run the coach...BUT only occassionally......other times it would stay charged even after being parked for months....
so, i'm wondering if there's a stuck relay or something that could be the culprit?? |
Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 8:48 pm: | |
I don't know how the 06s are set up but my 3751 has two juctions between the battery bay and the starter both are hard to get at and easy to miss when checking connections. If they're loose that would explain your intermitten problem becoming a constant one. |
mclough (65.137.131.112)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 9:25 pm: | |
fly by i have the exact same problem in my 4104. i have started to disconect my ground wire at end of drive just so i have power to start up in am. in 24 hours both my 8d batteries are dead. i was told to disconnect neg terminal from battery and put a test light between cable and post . then disconnect each circuit till light goes out. that tells u the circuit that causing problem.
i dont know if it works or not, i havnt had time to do it yet.
morgan
www.outreachacrossamerica.com |
ralph7 (208.148.72.119)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 09, 2004 - 9:38 pm: | |
If both batts are going down 1 do a batt check each cell sounds like a bad cell OR if very good 8d,s going flat that quick something is getting hot. ONE bad cell will kill both batt. |
John that newguy (199.232.244.24)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 9:05 am: | |
* I have a 55amp 12V charger/converter
* it will charge when hooked to shore power overnight
* it won't keep them charged while running down the road with genset on.
The genset/converter/charger wasn't designed to recharge the batteries
and run all electronics of the entire bus while you drive. Especially at
night. The bus's charging system was designed to keep the batteries
charged, even while all it's passengers used every light available at
night and while every available light was lit. That's quite a feat for a
busy little bus.
* batteries are relatively new and so is the starter.
* batteries will discharge overnight to the point that the bus won't start.
If the batteries do not receive a decent charge, they won't start
a cold engine after sitting all night.
I would check the ground straps from engine to chassis first, since
corrosion and rust occurs under the star washers where you can't see
it. I would also check the bus charging system, to insure the system
is working (but we assumed you did that?). |
Gary Carter (68.25.52.15)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 8:24 pm: | |
You made the statement that when the genset was running the batterys would not stay up running down the road. First and only guess is the 4106 regulator is seeing the output of converter/charger and saying "oh the batteries are fully charged". Keep in mind the bus regulator is a voltage device. Solution is simple. Measure the voltage at the regualtor with the genset running and then adjust the regulator to a higher voltage. |
Jim-Bob (12.46.52.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 9:46 am: | |
If I had the problem, the first thing I'd do is separate the house/genset/converter system from the chassis batteries. See if the bus works right without any conversion stuff hooked to it.
You actually should not be using your starting batts for "house" loads because if the "house" usage draws the batteries down, you won't be able to start the bus. Most motorhomes & boats (same issues, just floating) have separate systems. Some have a jumper relay or switch to briefly connect them for starting when one or the other runs down. |
John that newguy (199.232.240.57)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 10:11 am: | |
If you run a separate set of batteries for the "house", simply use
a battery isolator to isolate the loads. The sets of batteries will charge
from either source, but will be kept from depletion from either source. |
fly-by (216.79.79.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 2:45 pm: | |
thanks to everyone for their input...i finally had time to do some trouble shooting and found the problem....had a bad battery.....(boy do it feel stupid ;) it's the simple things that will get ya' |
John that newguy (199.232.240.156)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 2:49 pm: | |
HA!!
I guess it was your " the batteries are relatively new and so is the starter"
comment that sent us all in odd directions.. Oh well, eh? |
fly-by (216.79.79.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 5:48 pm: | |
you know it's strange, I replaced both batteries at the same time - summer before last. One is a Champion, the other is offbrand (surestart or something) Sam's didn't have 2 champions when i bought them. Anyway, the Champion is still going strong. |
John that newguy (199.232.240.139)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 6:15 pm: | |
In our Winnebago, of the two batteries supplying the house system,
the battery with the weak, corroded ground was the first to boil out
and go sour. Put a new battery in and all was fine! Until it boiled
out again a few weeks later.
Probably one chance in a million of having that problem, I suppose. |