| Author |
Message |
Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 11:17 am: | |
I've finished the installation of my house 24V bank, including the solenoid to join the house and coach banks for charging.
I'd like to energise the solenoid to connect when/with the charging indicator tell/tale light in the instrument panel.
I think I could figure it out if the light came "on"....but going "out".....How does that work? The bus is a MC8, and the solenoid is the factory 200amp 24V that was unused after the removal of the factory coach a/c system. Has 2 controll lugs on the solenoid, + and -. How do I signal the solenoid from a light that goes "Out"? Thanks as always. |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 1:38 pm: | |
you have two big poles...connect those to interupt the circut...the two small poles...one of them must have a supply of electrcity to connect the two large poles...hope that made sense |
Gillig-Dan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 2:34 pm: | |
You might be able to put the control lugs connected across the switch that turns the charge indicator light on and off. Whether this would work would depend on the resistance of the solenoid coil. When the switch is open and the circuit is energized (bus is on) the coil would pull in with a completed circuit through the lightbulb. However, with this setup,. if the coil resistance was too low, the light would come on all the time and just its brightness would change. This could be solved by using a small, high impedance relay to pull in the big coil. The reason to do it this way is so if the bus is off, the coil will not energize. If the 200 amp relay could be closed when the bus is off, then you could just connect the coil across the bulb and the charging cicuit to the normally closed contacts of the 200 amp, if they exist.
Gillig-Dan |
gillig-dan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 2:47 pm: | |
On second thought (probably wrong again) doesn't the energizing of the "R" terminal of the alternator control the dash lamp? Just connect the relay to the "R" terminal.
Gillig-Dan |
Jayrjay
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 8:53 pm: | |
The AC relay is a N.O. type (normally open) and closes (makes)on voltage application. It cannot be made to work as N.C. (normally closed) that would open (breaks)on voltage application. The amperage required to operate the coil on this size relay is far beyond the capabilities of the dash light or the "R" terminal. I hate to suggest a relay to operate a relay- 'cuz where does that end?
KISS it...why not a simple single pole switch?
Still want exotic? Use a LASCR to "read" the light when it turns on! Lot's of ways to accomplish your task, but when it breaks down, be sure you made a circuit diagram to troubleshoot with. When it's O-dark-thirty and the snow flakes are fuzzing up your glasses you'll be glad it's easy to fix. ...JJ |
neomax
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 11:11 pm: | |
For automatic activation with the engine running just energize the solenoid from the "R" terminal of the alternator. Personally, I prefer activation thru a switch @ the dash, which allows u to charge engine batts from your inverter charger if u have one. Also, if u are planning solar, u can have situations of conflicting and over-riding the bus regulator by the solar controller, another reason for manual switch control |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 11:35 pm: | |
Chuck, if you still have your oil cooled generator and your starter safety relay, you already have a circuit that can turn on this 200 amp unit.
The starter safety relay reads the output of the generator relay terminal, which is about half the voltage of the battery terminal if the generator is charging.
The safety relay closes a circuit that turns on the original HVAC system blowers, and that voltage is 24 volts. Connect your 200 amp coil positive to this circuit and its negative to ground.
If and only if the generator is charging, the interconnect relay will tie your banks together.
If you don't have the safety relay anymore, a 12 volt relay could be powered by the generator relay terminal to accomplish the same thing.
If you really want to use the idiot light as a source, a single pole double throw relay can be used to accomplish this, but the source for the interconnect relay winding will have to be taken from someplace that is not energized when your master switch is off.
All this is speculation until we know what you are working with. And many alternators suppy the equivelant of the relay terminal to run the idiot light in cars.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 5:58 am: | |
Copy what 5,000,000 rv's do.It has numerous advantages , besides just being seamless.
Install a good quality "IGNITION" KEY SWITCH.
After start the RUN position will feed the solenoid , so charging the house will begin.
A big advantage is the ACC position will close the solenoid with out the engine.
SO if you camp with a PP every 2 weeks or so , going to ACC will allow the start batts to be charged by the House circuit charger.Neat!
Additionally YOU are in controll of the system at all times, and know what is going on.
FAST FRED |