Little Things Add Up . . .

[freewill2008]

Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would start
after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too soft
to do the job.

This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There is
an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the
starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.

There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the
automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.

So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a
0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's
about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.

This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in
the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system
on, as it should have been anyway.

The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery
compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the
stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the
dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST
and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.

The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it can
be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to open
the genset tray.

When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA

[Jipjob]

Hay Bob I get confused enough with just my four batterys and my dumb smart
charger. I just keep my battery charger on 24/7 and check the water out once a
month. I was told that it wasn't good to start up these old engines just to
hear them run-so I just start up my generator once in awhile and cross my
fingers that the 3208 will light up when needed.

Got a 50 inch TV now and I'm going to install it in front of the drivers window.
So I can just turn on the tv and sit at my steering wheel and look out the
front windshield and be far, far away from here. Love the cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jon
Rebel Bird "Stuck in Bremerton"

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "freewill2008" wrote:
>
> Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would
start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too
soft to do the job.
>
> This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There
is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the
starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.
>
> There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the
automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.
>
> So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a
0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's
about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.
>
> This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in
the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system
on, as it should have been anyway.
>
> The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery
compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the
stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the
dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST
and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.
>
> The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it
can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to
open the genset tray.
>
> When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )
>
> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
>

[Wayne Kotila]

Hi Bob:

Isn't your generator runout tray hydraulic? I had a 1982FC and a 1985PT and they both used hydraulics, not air for the generator tray.

Wayne

96WB42

---

From: freewill2008
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 3:20:18 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Little Things Add Up . . .

Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too soft to do the job.

This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.

There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.

So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a 0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.

This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system on, as it should have been
anyway.

The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.

The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to open the genset tray.

When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA

[freewill2008]

Wayne - Good question. Mine is air as there is no hydraulic system on board.
Maybe rigs with levellers also used hydraulic tray rams. Anyone?

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Wayne Kotila wrote:
>
> Hi Bob:
> Isn't your generator runout tray hydraulic? I had a 1982Â FC and a 1985Â PT
and they both used hydraulics, not air for the generator tray.
>
> Wayne
> 96WB42
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: freewill2008
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 3:20:18 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Little Things Add Up . . .
>
> Â
> Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would start
after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too soft to
do the job.
>
> This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There
is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the
starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.
>
> There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the
automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.
>
> So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a
0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's
about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.
>
> This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in
the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system on,
as it should have been anyway.
>
> The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery
compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the
stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the dinky-toy
relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST and then
hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.
>
> The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it
can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to
open the genset tray.
>
> When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )
>
> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
>

[Larry Dill]

Mine is air, I have to run the cat to get the air up before it will extend, no hydraulics, if it was hydraulic, all you would have to do is turn on the ignition key and there would be electric for the hydraulics!!!

Sea Ya
Larry
84 35' FCSB

`Pura Vida'

---

From: freewill2008
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 10:54:55 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Little Things Add Up . . .

Wayne - Good question. Mine is air as there is no hydraulic system on board. Maybe rigs with levellers also used hydraulic tray rams. Anyone?



Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Wayne Kotila wrote:

>

> Hi Bob:

> Isn't your generator runout tray hydraulic? I had a 1982ÂFC and a 1985ÂPT and they both used hydraulics, not air for the generator tray.

>

> Wayne

> 96WB42

>

>

>

>

> ____________ _________ _________ __

> From: freewill2008

> To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 3:20:18 PM

> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Little Things Add Up . . .

>

> Â

> Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too soft to do the job.

>

> This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.

>

> There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.

>

> So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a 0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.

>

> This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system on, as it should have been anyway.

>

> The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.

>

> The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to open the genset tray.

>

> When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )

>

> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA

>

[David Ward]

I've got an 80 FC 31 and it's generator tray and step are both air and it does have hydraulic levelers. Dave Ward 80 FC 31 SB Mesa, AZ --- On Fri, 12/11/09, freewill2008 wrote: From: freewill2008 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Little Things Add Up . . . To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, December 11, 2009, 3:54 AM Wayne - Good question. Mine is air as there is no hydraulic system on board. Maybe rigs with levellers also used hydraulic tray rams. Anyone? Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, Wayne Kotila wrote: > > Hi Bob: > Isn't your generator runout tray hydraulic? I had a 1982ÂFC and a 1985ÂPT and they both used hydraulics, not air for the generator tray. > > Wayne > 96WB42 > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > From: freewill2008 > To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com > Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 3:20:18 PM > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Little Things Add Up . . . > > Â > Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too soft to do the job. > > This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off. > > There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months. > > So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a 0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month. > > This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system on, as it should have been anyway. > > The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds. > > The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to open the genset tray. > > When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! ) > > Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA >

[Jipjob]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "freewill2008" wrote:
>
> Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would
start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too
soft to do the job.
>
> This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There
is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the
starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.
>
> There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the
automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.
>
> So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a
0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's
about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.
>
> This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in
the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system
on, as it should have been anyway.
>
> The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery
compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the
stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the
dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST
and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.
>
> The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it
can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to
open the genset tray.
>
> When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )
>
> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA

Well my battery tray is built right into the coach and no slide to mess with. I
guess the older the coaches the less junk they will have on them. I know Steve
Anderson has an extra set of batterys on his coach that are mounted under his
coach. So he has six batterys. He gave me his last four batterys and I have
set two of them in my old Dodge to power up my CD player. I know its an
overkill but I want to have enough battery power to play my big band music when
showing oft my 42 and people really like the sounds. And those two six volt
batterys can power up that little radio for a whole weekend or more. Here is a
picture of where I mounted the batterys.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942...3095-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942...other\
.jpg
>

[Wolff Corporation]

---

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Jipjob

Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009
5:58 PM

To:
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re:
Little Things Add Up . . .

Hay Bob I get confused enough with just my four
batterys and my dumb smart charger. I just keep my battery charger on 24/7 and
check the water out once a month. I was told that it wasn't good to start up
these old engines just to hear them run-so I just start up my generator once in
awhile and cross my fingers that the 3208 will light up when needed.



Got a 50 inch TV now and I'm going to install it in front of the drivers
window. So I can just turn on the tv and sit at my steering wheel and look out
the front windshield and be far, far away from here. Love the cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Jon

Rebel Bird "Stuck in Bremerton"



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com",
"freewill2008" ...> wrote:

>

> Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would
start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too
soft to do the job.

>

> This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive.
There is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to
the starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.

>

> There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on
the automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2
months.

>

> So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and
found a 0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter.
That's about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.

>

> This discharge is probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or
in the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system
on, as it should have been anyway.

>

> The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery
compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the
stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the
dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST
and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.

>

> The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and
it can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to
open the genset tray.

>

> When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )

>

> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA

>

[Wayne Kotila]

The 2 Birds with hydraulic generator trays that I owned used the HWH leveling system hydraulics for the generator tray runout.

Wayne
96WB42

---

From: freewill2008
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 9:54:55 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Little Things Add Up . . .

Wayne - Good question. Mine is air as there is no hydraulic system on board. Maybe rigs with levellers also used hydraulic tray rams. Anyone?

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII

--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Wayne Kotila wrote:
>
> Hi Bob:
> Isn't your generator runout tray hydraulic? I had a 1982ÂFC and a 1985ÂPT and they both used hydraulics, not air for the generator tray.
>
> Wayne
> 96WB42
>
>
>
>
> ____________ _________ _________ __
> From: freewill2008
> To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"
> Sent: Thu,
December 10, 2009 3:20:18 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Little Things Add Up . . .
>
> Â
> Thought this might be of interest: Went out to check that the 3208 would start after several nights of record low temps. Found the cranking battery too soft to do the job.
>
> This WL has dual 12v systems; one for house, the other for automotive. There is an automotive side disconnect, but it does not interrupt the cables to the starter or the Schottky charge splitter. The disconnect was turned off.
>
> There is usually either a small smart charger or solar system running on the automotive side, but for whatever reason both had been off for about 2 months.
>
> So, how did the cranking battery discharge? I isolated the cables and found a 0.15 amp draw on the cable heading for the starter and charge splitter. That's about 4 amps a day, or 120 amps a month.
>
> This discharge is
probably leakage, either through an old dirty starter or in the charge isolator. For now, the solution will be to leave the solar system on, as it should have been anyway.
>
> The good news: I had intalled a 200 amp combiner relay in the battery compartment with very short cables. (The cranking battery sits just behind the stock FC battery tray.) Using the dash switch that once controlled the dinky-toy relay that BB used behind the step-well, I triggered the relay FIRST and then hit the starter. I was running in about 2 seconds.
>
> The generator would still start. It can start from either 12v system and it can be jumped from the front battery compartment without the need for air to open the genset tray.
>
> When ya like to boondock, its all about backup systems! )
>
> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
>