generator weirdness

[erniecarpet@...]

In a message dated 12/22/2006 6:52:56 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
jdarstpt40@... writes:

Where's Ralph?


Thanks Jay- Ralph is kinda swamped right now. Dave has a tentative
appointment to visit Ralph in Jan , so we were trying to narrow it down a bit.
This
seems to be a persistent problem.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, tx



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[erniecarpet@...]

Thanks LT, will forward that info to Dave. Merry Christmas

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, tx



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[erniecarpet@...]

Dave has been receiving messages as special notices. i suggested he opt for
a daily digest, instead- especially if you don't want to flood your inbox with
individual messages. Thanks for all your help

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, tx



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ernest Ekberg]

dave Hardy- 84 PT40, his generator, while running will not charge his
generator battery. The inverter on the coach is no help. He can put an
aux battery charger on the generator battery and the generator will run
from now on- without that the voltage drops and she dies. Anyone have
ever have the same problem? How about a fix? Thanks, Ernie-83PT40 in
Texas- my generator just leaks diesel- no problem there

[one_dusty_hoot]

Ernie, sound to me like the aux charger is keeping
the fuel pump going,no fuel will kill it. Check the
genset alternator, source of battery problem too.
bob janes, greenville, sc

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ernest Ekberg"
wrote:
>
> dave Hardy- 84 PT40, his generator, while running will not charge his
> generator battery. The inverter on the coach is no help. He can put
an
> aux battery charger on the generator battery and the generator will
run
> from now on- without that the voltage drops and she dies. Anyone have
> ever have the same problem? How about a fix? Thanks, Ernie-83PT40 in
> Texas- my generator just leaks diesel- no problem there
>

[Lawrence Thornell]

Ernie
I have so little knowledge in a net of so much knowledge I usually don't
reply but I did have this problem on my XV. Dave needs to step over the
auxiliary battery relay (located under the step) with a diode that won't
allow backfeed to drain the generator battery. There also need to be a
breaker, I believe 45 amps in case the wire reaches ground. Simple fix,
if not it will run 3 to 4 hrs on a fully charged battery then I have removed
the battery from my car to keep the car to keep the AC going.
LT 90 SP in Eclectic, AL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ernest Ekberg"
To:
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 5:45 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] generator weirdness


> dave Hardy- 84 PT40, his generator, while running will not charge his
> generator battery. The inverter on the coach is no help. He can put an
> aux battery charger on the generator battery and the generator will run
> from now on- without that the voltage drops and she dies. Anyone have
> ever have the same problem? How about a fix? Thanks, Ernie-83PT40 in
> Texas- my generator just leaks diesel- no problem there
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Jay Darst]

Replace the battery with a known good one.

Take a volt reading on the gen battery with out anything running.

Now, with the Inverter in charge mode(either shore power or gen power
connected), check the voltage at the gen battery. If the voltage does
not increase with the inverter/charger on, probably the isolator has
an issue or there is a broken wire from the rear compartment running
up to the gen battery. My brothers FC had a 2ga cable with hole
rubbed in the insulation, about mid coach. Ran from the battery bank
to the stock inverter. Kept depleting his battery bank.

I removed the factory isolator, someone told me it was a rectified
isolator- don't have a clue what the "rectified" part is. Anyway, the
new isolator is a Sure Power Industries 24023A, 160 amp isolator.
Looses about .2 volts input to output posts. Bought brand new on E-
bay for $90.

I'm guessing now...
Maybe the fuel solenoid is compromised and requires higher volatge to
remain in the ON position????
Is the connection to the fuel solenoid not so good?
Where's Ralph?

Jay Darst
85PT40
Springfield, IL





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "one_dusty_hoot"
wrote:
>
> Ernie, sound to me like the aux charger is keeping
> the fuel pump going,no fuel will kill it. Check the
> genset alternator, source of battery problem too.
> bob janes, greenville, sc
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ernest Ekberg"
> wrote:
> >
> > dave Hardy- 84 PT40, his generator, while running will not charge
his
> > generator battery. The inverter on the coach is no help. He can
put
> an
> > aux battery charger on the generator battery and the generator
will
> run
> > from now on- without that the voltage drops and she dies. Anyone
have
> > ever have the same problem? How about a fix? Thanks, Ernie-83PT40
in
> > Texas- my generator just leaks diesel- no problem there
> >
>

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

Jay:
I have to agree with you except for the "replace battery with good one". Since
he puts the aux charger on and it works ok, then in theory it should work with
the inverter/charger as well.
When you put the charger on, do you clip the positive and negative directly to
the battery, if that is the case, how about the "GROUND" again. To complete the
answer, we need some more info as Jay has requested.

Bill 84 FC 35 SB "$quanderlodge"
Terrace, B.C. Canada




----- Original Message ----
From: Jay Darst
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 5:49:18 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: generator weirdness

Replace the battery with a known good one.

Take a volt reading on the gen battery with out anything running.

Now, with the Inverter in charge mode(either shore power or gen power
connected), check the voltage at the gen battery. If the voltage does
not increase with the inverter/charger on, probably the isolator has
an issue or there is a broken wire from the rear compartment running
up to the gen battery. My brothers FC had a 2ga cable with hole
rubbed in the insulation, about mid coach. Ran from the battery bank
to the stock inverter. Kept depleting his battery bank.

I removed the factory isolator, someone told me it was a rectified
isolator- don't have a clue what the "rectified" part is. Anyway, the
new isolator is a Sure Power Industries 24023A, 160 amp isolator.
Looses about .2 volts input to output posts. Bought brand new on E-
bay for $90.

I'm guessing now...
Maybe the fuel solenoid is compromised and requires higher volatge to
remain in the ON position????
Is the connection to the fuel solenoid not so good?
Where's Ralph?

Jay Darst
85PT40
Springfield, IL

--- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "one_dusty_hoot"
wrote:
>
> Ernie, sound to me like the aux charger is keeping
> the fuel pump going,no fuel will kill it. Check the
> genset alternator, source of battery problem too.
> bob janes, greenville, sc
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "Ernest Ekberg"
> wrote:
> >
> > dave Hardy- 84 PT40, his generator, while running will not charge
his
> > generator battery. The inverter on the coach is no help. He can
put
> an
> > aux battery charger on the generator battery and the generator
will
> run
> > from now on- without that the voltage drops and she dies. Anyone
have
> > ever have the same problem? How about a fix? Thanks, Ernie-83PT40
in
> > Texas- my generator just leaks diesel- no problem there
> >
>




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

I don't have a charging print for a PT off hand, so this is from memory.

Unlike the '84/'85FC's which have a 160 amp battery isolator, the PT
usually had a large diode rectifier located in the gen set battery circuit.
The diode allowed voltage to pass from the alt or charger but not back,
ergo isolated. The out put side of the gen set battery follows the usual 2
solenoid pattern for the battery tie switch. Two of the solenoids are under
the entry door step and the third is usually found in the gen set
compartment on the curb side wall, near the breaker box for the gen set.
Also in the '84, there was not an alt. installed on the Perkins for
charging. The second solenoid in the gen set compartment was not installed
on all PT's it is also an isolation circuit.

So, going from the above, here is a list of "might be's"
1. The Diode is bad, not allowing the gen set battery to charge.(usually
located under the drivers side front behind the bumper area)
2. The charger side of the inverter is not hooked up to the gen set battery
to charge when the gen set is running
3. The tie solenoid contacts are welded together.
4. Or as Jay mentioned, there is a high resistance short in the cable some
where.

There are a couple of other things I have seen happen but they are rare so
won't go there right now.

Would help to have a PT schematic of an '84 or '85 PT to trace out.

Ralph


At 11:45 PM 12/22/2006 +0000, you wrote:
>dave Hardy- 84 PT40, his generator, while running will not charge his
>generator battery. The inverter on the coach is no help. He can put an
>aux battery charger on the generator battery and the generator will run
>from now on- without that the voltage drops and she dies. Anyone have
>ever have the same problem? How about a fix? Thanks, Ernie-83PT40 in
>Texas- my generator just leaks diesel- no problem there
>
>

[erniecarpet@...]

Thanks, Ralph, hopefully Dave can narrow it down to whats going on. Merry
Christmas

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, tx



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]