How is generator battery charged on an 82 FC?

[truitt44@...>]

Kerry,
I had the same problem you described. I found a thirty amp. circuit breaker had
burnt out replaced it and now charges and cranks fine.
Howard Truitt
Camilla, Ga.
86 PT40

>
> From: "davidkerryedwards"
> Date: 2007/06/28 Thu PM 02:10:29 EDT
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] How is generator battery charged on an 82 FC?
>
> My one year old battery on the generator was discharged enough to not turn
over the motor
> this spring. I could start the generator by pushing the button that connects
house and
> generator batteries. I assumed it was low from sitting all winter but after
driving about 75
> miles, battery is still weak. I assumed the main engine alternator would
charge the generator
> battery. Is this assumption mistaken? Is the generator battery only charged
from 110 volts?
> It doesn't seem likely that a battery would fail in just one year (although
not altogether out of
> the question).
>
> Kerry
> 82 Fc 35
> Denver
>
>
>

[freewill2008]

Pretty sure there is no CB in the early 80s FC charging circuit. BB
used #1 cable for the circuit, while a 30A CB would usually be found
protecting much smaller cable. For example, if BB had designed for a
3% voltage drop over 40 feet and the current was limited to 30A by
the breaker, then the wire size would be #6. Anyone know what size
the genset charge cable is on a PT?

BB did not seem to use any fuse or CB protection for the big DC
cables on the old FCs. I find this kinda freaky, so I keep an eye on
the cable runs looking for places where the inslulation might be
getting abraded.

Anyone remember someone posting about a fire breaking out in the
battery compartment of their FC while going down the road about 4
years ago? 3-400 amps of battery + worn insulation + no fuse or
breaker = a whole lotta heat!

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
>
> Kerry,
> I had the same problem you described. I found a thirty amp. circuit
breaker had burnt out replaced it and now charges and cranks fine.
> Howard Truitt
> Camilla, Ga.
> 86 PT40
>
> >
> > From: "davidkerryedwards"
> > Date: 2007/06/28 Thu PM 02:10:29 EDT
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] How is generator battery charged on
an 82 FC?
> >
> > My one year old battery on the generator was discharged enough to
not turn over the motor
> > this spring. I could start the generator by pushing the button
that connects house and
> > generator batteries. I assumed it was low from sitting all
winter but after driving about 75
> > miles, battery is still weak. I assumed the main engine
alternator would charge the generator
> > battery. Is this assumption mistaken? Is the generator battery
only charged from 110 volts?
> > It doesn't seem likely that a battery would fail in just one year
(although not altogether out of
> > the question).
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 Fc 35
> > Denver
> >
> >
> >
>

[freewill2008]

I mistated this just a little yesterday. The genset
should start from the coach batteries as long either
cable is connected.

If the cable from the isolator to the combiner relay
and genset battery is connected, then the genset
should crank OK from the coach batteries because
current would pass through the isolator in the
direction of the genset.

Current would not pass the other way from the genset
battery through the isolator to the coach batteries
however. That is the purpose of the combiner and the
cable from the combiner to the 3208 cranking motor.
(The 3208 would never crank with that combiner and
cable alone of course, but it would help if the coach
batteries were marginal.)

To start the genset with the coach batteries it would
still be better to use the dashboard combiner switch
though, because the combiner would keep the genset
starting load off the solid state isolator.

Bob Griesel

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "freewill2008"
wrote:
>
> It depends on which cable is been disconnected.
>
> If only the cable from the isolator to the combiner
> relay is disconnected, then the genset will start
> with the dash combiner, but > there will be no charging
> current going to the genset battery from the converter
> and/or the 3208 alternator.
>
> If only the cable from the 3208 starter to the other
> side of the combiner relay is disconnected, there will
> be charging current going to the genset battery but the
> dash combiner switch will not work.
>
> If both cables going from the front of the coach to
> the combiner are disconnected, or the cable from the
> combiner to the genset battery is disconnected, then
> the dash combiner won't work *and* the genset battery
> won't get any charge from the converter and/or 3208
> alternator.
>
> BobG
>
> >
> > If I understand Bob's post correctly, that
> > cable being disconnected would also mean you
> > would not have been able to start the generator
> > by using the dash combiner switch, yet you were,
> > so??
> >
> > Don Bradner
> > 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> > Eureka, CA
> >
> > On 6/28/2007 at 8:35 PM davidkerryedwards wrote:
> >
> > >Ah ha. I've seen what I think is that isolate in the house
battery
> > >compartment mounted on
> > >the back wall. There is a heavy cable that is pretty obviously
> > >disconnected from that
> > >isolator. I have no idea why, but this could easily be the
cable
> of which
> > >you speak and
> > >would account for the dead battery. Any idea why someone might
> disconnect
> > >that cable?
> > >It does seem as though the voltage meter on the generator reads
> higher
> > >when the main
> > >engine is running.
> > >
> > >Kerry
> > >82 Fc 35
> > >Denver
> >
>

[Richard Hayden]

That bothered me as well so I installed a 250amp fuse as close to the batteries
as I could. The only circuit that is not protected is the starter cable. 250
amps is probably a little small but it has not blown in a year.

Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA

----- Original Message -----
From: freewill2008
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 1:25 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: How is generator battery charged on an 82 FC?


Pretty sure there is no CB in the early 80s FC charging circuit. BB
used #1 cable for the circuit, while a 30A CB would usually be found
protecting much smaller cable. For example, if BB had designed for a
3% voltage drop over 40 feet and the current was limited to 30A by
the breaker, then the wire size would be #6. Anyone know what size
the genset charge cable is on a PT?

BB did not seem to use any fuse or CB protection for the big DC
cables on the old FCs. I find this kinda freaky, so I keep an eye on
the cable runs looking for places where the inslulation might be
getting abraded.

Anyone remember someone posting about a fire breaking out in the
battery compartment of their FC while going down the road about 4
years ago? 3-400 amps of battery + worn insulation + no fuse or
breaker = a whole lotta heat!

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
>
> Kerry,
> I had the same problem you described. I found a thirty amp. circuit
breaker had burnt out replaced it and now charges and cranks fine.
> Howard Truitt
> Camilla, Ga.
> 86 PT40
>
> >
> > From: "davidkerryedwards"
> > Date: 2007/06/28 Thu PM 02:10:29 EDT
> > To:
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] How is generator battery charged on
an 82 FC?
> >
> > My one year old battery on the generator was discharged enough to
not turn over the motor
> > this spring. I could start the generator by pushing the button
that connects house and
> > generator batteries. I assumed it was low from sitting all
winter but after driving about 75
> > miles, battery is still weak. I assumed the main engine
alternator would charge the generator
> > battery. Is this assumption mistaken? Is the generator battery
only charged from 110 volts?
> > It doesn't seem likely that a battery would fail in just one year
(although not altogether out of
> > the question).
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 Fc 35
> > Denver
> >
> >
> >
>





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