Backup image, generator battery

[Scott Forman]

The gen battery is charged from the same juice that charges the main
batteries, either the alternator or the battery charges. That is the
simple version.

Here's the longer one: Believe it or not BB actually "missed"
something in the original engineering of the battery system. In
their quest to keep the generator battery sequestered from the other
battery bank (and therefore prevent the possibility of being stranded
from dead batteries), they actually provided no way for the gen
battery to get reharged. This was solved by installing a section of
wire with a circuit breaker and a diode that "jumped" across the
auxillary battery solenoid located behind the step well. The diode
allowed current to flow from the main system to the gen battery to
recharge it, but would not allow current to flow back from the gen
batt to the main system...unless the aux batt solenoid is energized.

I do not know exactly when this became factory installed, but it was
released by Blue Bird as a retrofit kit. If you crawl under your
step well and find the solenoid, you should fine the jumper wire
looping from one side to the other. You may want to check it with a
multi-meter, the circuit breaker or the diode could have gone bad, in
which case the gen batt would be receiving no juice.

My 82 FC had the jumper, and the charging of the gen batt in this
fashion is mentioned in the manual of my 86 PT.

Scott Formn
82 FC35RB sold but not gone
86 PT38

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "amweath"
wrote:
>
> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think
that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt.
last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's
batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>