Aux Batt solenoid on PT

[Stephen Birtles]

I would follow Curt's advice drag the batteries in to a dealer unless
you a have either a inductive battery tester(midtronics) or a carbon
pile tester( big piece of old technology got them both)
The open voltage test does work as a benchmark (horsepower) but the
testers will let you know how much load they sill stand before
failure(torque) All the voltage in the world does not help if there is
no load carrying capacity. A bad battery can still show good voltage
but still show problems when under load
While it is a lot of work to remove and replace the batteries there is
a couple of things on the up side you can clean and repaint the
battery tray,if the battery or batteries are at end of life you
already have them at the dealer for recycling and finally you will
save yourself 2 days messing around with the batteries and still have
to drag them into the dealer. And yes the trojan site does give some
helpful information
For the multimeter for the unfamilar what I did was mark with
permanent marker ac and dc above the symbols. Now I don't need my
glasses to set the meter and there are no mistakes it is really easy
to confuse the symbols when one like myself is optically challenged
and can never find my peepers. And you don't need to spend the big
bucks on a fluke when there are more reasonably priced meters on the
market that do the same functions and give the same results. Sort of
like buying a cadillac when you only need a volkswagen. And yes we
have flukes and others all the way up to network and fiber testers and
meters
Stephen 77fc35



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Tom Warner wrote:
>
> The V with a wavy line on a multimeter is for Alternating voltage,
> and the V with 3 dots (actually 3 dashes with a bar over the top) is
> for Direct Current voltage.
>
> The 12.1VDC (50% battery charged) or 12.4VDC(70% battery
> charged) read across the battery terminals could just be that the
> battery is discharged or partially discharged and/or has not been
> charging. Its a lot of work to remove 4-6 or more 60# batteries and
> cart them to an auto store to test when you can do it in a few
> minutes without taking them out of the coach. But that is each
> persons choice of course.
>
> I would suggest those interested read the general battery
> maintenance information from Trojan Batteries although it pertains to
> all batteries.
>
http://www.trojan-battery.com/Tech-Suppo...sting.aspx

> Pay particular attention to the process of testing for specific
> gravity (you need a hydrometer and I would advise everyone interested
> in doing at least some of the maintenance on their coaches to buy
> one). And if you really want to understand your charging system
> including your alternator, chargers and batteries you really should
> understand what the charging curves look like for voltage and
> current. Just my opinion but Phfred has lots of really good
> information on these subjects for RVers. Oh and a Fluke multimeter
> is an excellent investment and will save you a lot of headaches.
>
> Tom Warner
> vernon center,ny
> 1985 PT 40
>
> At 10:21 PM 5/27/2007, you wrote:
> >Scott,
> >
> >A bad battery could cause the 12.4 reading. Remove the battery, take it
> >to an auto parts store, have them load test it. Could be a bad cell in
> >the battery. I've experience battereis with a bad cell start engines,
> >and then just die on the spot.
> >
> >What are the "modes" on your multimeter that you are using?
> >
> >We are here to help. Just keep the communication coming.
> >
> >Curt Sprenger
> >1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> >Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
> >
> >
> >Scott Forman wrote:
> >
> > > the gen batt read 12.1 before I started it, 12.4 after it was
> > > running. I know that by the book 12.1v is a half-dead battery, but
> > > it cranks awfully strong to be half dead. And the 12.4 isn't as high
> > > as it should be, but since it is higher there is obviously some
> > > charge getting to it...ideas?
> > >
> > > Another note...my multimeter has two "modes" that I don't really
> > > understand. When I turn the dial to one setting, it read 12.4 with
> > > generator running, on the other setting it read 26.5. Any idea what
> > > this other mode is showing me?
> > >
> > > Much confusions over here
> > >
> > > Scott
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > , Curt Sprenger
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Battery with no charge to it for about 20 minutes, approx 12.6
> > > volts is
> > > > good. Battery receiving a charge, 13.4+ volts...unless you
have the
> > > > smart chargers that are in the sleep mode.
> > > >
> > > > Curt Sprenger
> > > > 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> > > > Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Scott Forman wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > And what voltage should it show when charging?
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > > , "pattypape"
> > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > TO be assured that the gen battery is charging under all
> > > > > conditions,
> > > > > > check with the shore power, then generator running , then the
> > > > > engine
> > > > > > alternator running and charging.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Bill 88 FC Michigan
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > > , "Scott Forman"
> > > <sforman@>
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Isn't it all one circuit?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > > , Curt Sprenger
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Agree. Good.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Do the same test using shore power.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Curt Sprenger
> > > > > > > > 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> > > > > > > > Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Scott Forman wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > OK, the voltage went up with the gen running. So I guess
> > > the
> > > > > > > circuit
> > > > > > > > > works.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Scott
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > > , Curt
Sprenger
> > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Scott,
> > > > > > > > > > Have you used your multimeter and checked the
voltage at
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > gen.
> > > > > > > > > > battery? First before you start the gen. Than again
> > > after
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > gen.
> > > > > > > > > is
> > > > > > > > > > running. The increase in voltage when the gen. is
> > > running
> > > > > > tells
> > > > > > > > > you
> > > > > > > > > > that the charge circuit is working. No change in
> > > voltage, or
> > > > > > > > > lower,
> > > > > > > > > > you know the charge is not working.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Curt Sprenger
> > > > > > > > > > 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> > > > > > > > > > Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Scott Forman wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Hmmm..."what is your problem"...there's a wide
ranging
> > > > > > > > > question....
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Really I don't have a problem right now. I am just
> > > trying
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > > learn
> > > > > > > > > > > my new coach. I knew my old FC inside and out, and
> > > that
> > > > > > gave
> > > > > > > me
> > > > > > > > > some
> > > > > > > > > > > confidence that if I ever had a problem on the road,
> > > > > maybe
> > > > > > I
> > > > > > > could
> > > > > > > > > > > diagnose it & fix it. I want to feel that way
about my
> > > > > PT,
> > > > > > > too. I
> > > > > > > > > > > also want to make sure that the charging circuit is
> > > > > > charging
> > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > > > generator battery as it is supposed to.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Scott
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > ,
> > > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Scott,
> > > > > > > > > > > > May I be so bold as to ask what is your problem?
> > > > > > > > > > > > Howard Truitt
> > > > > > > > > > > > Camilla, Ga.
> > > > > > > > > > > > 86 PT40
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > From: "Scott Forman" <sforman@>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Date: 2007/05/26 Sat PM 08:17:02 EDT
> > > > > > > > > > > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Aux Batt
solenoid
> > > on
> > > > > PT
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > OK...a little help...
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > There are solenoids all over the place. There's
> > > one
> > > > > on
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > front
> > > > > > > > > > > > > wall of the batter charger compartment.
There are
> > > two
> > > > > > > others
> > > > > > > > > on
> > > > > > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > metal panel that folds down to give access
to the
> > > > > > charger
> > > > > > > > > > > > > compartment. And there are three of them behind
> > > the
> > > > > > step
> > > > > > > well,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > although it looks like two of them are for the
> > > > > leveling
> > > > > > > pump.
> > > > > > > > > > > None
> > > > > > > > > > > > > of these make the audible "click" when I hit the
> > > Aux
> > > > > > Batt
> > > > > > > > > > > switch.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > The drawings in my Blue Box aren't as
> > > comprehensive
> > > > > as
> > > > > > > they
> > > > > > > > > were
> > > > > > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > > > > > my FC, so I am having trouble figuring all this
> > > out.
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Help!
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Scott Forman
> > > > > > > > > > > > > 86 PT38
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > ,
> > > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Scott,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > On my 86 PT40 mine is in the compartment with
> > > the
> > > > > > > chargers.
> > > > > > > > > But
> > > > > > > > > > > > > knowing BB and your coach being a 38 footer it
> > > may be
> > > > > > > > > different.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Howard Truitt
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Camilla, Ga.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > 86 PT40
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: "Scott Forman" <sforman@>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Date: 2007/05/26 Sat PM 02:53:55 EDT
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Aux Batt
solenoid
> > > on
> > > > > PT
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Where is the auxillary battery solenoid on a
> > > PT?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Scott Forman
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 86 PT38
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
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