Weak generator battery

[sfedeli3]

Tom Sorrentino ('87 PT38) and I finally solved the loss of voltage
across the diode on our generator batteries with the installation of a
Battery Link ACR from Blue Sea Systems. For anyone with a mid-80's
coach that has a generator without its own alternator, Blue Bird
installed a diode to permit the on-board battery chargers to also
charge the genset battery, but keep it isolated from the house
batteries when necessary. As many of you have experienced, this
arrangement never quite allowed the genny battery to get topped off
because of the voltage loss across the diode. We installed these units
this past weekend and so far they work beautifully. I'm now seeing
14.4 volts at the genny battery and 14.4 volts at the engine batteries
in my PT when the charger is on and the ACR is in "combine" mode. Once
the charger is off and the voltage drops off to around 13.2 volts, the
two banks disconnect and remain apart until the house voltage rises
above 13.4 volts again (or I rock the Aux battery switch to "on"). The
Blue Sea unit was around $90 and is an easy "drop-in" replacement for
the diode- although we used heavier 6-ga. cable to allow more power
across the ACR. It is also a good idea to install an 80-amp resettable
breaker in line with the ACR in case there is ever a short in the
genny battery circuit.

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA