Wanderlodge Question: electical problems

[freewill2008]

Chuck - A stock FC has four batteries in the left front compartment, and
sometimes two more in the right front compartment. As wired from the factory,
all of the batteries serve as both starting batteries and house batteries.

Some FCs (mine included) have been modified so the starting batteries are
separate from the house batteries. If yours has been changed to the dual system
then your wiring would be unique to your coach.

Regardless of which setup you have, Wanderlodges are famous for having a load on
the batteries even when we think everything is off. For this reason, a battery
disconnect switch is very useful. The "parked" battery load of an FC is
typically 5 to 10 amps. Doesn't take long to drain a set of batteries.

Regarding that fuse (or whatever): A main battery fuse (or meter shunt) is good
for hundreds of amps. If you replaced a 30 amp fuse, it must run some
accessory. Our rig has a 30 amp fuse in the battery area for the refrigerator
for example, and I have added a couple more over the years.

Does your front left battery compartment have 4 batteries in a "square" layout,
or 3 batteries in a line with a fourth tucked in behind? BB changed the layout
when they changed steering boxes around the time your bus was built. The
factory wiring is the same with either layout, but it is easier to see what's
going on with the "square" layout.

In any case, it is important to realize that few of these older coaches still
have a battery compartment set up the way it left the factory. Often you need
to trace the wiring and draw a diagram to determine what you have. Even with
modified wiring, having a factory wiring diagram helps a lot because you know
how it started out. The wiring is actually pretty simple - its just crowded and
dirty.

Good luck. Electrical issues often take a while to resolve, but you get more
familiar with your coach in the process.

Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, cfsomers@... wrote:
>
> UPdate: I have replaced the two starting batteries and have put a 30 amp
> fuse where what ever it was that blew. Have not started it yet as it was
> late last night. Concern i have is when I finalized the starter battery
> installation I heard what i think is a selonoid activate. this could
> explain when they are draining on me. Are they supposed to operate any
> thing other than the starters? Given the condition the coach was in when I
> purchased it 5 years ago. Maybe i hooked up a wire wrong in the battery
> area. Does someone have a 81 that they could take a picture of the front
> battery area for reference?
>
> Regards and thanks for the help.
>
> Chuck
>
> 81FCSB35
>
> > A fuse link in the charging circuit has to be a bit larger than the rated
> > output of the alternator by about 20%. Typically a 150 amp alternator
> > will get a link of 180 amps. If the link is in the drain side to the
> > coach, play it by ear and figure that even with every light on, you won't
> > draw more than 120 amps. 1-0 wire should not be used for more than 150
> > amps anyway so there you go. I do not see any links in the schematics for
> > my 1985 PT-40
> > Gary
> >
> > --- On Tue, 5/26/09, freewill2008 wrote:
> >
> > From: freewill2008
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Wanderlodge Question: electical problems
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 1:32 AM
> >
> >
> > There is a good chance that the fuse link is actually one of the
> > ammeter shunts. A shunt could be mistaken for a fuse link. It
> > would explain the erratic ammeter. It is important to figure out
> > why it is burnt in either case because it takes a lot of power
> > (think potential heat) to fry either a main fuse or a shunt.
> >
> >
> >
> > For help, try to find someone who recognizes what fried and can help find
> > the reason why.
> >
> >
> >
> > Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, cfsomers@ wrote:
> >
> >>
> >
> >> Sense my last post, I have taken the starter batteries out. I had
> >> already
> >
> >> gone through all the batteries and cleaned all contacts. Upon removing
> >> the
> >
> >> batteries, the two 6 volts reminded me of seeing batteries that had
> >> frozen
> >
> >> in their past. Taking them in to have them checked tomorrow. Now what i
> >
> >> did find is a inline fusable link that was fried. It is connected to the
> >
> >> house batteries by two wires. It is on the back wall behind the
> >> batteries.
> >
> >> if anyone can give what this should be it would be great. Otherwise i am
> >
> >> going to take it to my local NAPA dealer tomorrow and see if they can
> >
> >> figure out what it is.
> >
> >>
> >
> >> This i hope will take care of the imediate needs, but i still need to
> >> find
> >
> >> out why the starter batteries are draining. I was under the impression
> >
> >> that these were isolated when parked.
> >
> >>
> >
> >> Chuck
> >
> >> 81FCSB35
> >
> >>
> >
> >> > Chuck - Because the coach has apparently been out of service, first
> >> have
> >
> >> > each battery individually tested by a reputable auto-electic service
> >
> >> > dealer.
> >
> >> >
> >
> >> > Next, get a little dirty (or hire the work out) and disconnect and
> >> clean
> >
> >> > the mating surfaces of both ends of all the positive cables, ground
> >
> >> > cables, and jumper cables in the battery compartment area. Don't
> >> forget
> >
> >> > the cables to and from the ammeter shunts. Re-assemble everything
> >> shiney
> >
> >> > clean and tight.
> >
> >> >
> >
> >> > If, with batteries that are tested and known good, and with good cable
> >
> >> > connections, you still have trouble, post again or enlist some expert
> >> help
> >
> >> > locally.
> >
> >> >
> >
> >> > Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
> >
> >> >
> >
> >> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, cfsomers@ wrote:
> >
> >> >>
> >
> >> >> I have an 81FCSB35. My starting batteries are always dying after
> >> being
> >
> >> >> parked for a couple of days. The coach was jumped yesterday to get it
> >
> >> >> started yesterday. Now my gauges are not working as they were before.
> >
> >> >> Particularly the amp meter. with the ignition turned off it reads
> >
> >> >> nothing.
> >
> >> >> plugged in the chargers and the meter read normal.
> >
> >> >>
> >
> >> >> I am looking for direction and/or someone locally who can work on it.
> >
> >> >>
> >
> >> >> Port Orange, Florida
> >
> >> >>
> >
> >> >> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. it has been 3 years
> >> getting
> >
> >> >> this titled in Florida and now I would like to be able to use it.
> >
> >> >>
> >
> >> >> Regards
> >
> >> >>
> >
> >> >> Chuck Somers
> >
> >> >> 81FCSB35
> >
> >> >> Port Orange, Florida
> >
> >> >> cfsomers@