Solenoid between the chassis batteries and the generator battery

[John]

It would appear that the solenoid on our early production PT40 is stuck
and the batteries are constantly connected. I've crawled under the bus
and tapped the solenoid but to no avail.

Any thoughts or suggestions on replacing one of these buggers?

Is there a more modern substitute? Or should I plan on replacing with
an identical device?

And is there a better source for a replacement than thru Bluebird?

Thanks in advance.

--PirateJohn--

http://www.PirateJohn.com
Directeur Sportif, TeamConfuzed

[Tom Warner]

Take the solenoid off and take it to NAPA for a new one. Its just a
standard 12VDC solenoid.

Tom Warner
Vernon Center,NY
1985 PT 40

At 11:10 AM 8/2/2006, you wrote:

>It would appear that the solenoid on our early production PT40 is stuck
>and the batteries are constantly connected. I've crawled under the bus
>and tapped the solenoid but to no avail.
>
>Any thoughts or suggestions on replacing one of these buggers?
>
>Is there a more modern substitute? Or should I plan on replacing with
>an identical device?
>
>And is there a better source for a replacement than thru Bluebird?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>--PirateJohn--
>
>http://www.PirateJohn.com
>Directeur Sportif, TeamConfuzed
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Howard O. Truitt]

John,
You do not share with us what year PT you have?
I have an 86 PT40 and one of
my solenoids just started sticking. When it sticks there is a slight buzzing
and the 12v lights burn dimly. I think the buzzing sounds to be under the dash.
I can flip the key to Aux. or the On position and back to off and most of the
time it quits on the first flip.
When I consider my coach is going on 21 years old I think Bluebird did a
fantastic job. I for one think we should always consider buying from Bluebird. I
live out from a small town in South Georgia and it never fails the local folks
never have what I want. It has been such a pleasure to have Bennie to talk to
and Earl and Jim have always been very helpful with orders. I understand on some
big ticket items we have to look elsewhere but we need a strong Bluebird Co.
supporting us also.
Howard Truitt
Camilla, Ga.
86 PT40

----- Original Message -----
From: John
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 11:10 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Solenoid between the chassis batteries and the
generator battery


It would appear that the solenoid on our early production PT40 is stuck
and the batteries are constantly connected. I've crawled under the bus
and tapped the solenoid but to no avail.

Any thoughts or suggestions on replacing one of these buggers?

Is there a more modern substitute? Or should I plan on replacing with
an identical device?

And is there a better source for a replacement than thru Bluebird?

Thanks in advance.

--PirateJohn--

http://www.PirateJohn.com
Directeur Sportif, TeamConfuzed






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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[TeamConfuzed@...]

<< You do not share with us what year PT you have? >>

It's an '82.

Thanks guys for the info. I've got the part on the way.

--PirateJohn--

http://www.PirateJohn.com
Directeur Sportif, TeamConfuzed


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[mrkane1952]

My local NAPA stocked a replacement relay which is externally the
same, NAPA-Echlin ECH ST84. The solenoid is marked "50-12V"
and "6AC." This resembles the markings on my original which are
only partially legible. Price ~$38.

I'm replacing it as I, too, am having generator battery charging
woes.

M.R.Kane
'85 PT40


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John"
wrote:
>
> It would appear that the solenoid on our early production PT40 is
stuck
> and the batteries are constantly connected. I've crawled under
the bus
> and tapped the solenoid but to no avail.
>
> Any thoughts or suggestions on replacing one of these buggers?
>
> Is there a more modern substitute? Or should I plan on replacing
with
> an identical device?
>
> And is there a better source for a replacement than thru Bluebird?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --PirateJohn--
>
> http://www.PirateJohn.com
> Directeur Sportif, TeamConfuzed
>

[Jeff Miller]

The generator battery is charged via a stud-mount diode in the
charger compartment, not through this solenoid.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mrkane1952" <mrkane@...>
wrote:
>
> My local NAPA stocked a replacement relay which is externally the
> same, NAPA-Echlin ECH ST84. The solenoid is marked "50-12V"
> and "6AC." This resembles the markings on my original which are
> only partially legible. Price ~$38.
>
> I'm replacing it as I, too, am having generator battery charging
> woes.
>
> M.R.Kane
> '85 PT40

[Curt Sprenger]

Jeff,

On our '87 PT38 the gen. positive battery cable is still hot when
disconnect from the gen. battery. Would this this be a bad diode? Thanks!

Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.


Jeff Miller wrote:

> The generator battery is charged via a stud-mount diode in the
> charger compartment, not through this solenoid.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> , "mrkane1952" <mrkane@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > My local NAPA stocked a replacement relay which is externally the
> > same, NAPA-Echlin ECH ST84. The solenoid is marked "50-12V"
> > and "6AC." This resembles the markings on my original which are
> > only partially legible. Price ~$38.
> >
> > I'm replacing it as I, too, am having generator battery charging
> > woes.
> >
> > M.R.Kane
> > '85 PT40
>
>

[Jeff Miller]

This is normal.

The diode is like a one-way-valve for the power. It is supposed to
allow current flow from the main batteries and charging systems to
the generator battery so that the generator battery stays charged,
but not allow current flow from the generator battery to the house
batteries so that the house battery useage can't discharge the
generator battery. A series circuit-breaker protects the wiring and
diode from damage in high-current situations like cranking the genset
with a dead genset battery.

I don't remember what year this started, I believe '83 on the PT
and '87 on the FC? Prior to this system the FCs used a "battery
isolator" located just rearward of the house batteries (started
around '82). This isolator wiring changed in '83 or '84 also, but by
now most of the isolators have failed.

A retrofit has been around for more than a decade to add a diode and
circuit-breaker in series between the house batteries and genset
batteries on the FC, usually located at the Aux. Start relay under
the entrance steps.

If this diode fails, and they do, it usually fails open. If you can
light a 12v bulb with the disconnected genset positive lead, it is
likely good as is the circuit-breaker. It is more difficult to check
for a short, but you could disconnect the house batteries and all
charging systems and see if the house positive lead will still light
a 12v lamp (like a brakelight bulb).

As likely as a failure of the diode is a weak connection somewhere
which will show 12v on the battery cable, might light a light, but
not enough current would pass to keep the battery properly charged.
You could try something with a larger 12v draw such as a spotlight or
12v compressor to test the diode circuit for a weak connections (or
visually).

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>
> Jeff,
>
> On our '87 PT38 the gen. positive battery cable is still hot when
> disconnect from the gen. battery. Would this this be a bad diode?
Thanks!
>
> Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
> Jeff Miller wrote:
>
> > The generator battery is charged via a stud-mount diode in the
> > charger compartment, not through this solenoid.
> >
> > - Jeff Miller
> > in Holland, MI
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > , "mrkane1952"
<mrkane@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > My local NAPA stocked a replacement relay which is externally
the
> > > same, NAPA-Echlin ECH ST84. The solenoid is marked "50-12V"
> > > and "6AC." This resembles the markings on my original which are
> > > only partially legible. Price ~$38.
> > >
> > > I'm replacing it as I, too, am having generator battery charging
> > > woes.
> > >
> > > M.R.Kane
> > > '85 PT40
> >
> >
>

[pattypape]

Hi All with gennie charging problems,

In addition there is a 70amp Bosh relay that is energized by the 12V
ignition for alternator charging, Or 110V shore power to charge the
gen. battery. It is located near the big fat diode. Look for lots of
road crud, corrosion and wire connector crimps. There is also a
glass fuse in the left front load center, that could be a problem.

Bill 88 FC Michigan


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> This is normal.
>
> The diode is like a one-way-valve for the power. It is supposed to
> allow current flow from the main batteries and charging systems to
> the generator battery so that the generator battery stays charged,
> but not allow current flow from the generator battery to the house
> batteries so that the house battery useage can't discharge the
> generator battery. A series circuit-breaker protects the wiring
and
> diode from damage in high-current situations like cranking the
genset
> with a dead genset battery.
>
> I don't remember what year this started, I believe '83 on the PT
> and '87 on the FC? Prior to this system the FCs used a "battery
> isolator" located just rearward of the house batteries (started
> around '82). This isolator wiring changed in '83 or '84 also, but
by
> now most of the isolators have failed.
>
> A retrofit has been around for more than a decade to add a diode
and
> circuit-breaker in series between the house batteries and genset
> batteries on the FC, usually located at the Aux. Start relay under
> the entrance steps.
>
> If this diode fails, and they do, it usually fails open. If you
can
> light a 12v bulb with the disconnected genset positive lead, it is
> likely good as is the circuit-breaker. It is more difficult to
check
> for a short, but you could disconnect the house batteries and all
> charging systems and see if the house positive lead will still
light
> a 12v lamp (like a brakelight bulb).
>
> As likely as a failure of the diode is a weak connection somewhere
> which will show 12v on the battery cable, might light a light, but
> not enough current would pass to keep the battery properly
charged.
> You could try something with a larger 12v draw such as a spotlight
or
> 12v compressor to test the diode circuit for a weak connections
(or
> visually).
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
> wrote:
> >
> > Jeff,
> >
> > On our '87 PT38 the gen. positive battery cable is still hot
when
> > disconnect from the gen. battery. Would this this be a bad
diode?
> Thanks!
> >
> > Curt Sprenger 1987 PT38, Anaheim Hills, Calif.
> >
> >
> > Jeff Miller wrote:
> >
> > > The generator battery is charged via a stud-mount diode in the
> > > charger compartment, not through this solenoid.
> > >
> > > - Jeff Miller
> > > in Holland, MI
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > , "mrkane1952"
> <mrkane@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > My local NAPA stocked a replacement relay which is
externally
> the
> > > > same, NAPA-Echlin ECH ST84. The solenoid is marked "50-12V"
> > > > and "6AC." This resembles the markings on my original which
are
> > > > only partially legible. Price ~$38.
> > > >
> > > > I'm replacing it as I, too, am having generator battery
charging
> > > > woes.
> > > >
> > > > M.R.Kane
> > > > '85 PT40
> > >
> > >
> >
>

[TeamConfuzed@...]

<< I believe '83 on the PT
> and '87 on the FC? Prior to this system the FCs used a "battery
> isolator" located just rearward of the house batteries (started
> around '82). >>


Ours is an '82 PT ... one of the first PT's made. So what's causing the
batteries to stay connected, and where's it at?

--PirateJohn--

http://www.PirateJohn.com
Directeur Sportif, TeamConfuzed


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]