Coach Batts overcharging

[freewill2008]

This is starting to sound like it could a ground problem.

Bob Griesel

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hulse" wrote:
>
> Hi there Ralph,
> The coach is fine at all times with shore or gen power.
> Now when I start the motor the coach voltmeter in the dash nearly pegs to
maximum = 20v or so
> at the same time the coach ammeter nearly pegs to maximum= 300 amps or so.
> both chassis amp and chassis voltmeter are still, no movement if very little.
> Haven't regarded the inverters at all.
> I have a new Delco voltage regulator and installed it with no results (same
conditions ).
> The solenoid I am focusing on is at the right rear firewall in the engine
compartment next to the big round battery selector dial type switch. I think
the wiring diagram is referring to this solenoid as auxillary charge solenoid.
> I can not find an isolator.
> Thanks for your questions.
> Fred & Jeanne Hulse
> Morristown,Arizona
> 97 WLWB41
>

[Fred Hulse]

Ground problem would make sense,

but I am out of ground points to check!

I don't know where else to look for grounds but will enjoy any suggestions.

Thanks Bob

Fred

[freewill2008]

Fred - this is where geography and a very different coach from mine limit the
ability to help. I can give some general ideas.

One thought: Brand new components can be bad. Have you put a volt meter right
on the alternator + terminal? What does it read? If it is 20+ volts, look for
another regulator.

Unless you measure 20+ volts right at the alternator, the new regulator is doing
its job. In a 12V system, the charge voltage might be as high as 14.5, and the
resting battery voltage can be as high as 12.8. You you must ask yourself where
20+ volts comes from.

As I understand it, you have house and engine battery sets. Each battery set
should be grounded to the chassis, as are the coach components. There is a
total voltage potential of 25+ volts between the 2 battery banks. If a volt
meter somehow measures the total voltage potential across both battery banks
because a ground is missing somewhere along the line, you could see 20+ volts on
the meter. This same fault could possibly make the regulator think maximum
charge is needed, resulting in the high current reading.

Try reading from the + terminal of one battery set to the + terminal of the
other. Is the voltage above 12.8 resting or 14.5 with the alternator turning?
If so, there is most likely a bad ground that has eluded you. It is even
possible that the ground problem is internal to some component.

That is the view from 10,000 feet. The devil is in the details of how your
coach is wired. I think that a person with diagrams in front of them or someone
with extensive experience with your coach's electrical system is needed to take
this further.

It is late and I could be totally wrong. I often am

Bob Griesel

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hulse" wrote:
>
> Ground problem would make sense,
> but I am out of ground points to check!
> I don't know where else to look for grounds but will enjoy any suggestions.
> Thanks Bob
>
> Fred
>

[Ron Thompson]

I had a situation in my coach where one of the engine batteries developed an internal cell problem and my charge guage on the dash pegged. I replaced all of my engine batteries since they were due to be replaced anyway and the problem went away witht the dash guage showing a normal indication. You might want to take one battery out of the circuit and see what effect it has on the guage. If no change then put it back into the circuit and try another one until you go through all of them. Might find that you have a bad battery in the group. Ron Thompson -Waller, Tx. 1995 WLWB 42' (cockyfox@...) --- On Mon, 11/22/10, Ralph wrote: From: Ralph Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Coach Batts overcharging To: "Wanderlodge Forum" Date: Monday, November 22, 2010, 8:18 PM  That is correct on the solenoid if it is located high center on the curb side fire wall above the fused 4\0 cables. That solenoid is picked by the selector switch on the dash aux batt on the lower right side of the dash. Is your switch momentary press to the right with center charge and if the switch is pressed to the full left the chassis batts and house batts both charge? Now then with that said I think you have a two fold problem. I agree the solenoid needs to be checked and perhaps replaced, it does get hot to the touch and that is normal for that one. But since the shore power and gen set gives you a charge that leaves that solenoid as being good to my mind. Real problem seems to be that HUGE oil bath Alt and regulator. Ok the regulator is new but that does not make it good and if the Alt is an internal run away, that alone can make toast out of the regulator since it can not handle the amperage load placed on it. Have you had the Alt bench tested? Sure seems like it is a run away. The voltage should be 14.1 to shy of 15 at the out put going to the regulator which regulates to 14.1 steady no matter the rotational speed of the Alt. Just some thoughts Safe travels, Ralph Charolette Fullenwider '84 FC35 "Ruff Diamond" Duncan, Oklahoma Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T From: "Fred Hulse" Sender: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:58:01 -0700 To: ReplyTo: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Coach Batts overcharging Hi there Ralph, The coach is fine at all times with shore or gen power. Now when I start the motor the coach voltmeter in the dash nearly pegs to maximum = 20v or so at the same time the coach ammeter nearly pegs to maximum= 300 amps or so. both chassis amp and chassis voltmeter are still, no movement if very little. Haven't regarded the inverters at all. I have a new Delco voltage regulator and installed it with no results (same conditions). The solenoid I am focusing on is at the right rear firewall in the engine compartment next to the big round battery selector dial type switch. I think the wiring diagram is referring to this solenoid as auxillary charge solenoid. I can not find an isolator. Thanks for your questions. Fred & Jeanne Hulse Morristown,Arizona 97 WLWB41

[Ron Thompson]

Just out of curiosity, where is the big battery switch set. Its the round Grey looking one that is mounted on the front wall of the curbside panel in the engine battery compartment. The arrow on it should be pointing straight up for normal operation. Ron Thompson -Waller, Tx. 1995 WLWB 42' (cockyfox@...) --- On Mon, 11/22/10, Fred Hulse wrote: From: Fred Hulse Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Coach Batts overcharging To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, November 22, 2010, 9:22 PM Ground problem would make sense, but I am out of ground points to check! I don't know where else to look for grounds but will enjoy any suggestions. Thanks Bob Fred

[Fred Hulse]



Ron

Thanks for your thoughts.

The chassis batteries have checked good,but with30 monthsof use,I have replaced themregardless.

Our summers only give us 3 years life in batteries anyway.

My next step is to isolate the 6 house bateries and check them.

Meanwhile looking for more grounds as Bob G. suggested.

Thanks Ron.

Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown,Arizona
97 WLWB41

[Wayne Kotila]

Fred, when the engine is running, the LED next to the aux. battery toggle switch is supposed to be on because when the engine runs it's charging the chassis and the house batteries. Wayne 1996 PT42 --- On Tue, 11/23/10, Fred Hulse wrote: From: Fred Hulse Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Coach Batts overcharging To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 3:01 AM  Ralph, The switch on the dash is 3 position left is charge center is normal right is jump I think cause now that all might be messed up. Now when the motor is running the little on lamp next to the switch is lit regardless telling me that all batteries are being charged by the alt. Solenoid does not get warm, hot or tepid. I will check out the alternator tomorrow,there is aHeavyDuty Delcoalternator guy in Phoenix that the NAPA store knows of and I will find him. Thanks so much for your help Fred

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Hi Fred:

How do things stand on the charging problem?


Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
"84FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma

[Fred Hulse]

Hi Ralph

I am tied up right now and will report tomorrow.

Thank you for asking...................

Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown,Arizona
97 WLWB41

[Fred Hulse]

Hi Folks,

We have resolved our problem with coach overcharging the batteries.

The "auxillarybattery solenoid" was the fault of the issue.This solenoid is located adjacent to the battery selector switch on the "firewall curb side" just above the battery bank.

The part I replaced was notidentical in appearance to the original,but had the same purpose.A rather easy change for anyone to get done.

We used a universalcontinuous duty marine insulated base solenoid available at any parts store.The part number on the one I used was a Cole Hersee 24117 costing about $40.00. Also a number 24059 is the same solenoid without the plastic coating and much less money but stillthe same quality.

In order to use these solenoids,the small wire terminals need to be replaced to fit the larger diameter studs,

(10-32 instead of 8-32)

I am happy to get this issue done and will be able to get over to Southern California late next week.

Thank you all for the help and ideas you shared in order for me to eliminate many circumstances.

Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown,Arizona
97 WLWB41