Aux Batt solenoid on PT

[Pete Masterson]

It's simply a spurious reading. There's no AC voltage, just the
circuits in the meter trying to make sense of the what it "sees".
Different meters will give different results in the same
circumstances. Ideally, a meter will give an 'error' reading if the
mode is set to AC and only a DC voltage is found ... but that's
probably limited to more expensive meters, if that feature exists. If
the meter were smart enough to tell AC from DC, it wouldn't have mode
dials.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhkart Texas



On May 27, 2007, at 10:11 PM, Curt Sprenger wrote:

> I wish I could give you a clear technical answer. I've experienced the
> same as you have. I've learned to set the multimeter to either DC
> or AC
> depending on the need. Others on the forum will chime in and give a
> good
> explanation.
>
> We, us on this forum, are learning together. I'm not an expert, but
> don't mind sharing what I have used or done working with DC, or AC
> as well.
>
> Curt Sprenger
> 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
>
> Scott Forman wrote:
>
>> OK...why does a 12v DC battery show AC voltage?
>>
>> I used to think I understood vehicle electrical systems....
>>
>> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>> , Curt Sprenger
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dots + DC Volts. Wavy line + AC Volts.
>>>
>>> Curt Sprenger
>>> 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
>>> Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Scott Forman wrote:
>>>
>>>> The modes are marked by a V followd by 3 dots in one mode and a V
>>>> with a wavy line for the other. Doesn't help much, huh?
>>>>
>>>> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>>
>>>> , Curt Sprenger
>>>> 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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