Aux Batt solenoid on PT

[Tom Warner]

The V with a wavy line on a multimeter is for Alternating voltage,
and the V with 3 dots (actually 3 dashes with a bar over the top) is
for Direct Current voltage.

The 12.1VDC (50% battery charged) or 12.4VDC(70% battery
charged) read across the battery terminals could just be that the
battery is discharged or partially discharged and/or has not been
charging. Its a lot of work to remove 4-6 or more 60# batteries and
cart them to an auto store to test when you can do it in a few
minutes without taking them out of the coach. But that is each
persons choice of course.

I would suggest those interested read the general battery
maintenance information from Trojan Batteries although it pertains to
all batteries.
http://www.trojan-battery.com/Tech-Suppo...sting.aspx
Pay particular attention to the process of testing for specific
gravity (you need a hydrometer and I would advise everyone interested
in doing at least some of the maintenance on their coaches to buy
one). And if you really want to understand your charging system
including your alternator, chargers and batteries you really should
understand what the charging curves look like for voltage and
current. Just my opinion but Phfred has lots of really good
information on these subjects for RVers. Oh and a Fluke multimeter
is an excellent investment and will save you a lot of headaches.

Tom Warner
vernon center,ny
1985 PT 40

At 10:21 PM 5/27/2007, you 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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