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alternator charging of house batteries question

Yahoo Message Number: 97249
does anyone know what controls how many amps the alternator send to the house batteries when driving? is it a adjustable? my system is charging but it's cutting back on the current way too soon and I'm sure the alternator is capable of putting many more hands into those batteries. as a result it doesn't fully charge the batteries in many hours.

rich 2002 magna

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97250
Your chassis battery's state of charge controls it. Don't want to boil chassis battery so house battery fully charges.
I have this same thing with our gasser as it isn't obvious until you start thinking about it to troubleshoot.
It's not a problem when plugged in because until house batteries hit a preset level the banks are not tied together so can't overcharge the chassis battery.

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97254
Rich,

The status of the batteries controls the amperage delivered. When batteries are in a low state of charge they will accept more than when nearly full. When batteries are cold they will accept greater amperage than when hot. Amperage is accepted rather than pushed.

George in Birmingham (still in Santa Fe) '03 Magna 6298
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97255
This is not really correct for a CC. When the engine is running, an oil pressure sensor closes a high amperage solenoid that combines the chassis and house batteries into one bank. The alternator charges as though there is only one battery and the sense wire controls from that battery.

Rich, if you are convinced that your alternator is not delivering the amps you should expect I suggest two actions to start.

1. Have the batteries load tested to ensure their quality
2. Check the cabling of the charge system for good contact and and quality of circuit.

Good luck

George in Birmingham(Still in Santa Fe) '03 Magna 6298
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97281
Ray and George,

The alternator is definitely charging, and it charges the chassis batteries fully. It is the house batteries that it is not fully charging. I think Ray may be right: once the chassis batteries have accepted close to a full charge, the current to the house batteries cuts back, otherwise, the chassis batteries might get overcharged. The alternator starts sendng 40-50 amps to the house batteries, and then cuts back to about 18 after a while. As a result, after 8 hours of driving, the house batteries are only about 80% charged. I guess I should watch the current going to the chassis batteries on my Link 2000 as well. Since the two banks are tied together by the pressure switch, I am not sure how it could charge both banks fully when the chassis bats are almost full and the house are down say 30% when I start out. I am assuming the alternator current flows first to the chassis bank and then to the house? It not that big a deal, just a minor annoyance. It would be nice to arrive with fully charged house batteries. Do you?

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97287
Rich wrote:

"I am assuming the alternator current flows first to the chassis bank and then to the house?"
When I had a similar problem, I traced it to the battery isolator, which is electrically located between the alternator output and the two battery systems. No idea where it is physically on your coach. Alternator output is divided at the isolator to charge both systems simultaneously.
It will probably look like one of these. http://www.colehersee.com/home/grid/cat/211/
Good luck,
Jim Barber
'87 LTD #4223

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97303
I will see if I can find one in this coach. I assume they cannot be adjusted.

Rich 2002 Magna

alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103053
I have a similar problem with my 2003 Allure....can drive all day, and the house battery basically doesn't charge up....  your mention of the isolator rings true to my issue...  Do you happen to know where this is located on my coach?  What amp rating should I get as a replacement? The wiring diagram does show a isolator between the diesel generator and the two batteries...house and motor battery.  thanks...roy
 

Re: alternator charging of house batteries question

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103056
On a 2000 Intrigue it is located in the same compartment as the inverter, just above the batteries. I ordered the replacement from Mouser Electrinics but most auto parts stores have them too.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040