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Engine not charging house batteries

Yahoo Message Number: 116767
I have a 2003 Allure and the chassi battery is charging just fine when the engine is running, but the house batteries are not. They do charge when plugged into shore power.

What steps do I take to troubleshoot? The selonoid is located in the chassi battery compartment behind a removable panel. Not sure what steps to determine if that is the problem.

Thanks!

John

2003 Allure #30914

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116768
There is a 400 amp fuse in the battery boost circuit and I would bet it is blown. My fuse is located in the inverter compartment. Check voltage on both sides of the fuse with the engine running, you should see the same voltage (say 13.5V) on both sides. I have blown mine twice. They can blow if the house batteries go dead, or holding down the battery boost switch while cranking with dead chassis batteries. Both of these "low voltage" events cause an increase in current (Ohm's law) and blows the fuse. I bought mine from Amazon, about $80. I also carry a spare.

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116771
Thanks Greg! Suppose mine is in the same place? My inverter is located in the same bay as my propane tank - just in front of the house batteries.

I'll check that in the AM! Thanks again!

John
'03 Allure

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116772
Yes, I think it will be in there. You will see the same type of fuse in the 12 V red cable going to the inverter, so it is not that one, but another one nearby that looks like that one. Mine is on the driver's side wall in inverter compartment ( Doghouse). They both have plastic covers over them.

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116774
John, I would check the battery boost solenoid. With the engine off, hit the batt boost switch in the cockpit and listen for the solenoid to click. You may need your copilot to stand near the solenoid to be your "ears". No click: the solenoid is your problem. I had to replace mine years ago.

Furthermore, there are two sources of ground for the solenoid: the cockpit switch, and an oil pressure sensor on the engine. In my present situation, the oil pressure sensor is not closing the solenoid, I believe caused by a bad electrical connection at the sensor. I can't reach the connector from beneath the engine so I'll wait until the next occasion to open the bedroom hatch. Meanwhile, my work around is to depress the (momentary) batt boost switch before getting underway and wedging a quarter under the switch to keep it activated. It's a checklist item for now.

Good luck!

Jay
05 Inspire 51457

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116776
This is usually caused by the oil pressure switch failing.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116777
I would bet it is fuse, but you can easily check the oil switch by holding Battery Boost switch on ( with a little screwdriver or 3x5 card) and check voltage at fuse with engine running. If volts are same across fuse it is oil pressure switch. If volts are different ( one side 13.5 other side 0) it is fuse.

Greg
06 Magna

2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116783
Test the boost solenoid. As Jay says, have someone temporarily hold the boost switch while you listen to hear if it clicks. If it clicks you know the boost switch is good. Release the boost switch. Start the engine and check the voltage at one of the large terminals and then check the voltage at the other large terminal. If the two readings are not very close together, start the engine and have someone continuously hold the boost switch and check again. If the voltages are nearly the same, and the solenoid previously clicked with the boost switch held down, there is a problem with the oil pressure switch. Could be the oil pressure switch or a problem with the connection at the oil pressure switch. If the voltages are different under both tests and the solenoid previously clicked with the boost switch held down then the solenoid is probably bad. One last thing to check is to see if the two diodes in the small wires running to one of the small terminals on the solenoid are okay. A bad diode is usually charred or burnt to the point that part of the diode is missing. If both diodes are bad then there is no voltage to the small terminals and the solenoid will not work even if it is good.

My solenoid was bad. A replacement solenoid costs about $100. A work around until you can get repaired is to jumper, with a heavy wire, the positive terminals on the house and chassis batteries together while you are traveling.

I don't have a 400 amp fuse but I do have a 200 amp circuit breaker in the circuit with the boost system. If that circuit breaker is tripped then none of my house 12 volt system will work and the boost system will not work.

pete
2000 40' Magna Indulgence, CAT C-10, #5892
Pete
 2000 40'  Magna #5892  CAT C-10

Re: Engine not charging house batteries

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 116789
My oil pressure switch that is supposed to energize the battery boost solenoid went out last year. My work around is to fold a dollar bill and place it under the battery boost button. That will engage the solenoid. I put it under when I start driving and take it out when I stop. Also you can get a volt meter to plug into the cigarette lighter on the dash. You can then tell if the house batteries are lower when the solenoid is engaged and the voltage changes when you push it. The cigarette lighter is on the chassis battery.I also use the boost switch whenever I am starting the coach when the engine is cold it the winter. Have been doing it for years and works great.

Brian O'Day
Portland, Oregon
2006 inspire #51565
2015 Grand Cheroke toad