txrparrothead
texas
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Joined: 07/13/2008
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Where is my battery isolator and what does it do?
What would cause my chassis battery to drain but not my coach battery?
I disconnected my power steps because they do not work.The first time we looked at the coach the steps were connected because I could hear them running like there was a stripped gear inside.Somehow the dealer disconnected them or they burnt up because they make no sound now.They were still connected to the chassis battery because I checked the plug today with my voltmeter.11.6 volts.I disconnected the plug and HOPEFULLY that was the source of my battery drain.
This past weekend we were connected to park power.We had 1 A/C and several lights on in the coach.I hit the battery disconnect on the dash and the lights dimmed.Is this normal?
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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Why did you hit the battery disconnect? When you did. The batteries were no longer getting a charge from the converter. This is why everything dimmed.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008 Type C
Ford Flex SEL 2010
There is no B+
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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I wwould guess that when you disconnected the batteries the lights dimmed because you were running off of the converter which doesnt put out as much as the batteries.
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Flyfisherman128 wrote:I wwould guess that when you disconnected the batteries the lights dimmed because you were running off of the converter which doesnt put out as much as the batteries. usually it's more.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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strudle
Granbury TX
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Battery Isolator for my P30 is located on the firewall on right side( facing the radiator from the front of grill) adjecent to the battery. It is about 4 inches by 1 3/4 inches with 3 terminals on it. One terminal has wire to the battery. However it could be in other locations, so you model and year would be helpful.
Strudle
86 Sportscoach lll
Bilsteins
Safe T Plus
Bridgestones
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txrparrothead
texas
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strudle wrote:Battery Isolator for my P30 is located on the firewall on right side( facing the radiator from the front of grill) adjecent to the battery. It is about 4 inches by 1 3/4 inches with 3 terminals on it. One terminal has wire to the battery. However it could be in other locations, so you model and year would be helpful.
Sorry-- 93 GBM 31ft P30 chevy
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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Quote:usually it's more.
Not trying to start a debate and I dont really know but I dont think my little converter is going to put out the amps of a charged car battery. I once accidentaly dropped a wrench accross some battery terminals and in about 5 seconds that 800 cranking amps heated the wrench enough to burn me..I dont think my little 35 amp converter can do that.
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Flyfisherman128 wrote:Quote:usually it's more.
Not trying to start a debate and I dont really know but I dont think my little converter is going to put out the amps of a charged car battery. I once accidentaly dropped a wrench accross some battery terminals and in about 5 seconds that 800 cranking amps heated the wrench enough to burn me..I dont think my little 35 amp converter can do that.
The converter is sized so that the total 12v electrical load can be run from it without using power from the battery. Although the battery can supply much more current than the converter it doesn't have to supply any current unless you are not connected to shore power.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (Wife), Katie (cat).
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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Quote:The converter is sized so that the total 12v electrical load can be run from it without using power from the battery. Although the battery can supply much more current than the converter it doesn't have to supply any current unless you are not connected to shore power.
Aggreed. But the original poster said he disconnected the battery.
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Hitting the battery disconnect should not cause the lights to dim since the converter is supposed to be sized to handle the load.
In my case the lights are dimmer when the converter is off and I am running on battery power. The battery voltage is 12.8 volts and the converter output is 13.5 volts and that makes the lights brighter.
Some of the older converters require the batteries to be connected when the converter was running. The Magnatek 6300 (now Parallax) series was one like that.
Maybe the OP has one of those.
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