Isolating House Battries

[Joe Camper]

So the solonoid is energized when the master chassis switch in the back is turned on, right ? If so that is how the house batteries get their charge from the engine alt.

If you have that key off but in the 2 position on the orange switch you still get house power that would possibly say 2 are chassis batts.

Do you have panel meters in the bus and are you seeing 17 volts with the bus running, that is an unusually high number even for charging on a 12 volt system??

[Eagle Andy]

Thanks Joe, no I do not have meters just a needle gauge and a battery switch that I push and hold and it tell me the state of charge, like 13.5 volts. I also have the remote for the inverter that will tell me what stage the charge is and how many volts. I should mention I turned the land power off and the inverter while i was doing the test.

[Eagle Andy]

Joe could it be i was drawing volts from both the house and start battries at the same time. and if I was to switch over to all start and house battries would i have to change all my connections of the Perko switches?

[Joe Camper]

I am guessing the red solonoid is what is letting the house bank get charge off the engine alt while driving.

The orange switch is how your directing the charge off the inverter while camping.

Plug in the power cord get the charger going and while it is on go in and out of #2 and watch if the chassis voltages bounce when you do.

Get a good fluke meter. Shame on all who do not currently have one.

[rip]

The batteries are not true deep cycles.I bought my last set from NAPA and so far they are the best I have used.My batteries stayed in the original location,pass. side rear bay.I used the original cables leading to the starter,so I don't know the size.My inverter is located in the next bay and the run is about four feet.I got the size of cables I used from my trace inverter manual.I have an all electric coach now exact for my stove and oven and I do not do a lot of dry camping.I can go 12 to 14 hours before charging the batteries.
    Don

[Joe Camper]

Be carful how far you drag them down or you will hurt them. I would never let them go under 12flat under load. If you do regular start batts will only allow you to do that about 10 times or so and their preformance will diminish dramaticly.

No doubt a different way to do things for sure.