Onan battery charger (was digest)

[bdub]

>The Onan is a very poor battery charger when it works (about 80 % of the
>Onan battery chargers do not function. But who cares, since the AD to
>DC Converter operates from the Onan &/or shore Power to charge the House
>Battery). Also the Engine Alternator charges the house battery thur the
>2 Battery Isolators while driving.
>A simple test to see if your battery is being charged is to attach a DC
>Volt meter across the battery in question & read the voltage. Now plug
>in to shore power & the Battery Voltage should increase more than 3/4
>volts. Remove shore power & start up Engine, the battery voltage again
>should increase more than 3/4 volts. Stop Engine & plug in for Onan
>Power(operate Onan), the battery voltage again should be increase more
>than 3/4 volts.
>Note: The Engine is isolated from the House battery &
>should not be charged from the Shore Power Or Onan Power.

Wouldn't it be ok to charge an engine battery by jumping from the positive
house battery terminal to the positive engine battery terminal in a jam? I
did this the other day when I discovered my alternator not working by the
fact that the battery was dead. I was out in the middle of nowhere and my
push button 'boost' switch doesn't work. I ran the onan while under way
and it charged the battery up just fine. Reckon I messed up something else?

Also if you
>want to see if your Onan battery is functional, remove Onan Power to
>Coach & see if you have 3/4 volts increase with Onan operating.
>
>Happy GMCing
>Duane Simmons


Thanks for the info

********************************************************************
bdub Billy Massey
Life in th' Slow Lane bmassey
Lake Brownwood, Texas http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
--'76 Palm Beach-- http://wwp.mirabilis.com/202333
********************************************************************

 

[bdub]

>The use of a jumper from the house battery terminal to the solenoid allows the
>Onan (or shore power through your converter) to charge up the front battery.
>This should not normally cause any problem: however, the batteries will only
>charge up to the level that the worst battery will take. If one battery has a
>shorted cell it could damage the other battery. I had an alternator go bad a
>few years ago and made up a jumper from 1 foot of wire and two alligator
>clips. Had to go about 200 miles with my Onan running to keep the engine and
>headlights on before I could find a new alternator. I still keep the jumper
>in the motorhome just in case.
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM

Thanks for the input Emory. I, too, made up a jumper out of 10 ga.
stranded wire and a couple of large alligator clips. I have it hanging
over the oil filler 'tube just in case'. Now I gotta figure out why the
'Boost' switch doesn't work.

 

[bdub]

>> Now I gotta figure out why the
>> 'Boost' switch doesn't work.
>
>Bill,
> On my '75, the "boost" solenoid is powered from the front (engine) battery.
>If said battery is "totally" dead, the boost won't work. Another reason to
>keep the hefty jumper wire handy (to energize the "boost" solenoid, not to
>boost the battery when cranking.) HTH.
>
>Rick Staples
>'75 Eleganza
>Louisville, CO

Hmm, my boost solenoid is powered by the house battery. I can jump from
house bat cable to solenoid energizing terminal to make it connect.
Anyhow, I see your point and it's taken with gratitude. Thanks

********************************************************************
bdub Billy Massey
Life in th' Slow Lane bmassey
Lake Brownwood, Texas http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
--'76 Palm Beach-- http://wwp.mirabilis.com/202333
********************************************************************

 

[edgar t. kremer]

The battery boost switch, if not already wired to "boost" the batteries
when either battery is dead, can be wired to operate when either battery
is dead. It is a simple modification.

Concerning the battery boost solenoid: the silver (metal case) ones are
continuous duty. The black or brown bakelite are intermittent duty.
Either one can be purchased at a good auto supply store. Neither one is
prohibitively expensive. I have a silver one on my coach & have left it
energized for hours with no ill effects.

>

>
> > Now I gotta figure out why the
> > 'Boost' switch doesn't work.
>
> Bill,
> On my '75, the "boost" solenoid is powered from the front (engine) battery.
> If said battery is "totally" dead, the boost won't work. Another reason to
> keep the hefty jumper wire handy (to energize the "boost" solenoid, not to
> boost the battery when cranking.) HTH.
>
> Rick Staples
> '75 Eleganza
> Louisville, CO