Battery Merge? - Luxury Coach Lifestyles
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 10-17-2000, 05:01 PM   #1
Brian Hunter
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2
Send a message via ICQ to Brian Hunter
Default Battery Merge?

Our 1983 has the standard coach/starting battery switch, meter, and a three way switch (center off, up merge, down merge). When I move the merge switch from the up to the up or down position (in either coach or starting mode) I get a different meter reading. Any ideas out there why this happens? Is it the merge switch or solenoid or? :roll:
__________________

Brian Hunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2000, 07:05 AM   #2
TechTalk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 304
Default

Unless the batteries are merged, you will get different readings on the engine and house batteries. They are independent, see different loads and have different charge sources. If the merge solenoid is working, the voltages should equalize a short period after merging. If the voltage doesn't equalize, it is a good indication that the merge solenoid has failed. Because these solenoids are mechanical, have a finite life, and are not expensive, we recommend they be changed annually rather than waiting for a failure that might be inconvenient. Later model coaches also have an Echo Charger, a small Heart Interface device wired between the engine and coach batteries, that trickle charges the engine batteries from the house batteries anytime it sees more than a small voltage differential between the two. This is a passive device. It relieves the need to merge the batteries to keep the engine battery charged while the coach is in storage. They can be easily retrofitted and are nominal in cost. You can buy them from Newell parts.
TechTalk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Newell Coach Corporation or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×