BATT CHG switch function on 1972 Newell

[sopicki]

Hi all, I have a switch on my dash labeled BATT CHG and it has 3 positions, FRONT, OFF and REAR. It only has one wire going to it as the other wires have been broken off, eaten off or melted off at some point. The one remaining wire runs to a solenoid located under the floor access panel just in front of the front passenger seat. This solenoid has wires on one side that go to the rear battery and wires on the other side that go to the chassis battery. I assume that this circuit was to allow charging of one battery or the other but from where...the alternator? the converter? Does anyone have a Newell manual that states what this switch is supposed to do? or a schematic? Thanks!!!

[rellick]

Hi Bob, I'm pretty sure that's your merge switch, I don't have any diagrams for it, on your solonoid one side will be your house batt, the other engine, it separates them or joins them together for charging or isolating. Mine were all joined together when I got the coach, separated them to how I think they should be and seems to be working. Not sure how they have the charging set up but when the engine is running it charges both sides, there has to be something to prevent backfeeding, possibly 77newell or prairieshcooner would know for sure, I just haven't spent any time figuring out that particular circuit

[sopicki]

Rellick, Thanks for the info. I'm really surprised just how little info there is out there for systems on our older Newells. This is getting discouraging. I pulled all of the wheels this week to check the brakes and thank goodness they look great. The down side is I have no idea who made the brakes, steering or suspension when it comes time to get parts. The radiator blew a hole on the trip home from my brother-in-law's shop and the bill to re-core it ran $925. I'd really like to find some info on wiring, brakes, steering and suspension. Thanks....just venting.

[rellick]

Bob here is a link for some bus conversion books that might come in handy. There is one for wiring I think it would have some of the information you might find usefull. Bus Conversion and Motor Coaching Books by Dave Galey - the leading authority on home-built custom motor coaches (http://www.winlockgaley.com/) I had a rad recored for my 87, cost me 2700!!,:banghead:

[sopicki]

Rellick, I think I'd darn near cry if they had told me $2700! I hope that was installed. I sandblasted all the radiator mounting parts, primed and painted and even put new foam on the bottom support. Everything went back together with stainless steel bolts. I'm still waiting on the rebuilt filler neck and should have that back Tuesday. I'll take a look at the Galey books you mentioned. I'd like to put an isolator in the system so I don't end up frying a good battery because of a bad one. I have no idea how old the batteries are on the Carole Ann. BTW, I've seen some of the work you've done on your coach and it is beautiful! Thanks for the links!!!

[rellick]

Bob, here is another link for wiring, there is some usefull information here. Sometimes is easier to start from sctatch and may be a good time to upgrade some of it. I will be adding a solar system to mine RV Electrical (http://www.jackdanmayer.com/rv_electrical_and_solar.htm) The 2700 was for the rad and coolant, not installed!!

[sopicki]

Rellick, WOW! Some really great links. Thank you. That must be a really big radiator to cost $2700 just for the recore. The radiator shop I was at was re-coring a huge radiator from an old military vehicle when I dropped mine off, I wonder what that would have cost? I got the filler neck back from the fabricator yesterday so I was able to finish the radiator replacement. It's holding pressure and I added a coolant reservoir too. I've got the BATT CHG working in the REAR position (which uses house 12v to activate the solenoid to link the front and rear batteries), but I'm still a little perplexed as to Newell's intended purpose of the FRONT position. Surely Newell provided operation manuals with there coaches even in the 70's. Is there anyone on the Forum that had an older Newell and has a copy of an operation manual?

[77newell]

Bob: you are making great progress my man. I've never had nor heard of operating manuals for either of my Newell coachs. The reason for the "front" and "rear" selection on the switch is that you can use whatever batteries are charged to get some juice over to the other side. The "front" battery on my 77 coach was the house battery and the "rear" was the chassis batteries. If the chassis batteries are discharged but the house is OK I could still start my generator and using the battery merge switch in the "front' position recharge the "rear" batteries. If the rear batteries are dead and you only had the option of "rear" on the merge switch you could have to manually jumper the merge solenoid to get the "front" juice to become a source of "rear" juice. Geez that last sentence could be porn, but hopefully you get the (right) idea.