Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think that
a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.

When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt. last
week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.

There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's batt.
get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.

Art Weatherly
Riverside Ca
'85 PT36

Art,
Are you having fun? I find these 'Birds to be fun to deal with. A lot of
us have come to the conclusion that no two 'Birds were build alike,
therefore the manual...?

Our generator does not have an alternator, same as yours. Our gen
battery is connected with the 6 coach/start batteries. The gen. battery
gets its charge from the coach/start charging system. It may also get
charged when the generator is running, I haven't had a need to check
that out. Someone will chime in and let us know. But with the generator
running the coach/start charging system is powered and would charge the
gen battery anyway.

I'm not clear on the operation of your back up camera. Our backup
monitor is separate from the TV, with separate controls.

When you have time, bring your coach and stop by, we'll compare systems.
Do call ahead as I'm one that runs out of town without giving notice.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, Calif.



amweath wrote:

> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt. last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>
>

For info, my generator does not have an alternator either. I have an
inverter/charger combo (Trace)that charges the 6 coach batteries and the gen
battery. They charge off of the engine alternators, shore power and the genset
when it is running. I can see it happen on the gauges when on bulk charge(gen
set or shore power) which I can see on the Trace LED monitor.
Seems as though you should have a similar set up. Just because mine works that
way doesn't necessarily mean yours does. I wonder how your gen battery would
otherwise?

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL

----- Original Message -----
From: Curt Sprenger
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 8:09 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Backup image, generator battery


Art,
Are you having fun? I find these 'Birds to be fun to deal with. A lot of
us have come to the conclusion that no two 'Birds were build alike,
therefore the manual...?

Our generator does not have an alternator, same as yours. Our gen
battery is connected with the 6 coach/start batteries. The gen. battery
gets its charge from the coach/start charging system. It may also get
charged when the generator is running, I haven't had a need to check
that out. Someone will chime in and let us know. But with the generator
running the coach/start charging system is powered and would charge the
gen battery anyway.

I'm not clear on the operation of your back up camera. Our backup
monitor is separate from the TV, with separate controls.

When you have time, bring your coach and stop by, we'll compare systems.
Do call ahead as I'm one that runs out of town without giving notice.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, Calif.

amweath wrote:

> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt. last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The gen battery is charged from the same juice that charges the main
batteries, either the alternator or the battery charges. That is the
simple version.

Here's the longer one: Believe it or not BB actually "missed"
something in the original engineering of the battery system. In
their quest to keep the generator battery sequestered from the other
battery bank (and therefore prevent the possibility of being stranded
from dead batteries), they actually provided no way for the gen
battery to get reharged. This was solved by installing a section of
wire with a circuit breaker and a diode that "jumped" across the
auxillary battery solenoid located behind the step well. The diode
allowed current to flow from the main system to the gen battery to
recharge it, but would not allow current to flow back from the gen
batt to the main system...unless the aux batt solenoid is energized.

I do not know exactly when this became factory installed, but it was
released by Blue Bird as a retrofit kit. If you crawl under your
step well and find the solenoid, you should fine the jumper wire
looping from one side to the other. You may want to check it with a
multi-meter, the circuit breaker or the diode could have gone bad, in
which case the gen batt would be receiving no juice.

My 82 FC had the jumper, and the charging of the gen batt in this
fashion is mentioned in the manual of my 86 PT.

Scott Formn
82 FC35RB sold but not gone
86 PT38

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "amweath"
wrote:
>
> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think
that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt.
last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's
batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>

Art,

I have an 82 and not a PT but my battery is charged by a rectifier in the
controller that uses the AC generated by the generator to charge the
battery. My battery shows 13.2 volts when the generator is running. There
is a circuit breaker (a button in my case) that protects the charging
circuit. When I got my BB the previous owner said that the battery would
not charge. Reset the breaker and it worked for a while then quit again.
Reset it and it tripped again replaced it and all has been OK since.



Had a friend that could not get his charging circuit to work. He bought a
marine charger because it was water proof and hooked it to the ac and
battery so it comes on when the generator is running. Actually it runs any
time there is AC on the BB.



- Chuck Wheeler -

82 FC 31 SB

Fort Worth, TX

_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Curt Sprenger
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 6:10 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Backup image, generator battery



Art,
Are you having fun? I find these 'Birds to be fun to deal with. A lot of
us have come to the conclusion that no two 'Birds were build alike,
therefore the manual...?

Our generator does not have an alternator, same as yours. Our gen
battery is connected with the 6 coach/start batteries. The gen. battery
gets its charge from the coach/start charging system. It may also get
charged when the generator is running, I haven't had a need to check
that out. Someone will chime in and let us know. But with the generator
running the coach/start charging system is powered and would charge the
gen battery anyway.

I'm not clear on the operation of your back up camera. Our backup
monitor is separate from the TV, with separate controls.

When you have time, bring your coach and stop by, we'll compare systems.
Do call ahead as I'm one that runs out of town without giving notice.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, Calif.

amweath wrote:

> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt. last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Curt,

Getting together with you would be benificial. I'll let you know. I have some
reservations at Bolsa Chica beach June
5th thru 8th. I can just leave my place earlier than normal or just make a
seperate trip of it any other time.

Art Weatherly
Riverside Ca
'85 PT36
----- Original Message -----
From: Curt Sprenger
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 6:09 PM
Subject: [SPAM] Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Backup image, generator battery


Art,
Are you having fun? I find these 'Birds to be fun to deal with. A lot of
us have come to the conclusion that no two 'Birds were build alike,
therefore the manual...?

Our generator does not have an alternator, same as yours. Our gen
battery is connected with the 6 coach/start batteries. The gen. battery
gets its charge from the coach/start charging system. It may also get
charged when the generator is running, I haven't had a need to check
that out. Someone will chime in and let us know. But with the generator
running the coach/start charging system is powered and would charge the
gen battery anyway.

I'm not clear on the operation of your back up camera. Our backup
monitor is separate from the TV, with separate controls.

When you have time, bring your coach and stop by, we'll compare systems.
Do call ahead as I'm one that runs out of town without giving notice.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, Calif.

amweath wrote:

> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt. last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Art,

Most anytime will work, it's best if you contact me ahead of time, 714
269-6187. At this time my plan shows I'll be home June 8th, if you'd
like to stop by on your return to Riverside. I'll be out of town
starting Memorable day and not return until late Monday, June 4 or early
June 5th. Just make contact and we'll work it out.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, Calif.



Art Weatherly wrote:

> Curt,
>
> Getting together with you would be benificial. I'll let you know. I
> have some reservations at Bolsa Chica beach June
> 5th thru 8th. I can just leave my place earlier than normal or just
> make a seperate trip of it any other time.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Curt Sprenger
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>
> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 6:09 PM
> Subject: [SPAM] Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Backup image, generator battery
>
> Art,
> Are you having fun? I find these 'Birds to be fun to deal with. A lot of
> us have come to the conclusion that no two 'Birds were build alike,
> therefore the manual...?
>
> Our generator does not have an alternator, same as yours. Our gen
> battery is connected with the 6 coach/start batteries. The gen. battery
> gets its charge from the coach/start charging system. It may also get
> charged when the generator is running, I haven't had a need to check
> that out. Someone will chime in and let us know. But with the generator
> running the coach/start charging system is powered and would charge the
> gen battery anyway.
>
> I'm not clear on the operation of your back up camera. Our backup
> monitor is separate from the TV, with separate controls.
>
> When you have time, bring your coach and stop by, we'll compare systems.
> Do call ahead as I'm one that runs out of town without giving notice.
>
> Curt Sprenger
> 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> Anaheim Hills, Calif.
>
> amweath wrote:
>
> > The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> > continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> > ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think that
> > a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
> >
> > When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> > meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt. last
> > week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
> >
> > There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's batt.
> > get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
> >
> > Art Weatherly
> > Riverside Ca
> > '85 PT36
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

Art, It wont hurt to take the starter off and run it over to
Riverside alt (Indiana ave near Auto Center) and have it load tested.
Chances are the genset has been started on weak batteries and it is
drawing too many amps now. I installed a remote battery isolated
from inverter discharge just for the genset.
GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "amweath"
wrote:
>
> The last couple of times I've started the main engine the TV monitor
> continues to display broadcast TV. As I understand it, when the
> ignition key is on the backup camera should display. I would think
that
> a relay must be ignition key activated to switch to backup camera.
>
> When running the generator I have noticed that the gen. engine volt-
> meter reads 12 volts or a little less. I did install a new batt.
last
> week, but it seems to be turning over slower and slower.
>
> There is no belt driven alternator on the gen set. How does it's
batt.
> get charged. The manual is not real clear on that.
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>