Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I'm having an issue that I hope someone can help me with. There is much I
understand about my 85 PT40 and I do enjoy doing most of the maintenance. One
thing I haven't grasped yet is the electrical portion and I'll admit I need to
be spoon fed because my knowledge level is so limited. BTW, we full time in our
coach so getting things fixed promptly is important. Here's the background and
issue:

- About 1 year ago I replaced the six 6-volt batteries with golf cart batteries.

- At the same time I replaced the original charging units with an IOTA 45 amp
charger (new).

- I had no issues until a week ago. And, I do check water levels and keep my
batteries clean and full.

- My lights went out and I realized the batteries weren't being charged (or so I
thought because the gauge showed zero charge.

- I replaced the IOTA with a new unit and it immediately went into charge mode
and charged the batteries (at least I assumed it did because I had lights and
the charger gauge showed a charge.)

- I moved the coach yesterday (unhooked from shore power) and the engine would
not turnover. I started the generator and the coach started right up.

- My new charger doesn't seem to be charging now (per the guage) and it's only a
week old.

- The batteries are full of distilled water and they are cleaned with good
connections.

So, have my batteries gone bad? Is the charger bad even though it's brand new?
Do I have a bad relay between the batteries and charger?

Frankly, when it comes to these electrical problems, I'm not sure where to start
to determine what the issue is.

What do I need to do to troubleshoot? Where do I start? How do I know when to
stop?

Thanks.

Jerry
85 PT40 (Jayne Marie)

Jerry,

I understand you said it would not start 'till you started the generator. When
you turn on the ignition key what is the dashboard
voltmeter reading. If it's reading 12 v. or better your batt. should
be able to start the coach. By not starting do you mean it won't turn over, or
tunover but not start. My coach will sometines not turn over from the drivers
position. It will start from the rear. I'm still trying to find that one.


Art Weatherly
Riverside Ca
'85 PT36


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jburgessx2" wrote:
>
> I'm having an issue that I hope someone can help me with. There is much I
understand about my 85 PT40 and I do enjoy doing most of the maintenance. One
thing I haven't grasped yet is the electrical portion and I'll admit I need to
be spoon fed because my knowledge level is so limited. BTW, we full time in our
coach so getting things fixed promptly is important. Here's the background and
issue:
>
> - About 1 year ago I replaced the six 6-volt batteries with golf cart
batteries.
>
> - At the same time I replaced the original charging units with an IOTA 45 amp
charger (new).
>
> - I had no issues until a week ago. And, I do check water levels and keep my
batteries clean and full.
>
> - My lights went out and I realized the batteries weren't being charged (or so
I thought because the gauge showed zero charge.
>
> - I replaced the IOTA with a new unit and it immediately went into charge mode
and charged the batteries (at least I assumed it did because I had lights and
the charger gauge showed a charge.)
>
> - I moved the coach yesterday (unhooked from shore power) and the engine would
not turnover. I started the generator and the coach started right up.
>
> - My new charger doesn't seem to be charging now (per the guage) and it's only
a week old.
>
> - The batteries are full of distilled water and they are cleaned with good
connections.
>
> So, have my batteries gone bad? Is the charger bad even though it's brand
new? Do I have a bad relay between the batteries and charger?
>
> Frankly, when it comes to these electrical problems, I'm not sure where to
start to determine what the issue is.
>
> What do I need to do to troubleshoot? Where do I start? How do I know when
to stop?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jerry
> 85 PT40 (Jayne Marie)
>

Art; the front/rear toggle switch in back is bad or going bad on you.
Safe travels, Ralph &
Charolette Fullenwider
'84 FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
Duncan, Oklahoma
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: "artw"
Sender: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:40:56
To:
Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Batteries/Charger problems


Jerry,

I understand you said it would not start 'till you started the generator. When
you turn on the ignition key what is the dashboard
voltmeter reading. If it's reading 12 v. or better your batt. should
be able to start the coach. By not starting do you mean it won't turn over, or
tunover but not start. My coach will sometines not turn over from the drivers
position. It will start from the rear. I'm still trying to find that one.


Art Weatherly
Riverside Ca
'85 PT36


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jburgessx2" wrote:
>
> I'm having an issue that I hope someone can help me with. There is much I
understand about my 85 PT40 and I do enjoy doing most of the maintenance. One
thing I haven't grasped yet is the electrical portion and I'll admit I need to
be spoon fed because my knowledge level is so limited. BTW, we full time in our
coach so getting things fixed promptly is important. Here's the background and
issue:
>
> - About 1 year ago I replaced the six 6-volt batteries with golf cart
batteries.
>
> - At the same time I replaced the original charging units with an IOTA 45 amp
charger (new).
>
> - I had no issues until a week ago. And, I do check water levels and keep my
batteries clean and full.
>
> - My lights went out and I realized the batteries weren't being charged (or so
I thought because the gauge showed zero charge.
>
> - I replaced the IOTA with a new unit and it immediately went into charge mode
and charged the batteries (at least I assumed it did because I had lights and
the charger gauge showed a charge.)
>
> - I moved the coach yesterday (unhooked from shore power) and the engine would
not turnover. I started the generator and the coach started right up.
>
> - My new charger doesn't seem to be charging now (per the guage) and it's only
a week old.
>
> - The batteries are full of distilled water and they are cleaned with good
connections.
>
> So, have my batteries gone bad? Is the charger bad even though it's brand
new? Do I have a bad relay between the batteries and charger?
>
> Frankly, when it comes to these electrical problems, I'm not sure where to
start to determine what the issue is.
>
> What do I need to do to troubleshoot? Where do I start? How do I know when
to stop?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jerry
> 85 PT40 (Jayne Marie)
>




------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

Dan,

Thanks! So, Autozone loans those testers out? I'll give it a shot. I'm guessing I need to unhook all the batteries first, correct? Also, would that cause a charger to fail?

Jerry
85 PT40

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

---

Ralph,

That is one place I hadn't considered. I had always suspected
th canon plugs in the dash. Thanks for another lead.

Art Weatherly
Riverside Ca
'85 PT36

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph" wrote:
>
> Art; the front/rear toggle switch in back is bad or going bad on you.
> Safe travels, Ralph &
Charolette Fullenwider
> '84 FC35 "Ruff Diamond"
> Duncan, Oklahoma
> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "artw"
> Sender: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:40:56
> To:
> Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Batteries/Charger problems
>
>
> Jerry,
>
> I understand you said it would not start 'till you started the generator. When
you turn on the ignition key what is the dashboard
> voltmeter reading. If it's reading 12 v. or better your batt. should
> be able to start the coach. By not starting do you mean it won't turn over,
or tunover but not start. My coach will sometines not turn over from the drivers
position. It will start from the rear. I'm still trying to find that one.
>
>
> Art Weatherly
> Riverside Ca
> '85 PT36
>
>

> >
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>

Thanks Chuck!

Jerry
85 PT40


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

---