Emergency Start switch?

[The_Handier_Man1]

From: tiinytina  (Original Message)
Sent: 5/24/2006 5:40 PM

hi all,
   Been searching the boards etc... but since we have an Allegro... don't know what compares and what doesn't.... so... yes battery info like charging, size, deep vs non deep, gell etc.... is the same but... Surfed all the various battery links and messages but since this is a non-Winnie....
   my Genny is going click click click instead of starting. So yes need to check things etc which I haven't had the time to do... but in reading up on it I see there is a Dual/Mom switch which Winnies have.... the Allegro doesn't seem to have one of these, instead to the left of the dash is an Emergency start button. Pushing it results in the engine not starting (so I'm thinking the coach batteries are sucking the charge from the engine battery. There are 2 deep cycle batts for the coach don't know how old as the PO put them in so 2-4 yrs old. And no I haven't check amps etc yet.... if there were 12 more hours in each day.... I'd have all these things checked.... I do know the connections are clean and tight though.
   Talking to my mechanic he thinks that the emergency start button just connects all the batts so that you can start the engine in case the engine batt is dead. So I was assuming a one way powerflow from coach to engine batts.  Reading here though I'm seeing this MOM switch, which I have yet to find in the Allegro. Is there another system out there for charging the coach batts? Or should I be pushing the emergency start switch after starting to charge the coach batts while driving? Being "blonde" and a RV newbie...I assumed while running and or while docked and plugged in... the coach batts would charge.... We have hardly ever run Gone off batts other than for a few minutes..
thanks!
Tina and pat
Gone to the Dawgs



From: Im-still-Lefty
Sent: 5/24/2006 9:41 PM

Tina,
You are correct on a few major points, but since I don't have an Allegro either, I can only guess the method exactly.
The genset in most cases uses the coach batteries for starting, as you assumed.
The "Emergency Start" switch, in all likelyhood, is the Allegro version of a "Dual/Mon" switch. Temporarily connecting the coach batteries to the start batt. in the event your start batt. runs down.
If the coach batt. are as old as you said, 2-4yrs., then they likely are dead beyond saving. Regular charging/discharging, and water top-offs, can extend deep cycle lifes to 3 yrs. or more. Neglected... maybe a year or two, tops.
Automatic battery chargers usually won't even turn on, until the voltage in a battery is at least 10v. this prevents the accidental overcharging of a 6v. batt. by mistake. You can "trick" a charger though, Using jumper cables, connect a known good battery to the dead one, positive to positive, and negative to negative. Then, attach the charger and turn on. Let charge in this manner for about an hour or two, then try charging the dead battery by itself. Sometimes, that will raise the voltage in the dead one enough for the charger to turn on. Allow the charged battery to sit overnite after charging, then check with a voltmeter. You should get around 12.7v. for a fully charged battery.
The alternator on the engine should charge the start battery, and also provide some power to charge the coach batteries. however, the main charging for the coach batteries usually is supplied by the 12v. converter (which is powered by 110v. from a plug-in source, or the genset when running). but older converters usually supplied only a few amps charge for this purpose. And it is recommended that the house batteries be charged seperately with an automotive style charger on a regular basis. Newer converters allocate more power for battery charging.

Good luck,     Lefty



From: tiinytina
Sent: 5/25/2006 4:14 AM

Thanks lefty,
    I think I will pull one of the batts today and put it on a trickle charger to see what happens. I'll also dig through the 3" stack of manuals again to see if I missed something on a possible charging system or if we do indeed just have to remove them and charge them when not in use etc. We've only used them to start the genny 1-2x a month since we've owned her, otherwise she is either sitting with 12v switch off, or on shore power.
   ah RV ownership ..... add batts to need new fridge, new awning (holey) and new awning parts total (rusted and bent)..... $$$$$$$. But yup... worth it
Tina



From: tiinytina
Sent: 5/28/2006 8:30 AM

Well pulled one charged it 2 days... seemed to take charge well. Put that one back after pulled the second one.. poof genny started fine... second one on charger as we speak. Since the PO didn't punch out any date stickers on the batts don't know how old they are but they don't look to be too old. I will have to add one supply to Gone though... wasp spray... did the Polish salute (swatting here and there) while I was man-handling batts in and out... found starter nest and got that squished....
Tina



From: denisondc
Sent: 5/28/2006 2:48 PM

If you posted a picture of your dashboard, we might have better guesses about whether your RV has a -mom- switch. And I have forgotten what year it is. With each passing year the motorhomes had things added, and more -automatic- features. 



From: Im-still-Lefty
Sent: 5/28/2006 10:40 PM

Dating a battery:  (Most manufacturers)
On the side of the case, there should be a sticker that has a letter-number combination. This is the date the battery was manufacturered.
ie; A=Jan, B=Feb,C=Mar.,D=Apr.,E=May,F=Jun.,G=Jul.,H=Aug.I=not used,J=Sep.,K=Oct.,L=Nov., and M=Dec.  "I" - is not used because it may be confused for a "1" too easily.
The number translates to the year.
1= 2001, 2= 2002, 3= 2003, etc...
So it should read "B-4" for a battery that was manufactured in Feb., 2004
                                                               Lefty



From: tiinytina
Sent: 5/29/2006 7:42 AM

Sweet, I"ll check it when I get home. The second battery is still sitting in the set-tub in my basement charging. Forgot to check it before heading to barn and work. Both bats are Deep Cycle Marine/RV type (Interstate).
My allegro is a 1987. The only buttons and knobs on the dash are, genny start/stop, cigarette lighter, emergency start button, left and right wiper control, 2 toggles that used to control things that were mounted to the dash dead center left and right (we are thinking there probably were fans, there are only 2 metal brackets and naked wires there now), and the CD/radio.... I haven't really looked at the genny yet for any bells and whistles that may be down there. I also need to surf the manuals and board for how often the oil etc needs to be changed on the genny. I know its an ONAN but thats about it...
Thanks
Tina



From: denisondc
Sent: 5/29/2006 10:10 AM

I suppose the Onan manuals might say to change the oil every 100 or 200 hours of operation or at least once a year. I have the original Onan LK 2.5kw unit in my 72. I have used the generator only 150 or 200 hours total in the 15 years we have owned it - most of its running time is keeping the roof a.c. running overnight. Im not advising others to be as lazy as myself, but since I havent changed its oil yet, It has the same oil in it now that it had when we bought it, except for half a quart I addded to it a few years ago. Now its half a quart low again, so I guess I will change it. It doesnt have a filter, so I will drain it when the oil is hot from running. 



From: DanD2soon
Sent: 5/29/2006 5:47 PM

Many Battery shops use an electric engraving tool to "etch" the top of their battery with their sales date (It's the buzzing sound you hear as they're bench testing the new battery just before installing it or handing it over to you to take home) - It will be exactly the same code Lefty described above and will be "Printed" directly on the top face of the battery.  Example: E-6 if sold this weekend,  or F-6 for next weekend.  Most good shops use this sales date for warranty adjustments too instead of the Manufacturer's date which could be many months earlier.

DanD



From: ClydesdaleKevin
Sent: 6/26/2006 7:49 PM

I was having some battery charging issues myself, and finally got my coach and starting batteries to charge off the alternator, but found out to my dismay that my old Phillips Converter doesn't charge the batteries at rest, plugged into shore power.  Solution?  I wired in a marine battery charger, split to both coach and starting batteries, that I turn on when we are parked and connected to shore power.  I NEED to keep the marine battery charger turned on, since I have a mild power draw somewhere, that, over the course of about 6 weeks, will drain my batteries dead.  It works!  I'm guessing its the fridge computer (12 volts), and CD player (12 volts), and whatever else that is 12 volts running in the background that drains it...not a problem anymore!

Kev