Greyhawk 30GS house battery not charging while driving

[jchiar]

Just go this 2006 Greyhawk 30GS unit this year. I noticed on my first trip that the coach (house) battery did not appear to be charging. I have an inverter for the TV that we used while driving to Florida.

Anyway, it didn't seem to be charging, as when we got to florida, the battery was dead after the drive.

It charges on shore power is I know its not the battery.

How can i tell if there is an isolator to charge from the alternator.

I do know there is a button to press to emergency start the motor vehicle battery incase its dead. Its under the auto light switch.

[cabinetmaker]

Be careful...I have burned up alternators trying to charge more than they are rated for. Could be you are getting a charge to the battery just not enough to keep the battery up with the tv running. Might be a case of more out than in.

I would check the specs on your motorhome and see what alternator you have. Size matters if your trying to simultaneously charge both coach and chassis batteries that have a constant drain on them.

You can always run the power generator. It needs exercised regularly anyway. That will power the tv and charge your coach battery.

[glamisbound]

What chassis?? There may be a fuse for this. Check the fuse panel in your engine compartment.

[jchiar]

What do you mean by what chassis?

[Fr8Train]

Originally Posted by jchiar

What do you mean by what chassis?

I believe he meant which chassis does the OP have.

[jchiar]

I have a 30GS model

[in the wind]

There is an coach battery isolator on the firewall under the hood, right below the windshield, drivers side. It has two heavy battery wires and two small wires attached to it. The small wires are a ground and the other will have 12 VDC applied to it when the ignition key is on.
If you don't have 12VDC on the ignition post your battery will not charge. Probably a blown fuse. If it does have 12VDC then the isolator relay is bad.
Easy to bench check the solenoid with a meter and a 12VDC power source.


Should look like this:

[in the wind]

Do you have a back up camera? Does it work?

[jchiar]

Yes I have a backup camera and it works.

[jchiar]

Originally Posted by in the wind

There is an coach battery isolator on the firewall under the hood, right below the windshield, drivers side. It has two heavy battery wires and two small wires attached to it. The small wires are a ground and the other will have 12 VDC applied to it when the ignition key is on.
If you don't have 12VDC on the ignition post your battery will not charge. Probably a blown fuse. If it does have 12VDC then the isolator relay is bad.
Easy to bench check the solenoid with a meter and a 12VDC power source.


Should look like this:

So one side is switched 12V to the alternator and the other side goes to the coach battery?

[cabinetmaker]

One way to check and see if the solenoid is working is to put a voltage meter on your house battery with engine off and note the voltage.

Start the engine and note the voltage again. It should rise. If the battery is almost full to start with the rise might be very slight like 1 volt. If the battery is low it might rise several volts...but the key here is to see if you get a rise in voltage.

The aux start solenoid that others have shown the pictures of and is mounted on the firewall under the hood serves two purposes.

First it activates with the button on the dash to connect both house and coach batteries together in case the coach chassis battery is low and will not start the motor on it's on.

The second function of this solenoid is to connect the alternator to the coach chassis and house battery so both batteries will charge going down the road. When you turn the key to on you will hear it click if you listen carefully.

These solenoids do go bad. That could be your problem. Does the aux start click the solenoid when you push it? You should hear it click. There is a fuse to the solenoid also that others mentioned. If it is blown it will not allow function of the solenoid. Be sure to check the fuse before anything else if the solenoid is not working.

Watch this video. It might help.

https://youtu.be/wc_vGNHhAYE

[in the wind]

Originally Posted by jchiar

Yes I have a backup camera and it works.

I asked because my 12VDC ignition wire to the isolator is in the same circuit with the battery isolator.