Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Can I charge the house battery with the engine alternator?


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enblethen

Moses Lake, WA

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Posted: 11/28/22 02:26pm

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Tekonsha 7000 is agood quality battery disconnect relay. Comes as shown in link a three terminal and also comes with four pole. Tekonsha 7001
NAPA carries same type of relay. Relay must be continuous duty and not a starting relay.

Bud
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Pace Arrow
2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

pnichols

The Other California

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Posted: 11/28/22 10:18pm

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heyobie wrote:

Which solenoid did you buy? I'd like to replace mine

Here's the Trombetta "Bear DC contactor" solenoid that I now use in our Class C that connects the coach batteries to the engine alternator system - note that the one I use is the 2nd one down in the chart, rated for 225 amps continuous duty, and is the version with silver contact material. It is not inexpensive, but IMHO on-the-road-reliability should be very high on one's list:

https://www.trombetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bear-family.pdf

2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

4x4van

California

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Posted: 06/20/23 04:48pm

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The battery boost solenoid on your '88 serves double duty. It is triggered by a wire that is hot when the engine is running, which engages the solenoid to allow the alternator to charge both banks. The momentary pushbutton does the same thing (likely through the same trigger wire on the solenoid); connects the two battery banks to serve as an emergency start if the chassis battery is dead/low. As "enblethen" says above, it needs to be a continuous duty solenoid.

Adding a switch in the line WILL eventually lead to both battery banks being drained and you being stranded when (not if) you forget to turn it off once you get to your campsite. It's an extremely simple and foolproof setup. Don't try to reinvent the wheel.

We don't stop playing because we grow old...We grow old because we stop playing!

2004 Itasca Sunrise M-30W
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-'85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310, '20 CanAm X3 X rs Turbo RR
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-'96 GTi, '96 Waveblaster II

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