09-20-2024, 05:49 PM
(09-20-2024, 08:02 AM)Richard Wrote: Forest is correct.
More details to follow. That is indeed a shunt. The side closest to you in the picture should have two small wires attached to the screw terminals on front. In the pic, you can see one attached, and on the other the small wire has been pulled out of its terminal. Originally those shunt wires would have feed the ammeter that was read using a XANTREX control panel for the inverter. If you selected BANK 2, it would show you the amps the alternator was putting into the batteries.
It is clear that the DC system has been altered just a bit. It is impossible to tell you if there is a problem, or how it should be configured without a detailed analysis and wiring diagram of the existing setup.
Some questions and simple analysis can be done to know what is and isn’t going on.
Start by opening the stainless door for the electrical cabinet in engine compartment and posting a pic of that.
With the coach unplugged and engine off, measure the voltage of both the chassis batteries and house batteries with a digital voltmeter. Record this number, because we will be looking for small changes in voltage.
Crank the engine, and use the High Idle switch on the drivers console to raise the engine RPM to a 1000 or so. Now measure the voltage on both battery banks again.
If the voltage is slightly higher on the chassis batts, the alternator is indeed charging the chassis batteries
If the voltage is slightly higher on the house batts, the alternator is charging the house batts as you drive.
Turn the high idle off, and shut the engine down.
Now plug the coach into 30 or 50 amp service.
Measure the voltages again.
If the voltage is slightly higher on the house batts, then the inverter is charging the house batteries while plugged in.
If the voltage is slightly higher on the chassis batts, then the inverter is also providing through and echo charger, a maintenance voltage to keep the chassis batts up while plugged in.
This sounds like simpleton stuff, but on a new to you coach, it is good to establish what is and isn’t going on with the DC system before delving into wiring changes.
Wow nice lengthy answer. I do think the inverter was swapped out for a different one, so maybe they didn't need that wire to be connected?
Corey and Katherine O'Brien
1998 Newell Coach 469