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Old 07-05-2010, 08:03 PM   #1
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House Batteries won't charge from engine

We just got back from our first long trip with our 1999 Sunseeker 23S. No problems except the house batteries did not charge unless the generator was running or we were plugged in (and once we killed the batteries they were not happy the rest of the trip.) The owners manual says that the engine battery will charge the house batteries via a relay that won't let the house drain the engine (i.e. it is only connected when the engine is running). The manual ALSO says there is an emergency start switch to use your house batteries to starte your engine:
1.) I cannot find an emergency start switch anywhere - it is not anywhere on the dash that I can see.
2.) I cannot find a wiring diagram to tell me where this "relay" is so I can start troubleshooting there to see if it is fried or something. The manual just says "near the engine"...
3.) Is there a fuse or breaker also in this line that I should be checking.
I should mention that when we bought the RV the prev. owner had hooked up the house batteries backwards. We replaced a lot of fuses after discovering this, and it could have fried the relay...if only I could find it.

Help!
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Old 07-09-2010, 08:20 PM   #2
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Location: Enumclaw, WA
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Welcome to the forums...

Electrical diagrams are rarely available for most RVs so hopefully someone with the same rig and the knowledge of where the relay is can help. Usually the "emergency start" switch is called an "AUX Start". Again perhaps someone with the same rig will come along and help on that as I am not familiar with your rig.

I would bet the relay also called an isolator is bad. Sounds like it's time to start crawling around with a volt meter and troubleshooting a bit.

Good luck. Sorry to hear of the problems but they should be easily rectifiable and you will be back to enjoying your rig again.
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Old 07-12-2010, 12:17 PM   #3
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I have a 2003 Sunseeker 2890 and the emergency start switch is on the dash just above where the driver's left knee is...I haven't had any luck finding any wiring diagrams of the RV.

Hope that helps,

Mark C.
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Old 07-12-2010, 03:13 PM   #4
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When I bought our Duramx Chevy and had the brake controller installed I "Assumed", (You got that right, "Assumed") that when the brake controller was hooked up that it would also charge the batteries. After a trip to Tom Johnson Camping Center, I learned that there is a fuse that has to go in one of the fuse boxes to make it charge while traveling too.
You may want to put your camper make and truck in your signature. (Look at the bottom of mine, it says I have the Flagstaff TT and the Duramax.)
Please let us know that you have found the problem.
Jack
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