Battery Solenoid ???

[jisom12]

Howdy All,

Newbie here. Recently purchased 1982 Airstream Excella Motor home. I'm in the process of restoring.

To date I have ran across a few electrical problems.

First, bolted on the side of the Battery Box is some sort of round cylindar (4-5") battery solenoid. I traced the wires and it is connected to the Intellipower 9100, then runs to the Auxillary battery. The problem: the connecting bolts and plastic top have broken off from the rest of the solenoid. So I need to replace this solenoid. Unfornately, the label on the solenoid is ripped and faded.

My question, what is this solenoid? A battery separator?, Switch? Where do I find a replacement?

Thanks in advance

Jisom12

[jkcru]

Perhaps a call to the factory would be in order (ie Jackson Center)

[doorgunner]

My 78 Moho has lotsa previous owner electrical mods.
You say you have a 9100 intellipower thing, I'm thinking that is a mod.
Is this solenoid electrically activated? or does it have a big honkin knob on it to select batt 1, batt 2, both or off?
Me , I'ld take the part off and plop it on the counter at my friendly NAPA store and you may get more info that a way, I kinda doubt the mfg will be of any help here seein as it sounds like this setup has been "moused".
Or take it to the local yokul moho place- they seen it all.
Good luck,part of the fun of being a 5th 10th or whatever owner,at least you'll know it once you completely redo it!!

[Zeppelinium]

Let's bump this up and see if anyone can provide a wiring diagram.

In the mean time, it seems to me that the Intellipower should be connected to the Aux battery only. The "solenoid" should be configured to apply engine generator charging current to the Aux battery when the engine is running, at all other times the Aux battery and engine battery should be separated. I don't know squat about coaches, but it seems to me that the Intellipower would never be configured to charge the engine battery, so the solenoid may also be wired to open if the Intellipower is on (seems to me a large rectifier would be all that's needed to keep the aux power system separate from the engine, but still allow the engine to charge the aux power battery). I'd be interested to see what the solution is.

Zep

[richinny]

a picture is worth a thousand wrong guesses.

[doorgunner]

more thoughts;

Zep- I like your input!
The intelli only works while plugged into 120 land line or the genset onboard.
I kinda like the idea of being able to charge "all" the batts any time, sitting still or underway.
I also am a KISS kinda guy, wanna know what I think about the @^&%% solenoid that switches supply between my 2 fuel cells!!
I'm thinking the only wiring diagram will be the one that will be newly available once the owner painstakeingly traces each wire-- unfortunately
So get out the Fluke, creeper and reading glasses, maybe a few cold ones and a pad of paper, Or just rip out all the stuff and do it right to begin with
I think all to often folks just assume that it was done correctly to begin with, not me.
When I was sorting out my elect system I ran into all kinds of weird stuff, but then again my standards are high in this area, being a avionics guy!
Steam gauges baby!!

[cooperhawk]

Unless your MH is a diesel the item should be a switch that allows you to switch off the coach batteries when not in use. The chasis battery would then still be hot so you could start the engines, but nothing could drain the coach batteries. There should be a large switch handle in the back of the battery compartment.

It yours is a diesel then there is an additional solonoid that combines all batteries for starting.

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by richinny

a picture is worth a thousand wrong guesses.

Yes, and I've lived to regret the guesses in several recent posts!

Zep

[richinny]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinium

Yes, and I've lived to regret the guesses in several recent posts!

Zep

that's not like you, i bet they were good guesses